Insilico Terminal Podcast

Krillin joins the Insilico Terminal Podcast to talk about getting into crypto in 2017, riding the altcoin euphoria, losing money through the bear market, and slowly turning that into a real trading process.  We cover early altcoin trading, manual market making on IDEX, risk management, adapting across market conditions, why he moved more toward SPX and TradFi, how macro helped him sell the 2021 top, his thoughts on Hyperliquid, and why trading should be treated like a serious job - not a shortcut to getting rich.0:00 Intro & Krillin’s CT origin story 5:52 Getting into crypto in 2017 8:19 Turning $10k into almost $200k 13:45 Manual market making on early DEXs 17:38 Rebuilding after the 2018 bear market 24:58 When to be defensive vs offensive 28:23 Using AI for stock research 33:40 Macro, liquidity, and selling the 2021 top 37:11 Why SPX fits his trading style 48:39 Hyperliquid, Binance, and DEX liquidity 58:49 Advice for newer traders

Rbit joins the Insilico Terminal Podcast to talk about his 15-year journey through crypto — from discovering Bitcoin on 4chan, mining BTC in 2011, losing funds on Mt. Gox, and trading the early BitMEX era, to building statistical arbitrage and HFT systems.  We cover the 2017 ICO cycle, Bitcoin fork trades, why 2018 pushed him toward quantitative trading, what stat arb actually means, how HFT signals differ from longer-term strategies, why smaller venues can still offer major edge, and how crypto market structure is becoming more competitive as exchanges move closer to TradFi infrastructure.00:00 Getting into Bitcoin in 2010, mining, Mt. Gox, and coming back in 2017 13:37 ICO mania, BitMEX, and the Bitcoin fork trade 17:14 Why 2018 pushed him toward quant trading 24:52 Building a profitable stat arb business on FTX 40:21 Stat arb vs HFT, and why crypto got more competitive 49:09 What his trading operation looks like today 55:13 The future of crypto market structure and where edge is going 01:05:04 Advice for newer traders and why quant thinking differs from retail

TheCryptoNexus joins the Insilico Terminal Podcast to talk about his path from blowing up trading accounts to making it back through news trading, how his style evolved from short-term scalping into more selective swing trading, and what he’s learned about risk, market structure, and surviving in crypto. The episode covers news trading, Hyperliquid, market evolution, meme coins, Bitcoin, and why making it in crypto feels harder now than it used to.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 31 - Nexus00:00 Intro, Nexus’ trading origin story from biotech stocks to crypto and short-term execution09:20 The Luna blow-up, losing everything, rebuilding through News trading 17:25 The iPad + Twitter notification News trading setup  25:24 Discovering Hyperliquid early, trading niche perps and why DEX execution finally felt usable 35:04 Managing the Hyperliquid airdrop, risk lessons from blowing up 45:50 Crypto’s future, becoming a Bitcoin + Hyperliquid maxi  57:08 Why crypto is harder now, smarter competition and better tools  01:04:07 The downside of posting trades publicly, ego traps, Twitter pressure and final advice for traders trying to make it

Audy joins the Insilico Terminal Podcast to talk about his path from solo crypto trader to operations manager at Credo, how modern crypto prop firms actually work, and what separates traders who make it from those who don’t. The episode covers hiring, track records, discipline, confidence, portfolio construction, market regimes, and why working at a fund can be a much better path than trying to make it alone.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 30 - Audy, Head of Operations at Credo00:00 Intro, Audy’s background, Bybit competition breakthrough and joining Credo08:10 Inside the prop desk, remote trading floor, desk calls and trader freedom vs allocations16:11 Hiring traders, track records, verifying edge and why one year can still be enough25:42 Portfolio construction, navigating bull vs bear cycles and diversification across strategies33:14 Why discipline fails, false signals, pressure, journaling and surviving bad periods42:10 Crypto outlook, altcoin “cleansing”, token alignment and why the market structure is improving49:02 Leading while trading, staying sharp yourself, handling bad months and trader morale01:02:22 What edge really means, defining the counterparty, news trading and final hiring advice

Worst Contrarian joins the Insilico Terminal Podcast to talk about his path into full-time trading, why he approaches markets like a business, and where he thinks real edge actually comes from. The episode covers arbitrage, exploiter mindset, inefficiencies in crypto and TradFi, trading psychology, expected value, and why most people are better off not trying to become traders in the first place.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 29 - Worst Contrarian 00:00 Intro, WC’s background, why he views trading as a business not speculation 04:07 First major arbitrage breakthrough, Binance AUD tether trade and going full-time 08:30 Why most people approach markets wrong, repeatable arbitrage vs lucky directional bets 19:40 The “exploiter mindset”, how to think about protocols, oracles and metagame risk 30:05 Building a trader network, why one phone call can unlock the next unusual trade 40:54 Sports betting exploits, getting banned everywhere and finding edge in inefficiency 53:33 Crypto vs TradFi today, where opportunity still exists and why chaos creates edge 01:06:22 Final advice, relationships, martial arts, Education of a Speculator and closing

