E146: Helius CEO: Why Your Crypto Balance Isn't Private (And Why That's Dangerous)

Mert Mumtaz, CEO and co-founder of Helius, reveals why he's betting everything on privacy, Solana infrastructure, and long-term conviction plays like Zcash and Hyperliquid.While most crypto investors chase short-term gains, Mert operates on 3-5 year time horizons, building core infrastructure for Solana and defending privacy as crypto's most unsolved problem. From explaining how connectivity and reflexivity drive extreme price movements to sharing how a Slavic girlfriend changed his approach to capturing value, this conversation goes deep.THE SHIFT NEWSLETTER💡Go beyond the mic - subscribe to The Shift, my new weekly newsletter where I share the uncut stories, raw takes, and behind-the-scenes notes from When Shift Happens: https://www.kevinfollonier.com/crypto-web3-newsletter___________PARTNERS🚀 Jupiter is the most used Decentralized Exchange in Crypto and the largest DEX by volume on Solana: https://jup.ag/🅿️ Paradex is building the future of open finance — an intuitive, permissionless trading platform giving users full control, ultra-low costs, fast execution, and access to global markets in one place. Money Badgers Genesis NFT drops in Q4 — limited spots 👉 https://app.paradex.trade/wl/resilientrogueqv💳 KAST lets you manage and spend stablecoins or crypto with a Visa Card or Apple Pay. Live in 100+ countries: https://go.kast.xyz/VqVO/SHIFT🔓 Trezor offers the safest cold-storage wallets for crypto and true financial independence. Buy with 10% off (promo code in video): https://trezor.io/?transaction_id=1026f18ed46409e495c6db4bff90ab&offer_id=133&affiliate_id=35356🌱 Bitwise Asset Management manages $15B+ across 30+ crypto investment products — ETFs, index funds, alpha, staking, and more. https://bitwiseinvestments.com/💧 Sui is a next-gen Layer 1 making digital asset ownership fast, private, and secure. https://sui.io/🧩 Story makes IP and real-world data programmable, enforceable, and monetizable. https://www.story.foundation★ Forza!, Coinsilium’s Gibraltar-based Bitcoin treasury arm. Coinsilium trades on AQUIS (COIN) and OTCQB (CINGF). https://www.coinsilium.com/🔘 Mantle Network combines Ethereum-level security with low fees and fast transactions via its layer-2 tech. Stake ETH for mETH and join a transparent, community-governed ecosystem. https://www.mantle.xyz___________Follow Mert Mumtaz• Twitter: https://x.com/0xMert_• Twitter: https://x.com/heliuslabs• Website: https://www.helius.dev/FOLLOW WHEN SHIFT HAPPENSTwitter (X): https://x.com/KevinWSHPod  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kevinfollonier_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinfollonier_Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfollonier/Website: https://kevinfollonier.com/#tagsDISCLAIMERThe info contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial, legal, or tax advice. The content of this video is solely the opinions of the speakers who are not a licensed financial advisor or registered investment advisor. Trading cryptocurrencies poses considerable risk of loss. The speakers do not guarantee any particular outcome.0:00 - Introduction1:36 - Please Subscribe2:02 - What Is Kast 3:18 - Turning Slavic Girlfriend Into A Superpower4:33 - The Meaning Of Knowing Your Worth7:18 - The More Money You Make The More You Spend10:08 - Our Trusted Partners11:02 - Knowing Your Worth According To Shamath 11:47 - Merts Health Since Last Year12:38 - What People Don’t See Behind Success14:56 - Who Is Mert 16:41 - Why So Vocal About Zcash 23:03 - How Privacy Can Prevent Tragedies Like Charlie Kirk 25:58 - Zcash Explained To Your Girlfriend28:19 - Our Valued Sponsors29:32 - Merts Thesis On HyperLiquid33:28 - How Mert Looks At Investments Being 3-5 Years35:18 - Connectivity And Reflectivity Explained42:06 - Building One Of The Most Credible Personal Brands In Crypto45:47 - Best Things That Happened Because Of Your Personal Brand