E179: Helius CEO: These 3 Crypto Coins Are MASSIVELY Underpriced (2026 Cycle)

Mert Mumtaz, co-founder and CEO of Helius, breaks down why he sees Solana and Zcash as two of crypto's most undervalued bets heading into 2026, using his "physics and incentives" framework to separate real conviction from trader noise. He also debunks the recent Zcash security scare, explains why AI is forcing crypto toward "spaceflight-level" security standards, and weighs in on Near's high-upside, low-conviction potential.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⚖️ Variational aggregates liquidity to offer industry-leading depth on crypto, equities, commodities, and more: https://www.variational.io/🚀 Jupiter is the most used Decentralized Exchange in Crypto and the largest DEX by volume on Solana: https://jup.ag/💳 KAST lets you manage and spend stablecoins or crypto with a Visa Card or Apple Pay. Live in 100+ countries - Get $20 Signup Bonus - https://go.kast.xyz/VqVO/SHIFT - promo code: SHIFT🔓 Trezor offers the safest cold-storage wallets for crypto and true financial independence. Buy with 10% off - promo code: WSH10 - https://affil.trezor.io/SH12h🌱 Bitwise Asset Management manages $15B+ across 30+ crypto investment products — ETFs, index funds, alpha, staking, and more. https://bitwiseinvestments.com/⚖️ Ethena is a synthetic dollar protocol on Ethereum, offering a crypto-native, non-bank-dependent stablecoin called USDe. It uses a delta-neutral hedging strategy with staked ETH to maintain a $1 peg. https://ethena.fi/♾️ Coinsilium provides vital funding and expert advice to Web3 and AI-powered early-stage technology companies. https://www.coinsilium.com___________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/DISCLAIMERThe 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 Introduction1:57 Coffee, Zyns, & Sleep Discussion3:26 Is It Better To Work At Night With ADHD4:05 How Mert Has A Relationship Despite His Schedule6:45 Mert On Being A Parent7:30 How Mert Grew On X So Fast8:51 Partnerships: @Variational @BitwiseInvest9:44 Mert’s Experience With SOL’s Price Drop 15:48 The Behind The Scenes With Solana18:22 How Solana’s Future-Proofing Its Ecosystem25:47 Why Businesses Will Build On Solana28:05 Why Solana Isn’t Seen As The Obvious Choice30:38 Partnerships: @KASTxyz @Trezor31:43 Mert’s Thesis Behind Solana In 202636:42 Solana Will Become The Biggest Financial Economy 42:45 The Timeline On Solana’s Changes Going Live44:23 Is Solana Making Its Comeback?47:31 Partnerships: @JupiterExchange @Ethena48:14 The Zcash Drama Explained55:39 AI’s Advancement Means Crypto Must Evolve59:24 What Is Zcash’s Potential1:04:40 How Is NEAR Special Like Solana & Zcash1:09:32 Closing Thoughts