Liquidity Goblin joins the Insilico Terminal Podcast to talk about his path from TradFi HFT into crypto, how he approaches DeFi, arbitrage, venue selection, and the kinds of inefficiencies smaller traders can still exploit. The episode covers market structure, manual vs systematic trading, risk management, points farming, meme coins, prediction markets, and where real edge still exists in crypto.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 28 - Liquidity Goblin00:00 Intro, Liquidity Goblin background and HFT → crypto transition 08:05 How HFT actually works: signals, arbitrage and cross-venue edges 16:31 Trading mindset: forecasts, horizons and avoiding thesis drift 25:06 Systems vs discretion: monitoring models, manual overrides and execution 33:15 DeFi strategies: flash loans, MEV evolution and carry trades 41:35 Venue selection: finding “dumb flow” and inefficient markets 49:00 Risk management: sizing, counterparty risk and portfolio construction 58:33 Retail vs quant, meme coins, and final advice on making it in trading

Jim Talbot joins the Insilico Terminal Podcast to talk about his path from crypto trader to product manager, how trading shaped his market view, and why he found more meaning in building with a team. The episode covers burnout, market evolution, metals, high-timeframe trading, and the mindset shifts that come after the trader arc.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 27 - Jim00:00 Intro, Jim’s background, perma-bear arc and joining Insilico Terminal 08:05 Learning low timeframe trading, finding strategies, RSI divergence edge 16:31 Shift to higher timeframes, volatility changes and FTX/Alameda inefficiencies 25:06 2022 break, self-destructive cycles, relationships and personal growth 33:15 Trading as self-discovery, mental strain vs physical work, discipline lessons 41:35 Product management journey, Bonkbot to Insilico, building vs trading 49:00 Risk appetite, complacency, boredom and evolving market participation 58:33 Final advice: discipline, volatility, accountability and silver

In this episode, we’re joined by Bitcoin Charlie, a long-time crypto trader known for alt rotations and comparative “spaghetti” charts on CT. Charlie shares his journey from entering crypto in 2017, making and losing money in his first cycle, and returning more disciplined in the 2020–2021 bull market. We talk about the infamous missed SHIB fortune, lessons from fumbling huge gains, and how his trading style evolved around relative strength and altcoin rotations. The conversation explores cycle psychology, navigating bull-market mania, why most traders give profits back, and how Charlie approaches markets today after years of hard-earned experience.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 26 - BTC_Charlie00:00 Intro, 2017 cycle, alt rotations and “spaghetti” origins 08:59 2018–19 bear market, building systems, personality-driven trading style 16:01 Shorting strategy, Bitcoin hedging, risk management philosophy 23:05 Spaghetti scanner, sector rotations, position sizing framework 30:06 On-chain gambling, meme coin cycles, influencer ethics 35:04 Biggest mistakes, conviction, de-risking rules and FOMO lessons 41:01 Is the cycle over? Bitcoin thesis, no more alt seasons, trader’s market 52:34 Hope for crypto: SocialFi, AI, privacy coins, final advice & reflections

In this episode, Mercury shares his journey from early crypto curiosity to becoming a systematic trader focused on momentum, carry, and volatility strategies. We dive into the differences between discretionary and systematic trading, how he builds and tests models, and why many edges in crypto are really risk premia rather than pure alpha. Mercury explains infrastructure for running strategies across perp DEXs, volatility targeting, portfolio construction, and the realities of scaling capital. The conversation also touches on prediction markets, the role of AI in research, and how traders can survive in a market where edges constantly decay.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 25 - Trader Mercury00:00 Intro, Mercury’s background, 2017 mania, early gains and 90% drawdown lessons06:03 College dropout, going all-in on trading, March 2020 liquidation and ego reset16:49 Rebuilding the system, scrapping indicators, trend-following foundation23:24 Social media vs reality, engagement farming, why most traders sabotage themselves30:12 Revenge trading, respecting trends, curing causes instead of treating symptoms41:11 Discretion vs quants debate, adapting to ranges, why signals aren’t equal52:15 The “free money” mindset, Trump coin trade, opportunity vs FOMO psychology01:02:58 Bull market myths, skill evolution, why every cycle feels underwhelming in hindsight

