In a recent clip from The Rollup podcast, Wyatt Lonergan, General Partner at VanEck Ventures, shared his optimistic take on the current state of crypto venture capital. The discussion, captured in a tweet from @therollupco, delves into why the new wave of founders in the blockchain space could significantly outperform their predecessors.

Lonergan points out a key challenge in the industry: "It'll grow significantly when people can cross the chasm. Everyone wants to sell to institutions or create global payments. No one's really done it yet with stablecoins." Here, he's referring to the "chasm" from Geoffrey Moore's book Crossing the Chasm, which describes the gap between early adopters and the mainstream market in technology adoption. In crypto terms, this means bridging innovative blockchain tech with real-world institutional use cases, like seamless global payments using stablecoins—digital currencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar.

VanEck Ventures, a $30 million early-stage fund launched by the asset management giant VanEck, is betting big on this transition. The fund focuses on fintech, digital assets, and AI startups, aiming to back founders who can make these breakthroughs. Lonergan, who previously worked at Circle Ventures (the company behind the popular USDC stablecoin), brings a wealth of experience in spotting high-potential projects at the pre-seed and seed stages.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens

While Lonergan's thesis centers on institutional-grade solutions, it's particularly intriguing for the meme token community. VanEck itself has shown strong interest in memes through its MarketVector Meme Coin Index (MEMECOIN), which tracks top performers like Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Pepe (PEPE). This index has surged over 195% in the past year, underscoring the explosive growth in this niche.

The new founder cohort Lonergan praises could include innovators blending meme culture with serious tech. Imagine meme tokens evolving beyond viral hype to incorporate stablecoin integrations for cross-border micropayments or AI-driven community governance. As VC funding flows into fintech-crypto intersections, meme projects that demonstrate real utility might attract more institutional interest, potentially stabilizing their volatile markets and opening doors to broader adoption.

Key Takeaways from Lonergan's Outlook

• Founder Quality Over Hype: Lonergan believes today's builders are more sophisticated, drawing from lessons of past crypto cycles. They're focused on solving tangible problems rather than chasing quick gains.

• Stablecoins as the Gateway: With trillions in potential value, stablecoins like USDC and USDT are seen as the bridge to mainstream finance. Founders who crack enterprise-level integrations could unlock massive growth.

• AI and Crypto Synergy: VanEck Ventures emphasizes projects at the crypto-AI nexus, such as tokenized AI models or decentralized data markets, which could spill over into creative meme applications.

For blockchain practitioners and meme enthusiasts alike, Lonergan's insights serve as a reminder that the crypto space is maturing. While meme tokens often thrive on community and culture, aligning with VC trends like institutional readiness could elevate them from fun experiments to enduring assets.

If you're building in this space, check out the full episode on The Rollup's YouTube channel for more depth. What's your take on the next big meme innovation? Share in the comments below!