In the fast-paced world of crypto, turning 30 might feel like hitting a milestone, especially when you're already leading a powerhouse like Helius Labs. Mert, the CEO of Helius and a vocal advocate for Solana and privacy tech, recently shared some raw reflections on his birthday via a tweet that caught the eye of the community. CoinDesk picked it up in this thread, featuring a clip where Mert outlines his big-picture goals for the next decade. As someone who's been in the trenches of blockchain infrastructure, his insights are gold for anyone dipping into meme tokens on Solana.
Mert's Life Lessons from His 20s: A Blueprint for Meme Coin Hustlers
Mert kicked things off with a list of 12 personal learnings from his twenties, and honestly, it's like a cheat sheet for anyone launching or trading meme coins. Solana's ecosystem is buzzing with meme tokens—think quick launches, viral hype, and community-driven pumps—and Mert's advice hits right at the heart of that chaos.
For starters, he calls out age as a poor stand-in for wisdom. In meme token land, where teenagers are sometimes outsmarting seasoned traders, this rings true. Don't let "uncs" (that's crypto slang for older folks) discourage your wild ideas; most adults are winging it just like you. Then there's the push to take more risks. Meme coins are all about that—dropping a token based on a frog or a dog, hoping it moons. Mert flips the script: instead of fearing what could go wrong, focus on the upside. With Solana's low fees and speedy transactions, experimenting with a meme launch is easier than ever.
He also stresses defaulting to action because you've got time to fix mistakes (as long as you avoid jail or health pitfalls). This is spot-on for meme creators who iterate fast on ideas. Location matters too—pick a spot where your taxes and services align with your crypto grind. And communication? Essential. Whether you're shilling your token on X or explaining its mechanics in a whitepaper (or lack thereof), clear writing and speaking can make or break your project.
Mert suggests starting with the end in mind if you're lost, and straight-up recommends joining or starting a startup. Meme tokens are basically mini-startups: build a community, create value (or hype), and scale. He name-drops books like The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch and Skin in the Game by Nassim Taleb—great reads for understanding infinite possibilities and real stakes in crypto. Create more than you consume, be authentic, question norms, and remember all advice is personal. For meme token enthusiasts, this means forging your path amid the noise, not just following the latest pump.
Vision for Helius and Solana: Fueling the Meme Token Boom
In the CoinDesk clip, Mert gets real about his ambitions. He wants to scale Helius massively, tackling bigger problems and accelerating "internet capital markets." What's that mean? Essentially, making global finance seamless online, without the clunky barriers of traditional systems. Helius provides RPCs (remote procedure calls—think of them as the highways for data on Solana), APIs, MEV (maximal extractable value, a way to optimize trades), and trading infrastructure. This backbone is crucial for meme tokens, which rely on lightning-fast trades to capture viral moments.
Mert's dream? Turn Solana into the "world's trading terminal," where anyone with an internet connection can trade any asset. Imagine swapping meme coins, NFTs, or even tokenized real-world stuff without friction. Solana's already a meme haven thanks to its speed and cheap costs—projects like Pump.fun make launching tokens a breeze. With Helius leveling up the infra, we could see even wilder growth in meme ecosystems, more accessible tools for devs, and smoother experiences for traders.
Privacy is another big piece. Mert aims to help Zcash Core scale, making privacy tech usable for opt-in users. In meme tokens, where anonymity can be key (hello, pseudonymous creators), better privacy could protect against doxxing or tracking while keeping the fun alive. He's all about documenting the journey through blogs, books, and videos to help others learn about building products, startups, and crypto. And he's always hiring and investing in folks pushing engineering boundaries, even intersecting with AI—picture AI-powered meme generators or trading bots on Solana.
Why This Matters for Meme Token Fans
Mert's turning-30 vibe isn't just personal; it's a signal for where Solana and memes are headed. As Helius grows, it strengthens the network that powers thousands of meme tokens daily. If you're in this space, his call to action—risk more, create relentlessly, communicate clearly—could be the nudge to launch that next big thing. Solana's meme scene thrives on innovation, and with leaders like Mert at the helm, the future looks pumped.
Keep an eye on Helius for updates, and if you're building on Solana, check out their dev tools. Who knows? Your meme could be the one that benefits from this upgraded infrastructure.