In this episode, PonziTrader shares his full journey - from buying Bitcoin to buy weed on the dark web to becoming a high-volume directional perp trader. He walks through spinning $2k into $50k in 2017, losing it all in 2018, printing during the COVID crash, and the brutal 2021 flash crash where he lost $800k in a single night. We dive deep into real vs fake moves, exchange flow dynamics, ETF-driven markets, perp DEX competition, Hyperliquid’s stickiness, and his advisory role with NADO. Beyond trading mechanics, the conversation explores risk-taking when young, rebuilding after wipeouts, the psychology of leverage, and why most people shouldn’t trade at all.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 24 - Ponzi Trader00:00 Intro, PonziTrader background, getting into crypto in 2016–17 and early BitMEX days 05:31 Trading style evolution, technical patterns to order flow, momentum and real vs fake moves 08:23 Market structure shift, ETFs, corporate leverage (DATs), institutional impact on crypto 13:38 Why he’s long-term bullish, stablecoins, perpetual adoption and retail leverage thesis 21:52 NADO DEX, advisory role, latency edge and unified margin advantages 28:21 Perp DEX competition, race to zero fees, security, liquidity and innovation cycles 40:45 CEX vs DEX future, Binance outflows, counterparty risk and decentralization narrative 44:11 2021 blow-up story, sushi wick liquidation, rebuilding from $12k and risk lessons 52:23 Trading philosophy today, belief in yourself, leverage dangers, investing vs trading and closing

In this episode, Pedma shares his journey from bookkeeping and small-cap equities into fully systematic crypto trading. We dive deep into the difference between discretionary and quant approaches, why most retail trading is just momentum “seen through a potato,” and how real edge requires understanding why you’re getting paid for exposure. Pedma explains his long/short momentum models, carry strategies across perp DEXs, volatility targeting, and infrastructure for systematic execution. We also discuss alpha vs risk premium harvesting, prediction markets, perp DEX innovation, AI in trading, scaling capital, and the psychological impact of increasing size. The episode closes with practical advice: curate your network carefully, focus on useful knowledge, and understand that trading is a high-uncertainty profession that demands emotional control and long-term commitment.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 23 - Pedma00:00 Intro, Pedma's background, moving from equties to crypto and systematic trading  06:27 Small-cap volume stats that first worked, float rotation, squeeze logic and data-driven edge 09:48 Moving to crypto in 2021, momentum carryover, DAO forks and early volatility wins 13:28 Biggest mistakes, complacency after success, drawdowns and overconfidence cycles 16:31 Current strategies, long/short momentum, carry, volatility targeting and perp DEX farming 23:23 Discretionary vs quant debate, alpha vs risk-premium harvesting, edge philosophy 30:54 Execution, manual control, TWAP/slippage checks and infrastructure design 45:10 Future of crypto, prediction markets, lifestyle, psychology at size and closing advice

In this episode, Magus shares his 11-year trading journey - from early tech stocks and silver to BitMEX-era crypto and full-time trading through the COVID crash. We dive deep into order flow, open interest, spot vs perp dynamics, and how market structure has evolved with ETFs and institutional flows. Magus explains his execution style, hedging philosophy, fixed sizing approach, and how professionalism, journaling, and emotional discipline shaped his edge. The conversation also explores DeFi as a “kingmaker” trade, reflections on missed opportunities like Hyperliquid, the current state of altcoins, and Bitcoin’s need to prove itself in a world where metals and equities are strong. We close with lessons on humility, ego balance, and surviving long enough to stay in the game.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 22 -  ⁨Trader Magus 00:00 Intro, Magus background, Going full-time, COVID crash and DeFi saving the year05:02 Trading evolution, moving averages/Ichimoku -> order flow and auction market theory “light bulb moment”08:28 Entry framework, momentum vs reversion, why open interest mattered and how that edge changed20:45 Defending drawdowns, hedging one-to-one with perps, why most hedges “lose” but save you when it matters31:14 Social media & FOMO, why CT warps expectations and how to avoid chasing everything33:53 Execution + Insilico Terminal usage, market-in/limit-out, chase orders, resting orders, manual vs hard stops53:05 Higher timeframe views, Bitcoin underperformance vs equities/metals, rotating profits into TradFi and closing

In this episode, Merp shares his journey from hospitality work during COVID to trading crypto full-time, navigating early bull-market luck, painful drawdowns, and the realities of maturing markets. We talk about buying dips, overthinking versus ignorance, working at a crypto fund through the FTX collapse, and why human dynamics often break funds. The conversation dives into perp DEXs vs options, airdrop farming, Hyperliquid, Extended, CT culture, founder behavior, and the social side of markets. We close with reflections on freedom, what it really means to “make it,” crypto’s future, and why the most important rule is simple: don’t blow up.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 21 - Merp00:00 Intro, Merp joins the podcast, market boredom, current trading sentiment 03:53 Going all-in on crypto, GameStop era, blowing up early portfolios 08:02 Biggest losses, fund experience, FTX fallout and lessons from institutional trading 12:19 Bear market grind, working with AVO, perps vs options and why options lag on-chain 18:55 Badge culture, points farming, Extended vs Hyperliquid and early adoption tradeoffs 30:41 On-chain vs off-chain execution, incentives, trader behavior and ecosystem design 38:43 What it means to “make it”, freedom, contentment, long-term outlook on crypto

