Ever wondered how a top marketing student from UC Berkeley ends up shorting Ethereum for a million bucks? Meet Taiki Maeda, the guy whose crypto story reads like a wild adventure novel. From grinding poker tables to spotting memecoin gems, Taiki's path is packed with lessons for anyone dipping into blockchain and meme tokens. Let's break it down step by step.

Early Days: California Kid with Big Brains

Taiki was born in California with Japanese roots, smashing academics as valedictorian at Wilcox High. He graduated from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and snagged the Delbert J. Duncan Award as the top marketing student. Not stopping there, he even taught a DeCal course called “How to Crush Live Poker.” Talk about blending brains with bets!

The Poker Grind (2011–2020)

Taiki dove headfirst into poker, grinding live cash games at Bay Area casinos. He lost five bankrolls early on but learned the hard way about discipline and risk control. Calling himself a “cockroach” for his survival-first mindset, he weathered the storms. When COVID hit, he shifted to online poker full-time, honing skills that would later pay off in crypto.

DeFi Awakening (2020–2021)

The pandemic sparked Taiki's crypto era. He launched a YouTube channel, The Humble Farmer, documenting yield-farming strategies. Growing from zero to 10,000 subscribers in three months, he farmed projects like Terra, Anchor, and Mirror—but always warned about unsustainable yields. Smart move: he exited Terra positions just a week before the LUNA crash. He also founded HFA Research, a newsletter and Discord community focused on real yield and risk management.

Navigating the Bear Market (2022–2023)

While DeFi tanked, Taiki kept the content flowing weekly. His “mode cockroach” philosophy built a loyal following. He launched podcasts like Crypto Market Wizards and Steady Lads, teaching asymmetric plays and barbell portfolio strategies—basically, balancing high-risk bets with safe havens.

The Memecoin Pivot (2024)

Here's where it gets meme-tastic. Taiki dropped a bombshell post: “I Sold my ETH for Fartcoin,” explaining why memes could outperform in that cycle. He snagged FARTCOIN early, riding the wave. His “AI Memecoin Omegacycle” thesis went viral, predicting a shift from AI tech tokens to AI-themed memes. Months later, he cashed out profits and rotated back to stalwarts like MKR and BTC. For meme token enthusiasts, this is gold—showing how memes aren't just jokes but can be strategic plays.

Trader Mode Activated (2025)

Taiki entered the Hyperliquid Trading Competition with $10,000 and crushed it, finishing first with a $114,000 profit. Then, in October, he flipped bearish with his “Phase Four: Wealth Destruction” take. Boldly, he opened a $1 million short on ETH at $4,154 and closed it at $3,600 for about a 13% gain, dodging the rebound. His mantra? “You can’t pray your way out of drawdown, you survive it.”

Taiki's story is a masterclass in adaptability, from poker discipline to memecoin timing. If you're into meme tokens, his insights on rotations—like from AI tech to memes—could be your edge. Check out his content for more, and remember, in crypto, survival is key. What's your take on Taiki's journey? Drop a comment below!