In the fast-paced world of crypto, where networks like Solana, Ethereum, and Polkadot often battle for dominance, a fresh perspective is shaking things up. A recent teaser clip from the "When Shift Happens" podcast, shared by host @KevinWSHPod on X, features Lily Liu, CEO of the Solana Foundation, flipping the script on competition. Instead of scrapping over the same users and liquidity, she argues, the real win lies in expanding the entire market by bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and real-world assets (RWAs).

Key Takeaways from Lily Liu's Podcast Clip

The tweet, posted on September 9, 2025, includes a video snippet where Lily breaks down her vision. Here's a cleaned-up summary of her thoughts based on the discussion:

• Growing the Pie, Not Fighting for Slices: Crypto networks are all chasing the same limited resources—users, liquidity, and attention. But money is inherently a network business. The more assets and builders you attract to your ecosystem, the more value you create. Lily emphasizes building network effects around money, which she calls "the ultimate network business."

• Relative Terms: Crypto vs. TradFi: Rather than comparing Solana to Ethereum or Polkadot, Lily benchmarks against the bigger picture. Crypto's market cap sits at around $3.5 trillion (with over half in Bitcoin), while TradFi dwarfs it at $100 trillion. Plus, countless scarce assets—like art, real estate, or commodities—aren't yet tokenized, meaning they're not easily tradable or usable on blockchains. Tokenizing these could explode the market far beyond current figures.

• Utility Through Composability: The killer feature? Making money "composable." In tech terms, this means assets can be mixed and matched in new ways via smart contracts. For example, in TradFi, collateralizing something like Apple stock to borrow against it requires lawyers, paperwork, and time. On a blockchain like Solana, it's instant—a few clicks, and you're done. This isn't just competition; it's a total evolution.

Lily drives home that crypto's edge is in adding utility to every RWA. By enabling instant borrowing against tokenized assets, blockchains create liquidity pools and collateral options that TradFi can't match. This builds stronger network effects, drawing more users and builders.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens on Solana

Solana has become synonymous with meme tokens, thanks to its lightning-fast speeds, low fees, and vibrant community. Platforms like Pump.fun have made launching memes easier than ever, turning viral ideas into multi-million-dollar phenomena overnight. But memes often get dismissed as pure speculation. Lily's strategy could change that by injecting real utility and liquidity.

Imagine this: As Solana integrates more RWAs—think tokenized stocks, bonds, or even real estate—meme tokens could ride the wave. Increased liquidity from TradFi players means bigger trading volumes for everything on the chain, including your favorite dog-themed coins. Plus, composability opens doors for creative mashups. Could we see meme tokens used as collateral for RWA loans? Or RWAs bundled into meme-inspired DeFi products? It's not far-fetched—Solana's ecosystem is already buzzing with innovation.

For blockchain practitioners, this shift encourages thinking bigger. Instead of tribalism between chains, focus on real-world adoption. Meme creators and holders stand to gain from a more mature ecosystem where fun meets function, potentially stabilizing prices and attracting institutional money.

Looking Ahead: The Podcast Drop

The full episode drops this week, so keep an eye on the "When Shift Happens" podcast for more deep dives. If you're into memes, Solana's push toward TradFi could be the catalyst that takes your portfolio to the next level. What do you think—will this strategy help Solana dominate, or is the chain war far from over? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

For more on meme tokens and blockchain trends, check out our knowledge base at Meme Insider.