In this episode, Fofty shares his unconventional path into markets - from the euro crisis and the Wirecard collapse to crypto mining, ICOs, and eventually macro-driven trading across options, perps, and traditional markets. We explore how event-driven thinking, convexity, and seasonality shape his approach, why options offer a better way to express macro views, and how liquidity - not narratives - ultimately drives markets. The conversation dives deep into misunderstood macro dynamics, government liquidity hacks, Bitcoin’s struggle with credibility, CT culture, and why constant scamming undermines long-term adoption. We close with thoughts on the future of markets, Bitcoin’s role as digital gold, and the need for traders to think bigger than short-term extraction.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 20 - Fofty00:00 Intro, Fofty’s background, origin of the name, early Twitter and CT beginnings02:59 Rebirth group, daily macro writeups, building credibility as a macro-focused reply guy06:56 Wirecard scandal, discovering markets via shorting fraud, Twitter as a real-time news edge15:32 First macro “click”, euro crisis, Greek bonds, studying finance and early convictions19:47 Mining, Dash masternodes, Bitmain, ICO cycle, getting wiped in 2017–1823:24 Trading philosophy, event-driven macro, convexity, why options beat linear perps34:45 Why macro is misunderstood, liquidity vs textbooks, Treasury issuance and cycle prolongation54:12 Bitcoin, gold, narratives, scams, generational belief, rant and closing thoughts

In this episode, DeltaXBT shares his journey from early Bitcoin exposure and getting wrecked in the 2017 altcoin cycle to becoming a disciplined, higher-timeframe trader focused on patience and simplicity. We talk about why he only trades a small basket of majors, how journaling and waiting for clean setups shaped his edge, and the hard lessons learned from losing over 90% of his net worth during the 2021 crash. Delta explains his approach to risk, leverage, boredom trading, and why doing nothing is often the best trade. The conversation also covers CT culture, trading psychology, transitioning toward TradFi markets, execution comfort with Insilico Terminal, and why longevity, balance, and having a life away from charts matter more than constant action.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 19 - DeltaXBT 00:00 Intro, Deltas background, early Bitcoin exposure, getting into crypto seriously in 2016–17 05:10 Learning to trade, trial and error across spot, alts, leverage and journaling to survive 10:42 Trading philosophy today, higher timeframes only, patience, simple setups and conviction 17:10 Current market view, Bitcoin range trading, boredom, CT narratives vs reality 23:43 Going full-time, quitting his job, 2021 crash, losing 90% net worth and mental reset 30:51 Risk management evolution, leverage used conservatively, avoiding catastrophic loss 33:50 Patience and FOMO, ignoring CT noise, focusing on few charts, life outside trading 46:32 Expanding into TradFi, differences vs crypto, execution tools, edge durability and closing

In this episode, we’re joined by Lucas and Hersch to dive deep into World Markets, a new fully on-chain “prime DEX” aiming to bring spot, perps, and lending together under a single, unified risk engine. Lucas explains the core insight behind building everything on-chain: atomic state, transparent risk, and capital efficiency that simply isn’t possible with hybrid or centralized architectures. We explore why traditional exchanges behave more like casinos than markets, how World Markets avoids ADLs through bilateral counterparty risk, and why circuit breakers, universal margin, and order-book–based lending matter. The conversation covers MegaETH vs Monad, listing philosophy, basis trades, funding efficiency, and the long-term vision for building a real exchange - not just another venue to gamble on leverage.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 18 - World Markets 00:00 Intro, project episode disclaimer, introducing Lucas and Hersch from World Markets04:00 Founders’ backgrounds, Lucas’ Amber Group exit, TradFi experience and crypto crossover08:30 Core thesis, why fully on-chain exchanges matter, state sync, risk calculation, EVM choice14:00 Product vision, combining spot, perps and lending into one unified on-chain venue20:30 Universal margin system, atomic risk engine, levered basis trade example30:45 Risk management philosophy, circuit breakers, handling extreme volatility and dislocations42:00 Exchange design tradeoffs, no ADLs, bilateral counterparty risk, transparency vs CEXs59:49 Token plans, points program, incentives, launch timing and closing thoughts

In this episode, Mazino shares his journey from blowing up early spot bags in the 2017 era to becoming a disciplined, consistently profitable trader. We dive into how simplifying everything - cutting leverage, focusing on level-to-level price action, and journaling relentlessly - became the turning point. Mazino explains his evolution from swing trading into day trading and scalping, how he uses DOM and order flow as context rather than a crutch, and why patience and psychology matter more than theory. We also discuss building confluence, managing risk, compounding small edges, Hyperliquid and on-chain perps, journaling techniques, mentoring newer traders, and why slow, boring consistency beats leverage-fueled hero trades in the long run.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 17 - Mazino00:00 Intro, Mazino’s background, getting into crypto around 201703:34 Becoming profitable, removing leverage, simplifying trading and rebuilding fundamentals08:54 Evolution of trading style, swing trading to day trading to scalping with size12:17 Risk management lessons, journaling, confluence, leverage mistakes and psychology19:22 Scalping execution, DOM reading, liquidity, exits, and managing fast losses26:04 Market cycles, spot investing, evaluating projects like Solana and long-term views34:27 Journaling process, scalping notes vs swing analysis, adapting to changing edges43:05 Building a desk, working with quants, automation ideas and on-chain finance49:05 Why he started posting on CT, free education, mentoring and common trader mistakes55:02 Insilico Terminal features, execution speed, advanced orders, server-side algos59:00 Closing thoughts, patience, compounding, gratitude and wrap-up

In this episode, we trace the path from the early Insilico days to becoming CEO - from building exchange integrations as a developer to overseeing operations, legal, and team management. We discuss a shift in trading style toward spot positioning with perps used mainly for hedging, the engineering standards behind Insilico’s reliability, and why the team avoids AI-written code. The conversation covers major 2025 milestones, including a rebrand, podcast launch, a new Go + JavaScript execution engine that enables offline algos, and the evolution toward complex order baskets. We also explore prediction markets, Smart Hedge tooling, advanced order types like VWAPs and Icebergs, and the long-term vision of bringing institutional-grade execution to mobile.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 16 - Denis, CEO of Insilico Terminal 00:00 Path to crypto, Early Insilico days, joining as a developer, building exchange integrations 06:27 Trading today, focusing on spot positions and using perps mainly for hedging instead of active day trading 09:12 Becoming CEO, transitioning from lead developer to managing exchanges, legal, payroll and operations 11:58 Engineering standards, no AI code policy, manual development and heavy testing for reliability 14:55 2025 milestones, rebrand, podcast launch, complex order baskets and product evolution 22:50 New execution engine, Go + JavaScript backend enabling offline algos without keeping the terminal open 32:15 Prediction markets and Smart Hedge, correlation matrices, Greeks-style logic and risk tooling 44:12 Advanced order types, VWAPs, Icebergs and institutional-grade execution 01:01:06 Mobile vision and closing, bringing full execution power to mobile and wrapping up

In this episode, we explore a trader’s journey from discovering Bitcoin during COVID to navigating the “up-only” phase of the bull market - and the hard reset after getting wiped in May 2021. He shares how rebuilding with strict Excel tracking restored discipline, lessons from Snowbank and Snowdog, and why publicly sharing trades shifted from community to extraction. We revisit the FTX collapse in Lisbon, discuss why most of his profits come from Bitcoin perps, and break down seasonality, ETH’s failed hedge narrative, and the current state of on-chain perp DEXs versus CEXs. The conversation closes with thoughts on today’s choppy markets, Solana vs. Ethereum, staying grounded, and the importance of actually taking profits.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 15 - Satsdart00:00 Inro, discovering Bitcoin YouTube during COVID, and the initial transition into crypto, navigating the "up only" phase of the bull run. 10:15 Getting zeroed in May 2021, rebuilding via strict Excel tracking, and the stories of Snowbank and Snowdog. 15:50 Why sharing trades publicly shifted from community building to extraction, and the pressure of managing followers' expectations. 20:30 Witnessing the FTX collapse while with other traders in Lisbon, and finding opportunity in peak fear. 25:00 Why 70% of his profits come from Bitcoin perps, utilizing seasonality, and why ETH has failed as a hedging instrument. 32:15 A look at the current state of on-chain perp DEXs, and why centralized exchanges still offer a superior edge. 36:00 The current "boring" state of the market, the Solana vs. Ethereum dynamic, and avoiding the "all-in" mentality during chop. 41:20 Staying grounded despite wealth, the importance of self-judgment over judging others, and the necessity of actually taking profits.

In this episode, we follow the journey from accounting into full-time trading, exploring the role of early luck versus building real systems. He shares how mentors like Tom Dante shaped a disciplined, career-oriented mindset and why specializing in Bitcoin gave him an edge - even as BTC’s structure and liquidity have fragmented since 2021. We dive into his philosophy of exploiting behavioral inefficiencies, managing drawdowns with data, and knowing when to step back. He demystifies order flow, explains his work on Exo Charts, and breaks down execution nuances like limit scaling and patient entries. The conversation closes with trading psychology, avoiding tilt, and why modest, consistent compounding beats the pursuit of quick riches.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 14 - Luckshury 00:00 Intro & Background, transitioning from accounting to trading,  and the role of luck vs. systems in the early days04:15 Career Mindset & Routine, escaping the 9-to-5, influence of mentors like Tom Dante, and developing structured outlook rather than chasing moonshots12:35 Bitcoin Specialization, the benefits of mastering a single asset and how Bitcoin's market structure and liquidity have fragmented since 202119:10 Trading Philosophy, building a system around exploiting behavioral inefficiencies and trapped traders rather than reacting to news events24:35 Managing Drawdowns, using data to distinguish between bad luck and edge erosion, and the importance of stepping back when the edge isn't there31:05 Demystifying Order Flow, using it as an additional variable for context rather than a holy grail, and his role in developing Exo Charts41:10 Execution Mastery, the nuance of limit scaling versus market chasing, and optimizing entry prices through patience44:00 Psychology & Longevity, avoiding the trap of instant re-entries, stopping the tilt spiral48:15 The Power of Compounding, why 2-3R a month is enough, longevity over quick riches

In this episode, Trader XO breaks down his journey from banking and computer science into the 2017 bull run - and the painful lessons that followed after losing it all in 2018. He explains why 90% of traders fail, how embracing uncertainty is essential, and why risk management is ultimately a survival skill. We explore defining edge, expectancy, pattern recognition, and his 6-pillar trading framework. XO dives deep into psychology, recovering from tilt, building routines, dynamic risk sizing, and adding to winners. The discussion also covers strategy creation, volatility regimes, using LLMs for coding advantage, and journaling as a tool for longevity - ending with reflections on avoiding CT envy and focusing on the long game.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 13 - TraderXO00:00:00 Intro, Trader XO background, CS/Banking origins, 2017 bull run luck, losing it all in 2018 00:06:10 The 90% failure rate, why normal thinking loses, embracing uncertainty, risk management as survival 00:13:50 Defining Edge, expectancy formula, speed of understanding, pattern recognition vs. predicting 00:20:10 The Trading Process, 6-pillar framework, trading as a professional sport 00:32:20 Psychology deep dive, myth of "controlling" emotions, A-Game vs. C-Game 00:50:08 The "Reset" phase, dissecting a recent tilt, danger of short-circuiting, recovering from losses 00:58:05 Essential library, top book recs, leveraging LLMs/ChatGPT for coding edge 01:07:42 Routine & Execution, building situational awareness, dynamic risk sizing, adding to winners 01:21:50 Strategy creation, 15 principles, defining hypothesis, volatility regimes, building a living playbook 01:34:50 Closing thoughts, avoiding crypto-twitter envy, journaling joy, focusing on longevity over quick wins

In this episode, we dive into the journey of a trader who entered crypto in 2016, lived through the 2017 alt mania, round-tripped early bags, and returned to the 2021 cycle far better prepared. He breaks down his current long-term swing approach, how he thinks about narratives, and why the Solana trade stood out. We talk tech vs narratives, tokenomics realism, and why Hyperliquid is one of the few “tech that actually matters.” The conversation explores learning to sell, avoiding CT sentiment traps, timeline curation, balancing work with trading, on-chain experiments, missed airdrops, public sales, and views on the current cycle - from majors vs alts to the unfolding Trump meta.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 12 - Avgreplyguy00:00 Intro, getting into crypto in 2016, ETH-pilled early, 2017 alt mania 05:07 Round-tripping early bags, learning to sell, RuneScape gold to BTC, entering 2021 better prepared 08:00 Trading style today - long-term swings, narratives, Solana trade breakdown 12:46 Tech vs narratives, tokenomics realism, Hyperliquid as rare “tech that matters,” losing faith in plasma/VC chains 15:38 Biggest lessons - learning to sell, CT sentiment traps, subreddits, bagholder echo chambers 20:10 Life on CT - reply guy origins, filtering grifters, timeline curation 27:16 Work vs trading - why he keeps a job, risk management, lifestyle balance, 34:53 On-chain attempts, meme seasons, airdrop misses (HL/Kaito), public sales, Monad/MegaETH thoughts 43:04 Market outlook - cycle views, late-stage concerns, majors vs alts, Trump meta

In this episode, Adam - known as Abetrade —-shares his path from early binary options scams to trading German bonds, Bitcoin, and derivatives across markets. He talks about evolving from short-term order-flow scalping to longer-term swing and volatility strategies, using options and ETFs to trade mean reversion and risk premiums. Adam also dives into his work as Head of Trading at Breakout, recently acquired by Kraken, explaining prop-firm mechanics and risk management. The conversation closes with reflections on burnout, lifestyle balance, and why building sustainable habits matters more than chasing constant action.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 11 - Abetrade00:00 Intro, Adam’s background, first exposure to trading and  ICO cycle in 2017 06:30 Trading German bonds, transitioning to crypto perps in 2020, early bull market experiences 14:41 Burnout, switching from intraday to higher-timeframe trading, learning patience 22:22 How he trades now - sentiment, options, mean reversion, and trend systems across markets 31:03 Selling options, volatility strategies, ETFs, and balancing different uncorrelated systems 42:45 Teaching new traders, reflections on markets changing, and why higher TFs make more sense now 46:22 Founding Breakout, getting acquired by Kraken, managing risk at scale 52:07 Why prop trading makes sense, risk frameworks, and thoughts on leverage for smaller traders 55:16 Staying motivated after success, daily habits, balance, and mental clarity

In this episode, Scott shares his journey from a TradFi background to finding success in crypto’s early DeFi days. He breaks down momentum effects, on-chain inefficiencies, and how simple systems often outperform over-optimized ones. The discussion covers mid-frequency quant trading, partnering with market makers, and the psychology of trend following. Scott also opens up about burnout, mental health, and his personal story of redemption - ending with reflections on the future of systematic trading, vault design, and finding peace beyond success.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 10 - Scott Phillips00:00 Intro, Scott’s background in TradFi, pivot to crypto in 2019, and early DeFi summer success 07:08 Momentum effects in crypto, on-chain inefficiencies, and finding edge in smaller venues 20:18 Building systems, market-making hybrids, and why simple signals outperform optimization 26:00 Mid-frequency quant trading, execution costs, and partnering with market makers 35:00 Trend following as a career - psychology, losing streaks and Hyperliquid strategy 43:00 Burnout, mental health, taking breaks, and reflections on trading longevity 48:05 Life story - crime, jail, rebuilding through trading, lessons on risk and humility 52:29 Future of crypto and systematic trading, decaying edges, and institutional arrival 58:08 Vault design, momentum modeling, and cross-asset trend logic 01:12:00 Closing thoughts on money, wisdom with age, and the balance between success and peace

In this episode, Nick shares his journey from discovering markets to mastering DOM scalping and developing a unique order book–driven style. He dives into breakout and knife-catching setups, lessons from the Russian scalping scene, and his transition into algorithmic trading with Spreadfighter. The conversation explores building an algo fund through volatile markets, adapting as edges decay, managing risk, and lessons from major drawdowns - ending with insights on protecting capital, holding winners, and embracing positive tails.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 9 - Nikalgo 00:00 Intro, Nick’s background, early exposure to markets and discovering crypto06:05 Discovering DOM scalping, order book focus, and early trading habits12:16 Developing skill with DOM tools, breakout vs knife-catching setups, Russian scalping scene18:26 Joining Spreadfighter, learning pairs trading, and transition toward algorithmic strategies29:18 Building Spreadfighter into an algo fund, adapting through the 2021–22 bear market39:16 Current trading today - decayed edges, intuition, risk management, surviving October 10th54:27 Protecting capital, lessons from dumps, holding winners, positive tails, and closing thoughts

In this episode, Ponzi shares his path from early on-chain trading to joining Spartan Group, reflecting on big wins, losses, and emotional lessons along the way. He talks about the Hyperliquid airdrop era, shifting from altcoins to perps, and developing structured strategies in a team environment. The conversation covers trading psychology, DEX competition, public sales, and the evolving airdrop meta - ending with insights on adaptability, letting go of old bags, and staying sharp in changing markets.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 8 - Ponzi Maxi 00:00:00 Intro, Ponzi’s background, getting into crypto and early trading years00:06:08 Big wins and losses - Rollbit, Trader Joe, emotional trading lessons00:10:25 Hyperliquid airdrop, airdrop farming mindset, and lessons from missed opportunities00:15:05 Transition to perps trading, shift away from on-chain alts, adapting strategy00:26:16 Joining Spartan Group - team trading, structure, learning valuation frameworks00:33:09 Trading psychology, loneliness, social aspects, and adapting over time00:38:11 Thoughts on Lighter, Hyperliquid, perp DEX competition and market outlook00:55:01 Public sales meta, Echo deals, MegaETH, and evolution from airdrops01:06:08 Closing thoughts - trading advice, adaptability, dumping old bags, final wrap-up

In this episode, Ruslan, founder of Extended, shares his journey from Revolut to building a fully self-custodial exchange. He explains the vision behind Extended’s unified margin and multi-asset collateral system, the choice to build on Starknet, and the challenges of trustless architecture. The discussion dives into liquidation logic, exchange stability during volatile markets, and what sets Extended apart - closing with thoughts on sustainable growth, token plans, and the future of decentralized trading.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 7 - Extended Founder Ruslan00:00 Intro, Ruslan’s background, founding Extended, and vision for a self-custody exchange06:11 Leaving Revolut to build independently, benefits of a small agile team13:09 What sets Extended apart - unified margin, multi-asset collateral, and long-term roadmap18:42 Why they chose Starknet, trustless design, and Ethereum ecosystem integration24:59 Deep dive into multi-asset margin mechanics, liquidation logic, and risk handling33:46 Why others don’t build this yet, technical complexity, and future competition39:18 Exchange stability, recent crash lessons, and how Extended handled downtime45:56 Sustainable growth, token plans, long-term goals, and closing remarks

In this episode, Heart shares his journey from the early DeFi days to becoming a disciplined trend trader. He talks about the lessons from his first bear market, how trading psychology reshaped his approach, and why he stopped shorting. The discussion covers trend following, coin rotation, using CT as signal, and the role of community, journaling, and personal growth -ending with insights on managing size, staying sharp, and building long-term freedom through trading.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 6 - Heart00:00:00 Intro, Heart’s background, getting into crypto and the early DeFi boom00:04:38 From on-chain degening to perps, first bear market, lessons and mindset shift00:08:00 Trading psychology - why he stopped shorting, emotional control, risk habits00:12:32 How he trades today: trend following, rotation, coin selection, and CT as signal00:21:00 What CT taught him - psychology over TA, community, filtering noise00:33:53 Books, mentors, journaling, and personal growth as a trader00:45:11 Key lessons, managing size, staying sharp, freedom and long-term goals

In this episode, V discusses developing as a trader through the 2021–22 bear market and how a macro framework shapes his approach. He breaks down positioning vs prediction, interest rate differentials, and carry trades, while exploring how macro conviction translates into intraday execution. The conversation covers narratives, data, Fed policy, crypto rotations, and possible next bear market scenarios — ending with insights on building edge, balancing discretion and quant, and leveraging the right tools.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 5 - VNTGPRN00:00:00 Intro, V’s background, starting to trade during the 2021–22 bear market00:05:09 Macro traders, positioning vs prediction, VAR shocks, applying macro to trading00:23:54 2024 selloff, interest rate differentials, carry trades and correlations00:33:11 Macro as conviction, holding trades, scalping liquidations, intraday execution00:41:08 Market data, narratives vs positioning, outlook on Fed, Trump, tariffs and gold00:51:26 Crypto rotations, lack of narratives, comparisons to 2021, seasonality and Q4 flows00:58:21 Next bear market scenarios, stagflation fears, sideways chop vs crash01:13:29 Closing thoughts on finding your edge, discretionary vs quant, importance of tools

In this episode, Doc shares his journey from medicine to trading, how discipline from tennis shaped his approach, and the evolution of his strategies from trend trading to intraday mean reversion. He dives into mentors, CT culture, execution with Insilico Terminal, on-chain opportunities, work-life balance, and his long-term outlook on markets and trading as both a craft and a lifestyle.Insliico Terminal Podcast Episode 4 - DocXBT00:00:00 Intro, Doc’s path from medicine to trading, early obsession during the bear market00:13:21 Tennis mindset applied to trading, discipline, handling losses and setbacks00:26:36 Transition from trend trading to intraday mean reversion, adapting to new styles00:33:24 Mentors, CT culture shifts, and Doc’s move into education00:42:58 Execution focus, Insilico Terminal, order types, and the importance of fees00:47:52 On-chain opportunities, Hyperliquid, and choosing to focus on Bitcoin intraday00:53:14 Work-life balance, cashing out, lifestyle changes, and future trading goals01:00:11 Market cycles vs narrative-driven rallies, macro shifts, ETFs, and liquidity01:08:21 Long-term outlook, trading as joy vs job, when to step away, closing thoughts

Alucard shares his journey from early mistakes and risk lessons through bull & bear markets, into HFT, orderflow, and mean reversion strategies—plus insights on DEX growth, delta-neutral yields, and advice for newcomers.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 3 - Alucard 00:00 Background, getting into crypto, early mistakes and lessons07:00 Bull & Bear experiences, learning risk management, Luna, FTX10:30 Moving into HFT, latency/arb focus, division of engineering vs strategy 18:06 Trading strategies, mean reversion, orderflow 23:00 When scalps become swings; liquidation lines, trench sizing; avoid true bagholding27:00 From years lurking to posting himself, Bunker/mentors, how he filters real signal34:39  Current DEX landscape, latency, maintenance margin, UX, why DEX share grows 51:10 Delta-neutral yields, cross-venue spreads, advice to newcomersFollow Alucard: https://x.com/AlucardTrades

This episode follows Marusha’s journey from gaming into crypto, exploring her early trading wins, burnout, and return with a deeper focus on options and algorithmic strategies. We dive into CT culture, on-chain perps vs. options, Hyperliquid, pump.fun, and the love/hate relationship traders have with the market.  Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 2 - Marusha 0:00 Marusha background, move into crypto, gaming connection, first mentor 06:56 Early trading experiences, bullrun luck, burnout, taking a break to study options and algo trading 12:31 Joining Discord & Crypto Twitter, learning from criticism, evolution of CT culture and knowledge 19:10 Post-2021 break return, deeper understanding of options, market structure, perp vs options impact 26:03 Binary options, perpetuals as the ultimate gambling product, on-chain options challenges 30:08 Interest in Hyperliquid, Solana DEX experience, no-KYC appeal, farming and airdrop  38:21 Algorithmic trading focus, arbitrage strategies, funding opportunities, directional vs neutral trading 40:00 Pump.fun discussion 42:20 Motivation to keep going, defining 'retired' 50:05 Struggles in trading, love/hate relationship with the market and CT community  

In this episode with Pierre Crypto we cover getting started in crypto, lessons from FTX, building trading strategies and systems, and the mindset needed to stay consistent. We also discuss lifestyle changes, the evolution of Crypto Twitter, execution in trading, and wrap up with thoughts on Hyperliquid, airdrops, and the future of CEX/DEX.Insilico Terminal Podcast Episode 1 - Pierre Crypto 0:00 Getting started in crypto and trading, gaming history and transferable skills, taking accountability15:30 Learnings and being humbled, FTX21:40 Development of trading strategy, mental aspects, system building, trend trading35:50 Doing something else? Lifestyle changes, what helped not to give up44:35 State of CT, decline and changes, improving and participating 55:18 Execution impact on trading and evolution through the years1:09:12 Hyperliquid airdrop, future of CEX/DEX, current crypto applications