There is no such thing as retirement, and for those under 50, retirement should not be thought about. This article is from the When Shift Happens podcast and was compiled, compiled and written by TechFlow. (Synopsis: WebX Exclusive Interview with Gate Exchange CEO Dr. Han: In the 12-year long run of the crypto industry, the secret of growth is from technical people to managers) (Background supplement: Interview with BNC CEO David: Demystifying the past and present of BNB's microstrategy) Guest: Jordi Alexander, founder of Selini Capital Moderator: Kevin Podcast Source: When Shift Happens How to Actually Build Wealth in a New Economy (Crypto vs Stocks) – Jordi Alexander | E136 airtime: August 28, 2025 Summary of key points Jordi Alexander is the founder of Selini Capital, a veteran investor in the cryptocurrency space and a strategic advisor to Mantle. Selini Capital, which he founded, has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 100% over the past 13 years, after Jordi turned down a return offer from Citadel, a well-known Wall Street market maker, to trade crypto assets in Singapore. He has shared screenshots of $5 million worth of trading profits and losses on social media (X:@gametheorizing), and has also participated in chess and bridge events all year round, and is a professional pouncer and quantitative trader. In this issue of Podcast, he has amassed a wealth through a deep understanding of a key insight: traditional currencies and investment strategies are no longer able to adapt to changes in the current economic environment. In addition, he elaborates on why the decline in purchasing power caused by inflation makes it difficult to retire comfortably even with $10 million. He also shared his experience on how to develop strategies to accumulate real wealth in the context of a radical change in the rules of the economy. Key Discussion Topics: Why Traditional Retirement Planning Is Outdated How Inflation Leads to the Depreciation of Fiat Currencies Destroying Savings Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of cryptocurrencies and stocks in the new economic environment How to get out of "survival mode" and build judgment through knowledge and experience Prepare for the impact of AI on the job market and wealth distribution Summary of Highlights There are two key industries in this century: one is to build the building blocks of intelligence (such as AI) and the other is to build the foundational layer of social coordination (such as cryptography). Traditional investment methods do not lead to real wealth growth, and to obtain real wealth, you need to find future growth directions, such as technological innovation or emerging markets. Investing in cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, is a relatively safe option. The growth period of cryptocurrencies lasts until real capital fully enters the market. Looking at the overall cycle of Bitcoin, it is still in a very early stage and is still a long way from "over-inflation". The four-year cycle is a thing of the past, and we are now in a whole new market state. Changes in the market now are more caused by small cycles driven by liquidity, like a kind of "money influx shock". There are still a lot of inefficiencies in the crypto industry, and that means huge opportunities. Working more efficiently and smarter is far more important than simply working hard. Without risk, society cannot achieve progress through innovation and risk-taking. There is no such thing as retirement, and for those under 50, retirement should not be thought about. Judgment is an important ability, just like money. Judgment involves the ability to integrate complex information and make the best decisions, which is precisely the weakness of machines. We need to work in different areas at the same time, and it is very important to be able to create real value economically. You need to work on two things: one is to master key technical skills, and the other is to develop psychological insight and good judgment, that is, excellent soft skills. If you're young and don't have many resources, the most important thing is to improve your skills and understand the world that is coming to make yourself irreplaceable. In the next 10 years, the difference between having $100,000 and having $10 million may not be that big. Keeping the main part of the money in a safe place while taking a small part to risk can both meet the needs of the adventure and ensure your overall financial security. Getting out of survival mode is the number one priority, and this state drains a lot of your mental energy and makes it difficult for you to focus on higher-level goals. Trade existing resources for assets or opportunities that deliver greater returns. The core element of the whole process is to constantly upgrade yourself, which is the only constant factor. Inner obsession and motivation Kevin: Many of my guests have one thing in common: something has happened in their lives that gives them an extra obsession on their shoulders. What's going on in your life that explains this drive within you? Jordi Alexander: I feel like the long-term frustration I had in my 20s, feeling like I wasn't living up to the potential I had. It felt like a beach ball pressed underwater, until I finally managed to unlock and release it, and it bounced upwards. This ascent feeling is wonderful, and when you suddenly rush upwards after getting out of your depressed state, the feeling is addictive. So I always want to keep working hard and see how high the beach ball can fly. That's what motivates me: keep going up and see where I can get there. At the same time, I am actually a very lazy person. There is a lot of laziness in my nature, and my default state is to relax and enjoy. I tend to get addicted to all kinds of things, but this is not very good for an entrepreneur, because entrepreneurs should be more action-oriented. But it helps investors, who often need to make a decision and wait patiently for the next opportunity. Now I'm balancing both roles, and I need to have both action and depth of thought. So I need an energy to overcome my laziness. For me, that motivation comes from an inner obsession: I've seen that self who was very frustrated and didn't reach his potential, and now I want to see another version of myself. This pursuit has been going on for many years and I am addicted to it. How do we deal with the failure of money and the reshaping of future wealth Kevin: You recommended a podcast two years ago, and I remember thinking you were a cryptocurrency investor, right? But you tell me that you're primarily trading volatility rather than directional investing. You don't bet much on those long-term trends and don't make big long-term investments. But then your perspective seems to have changed a bit. This reminds me of a CNBC comment: "Many high-income Americans don't feel rich despite having six-figure salaries." The comment sparked widespread discussion. Today, the real value of money is very different from what it was 5 to 10 years ago. Now $100,000 doesn't make people feel rich, and even millions, tens of millions don't seem enough. The annual loss of wealth due to fiat dilution is very high. If a little relaxing...
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Conversation with Mantle strategic advisor Jordi Alexander: Don't try to retire, wealth advice from a top trader.
There is no such thing as retirement, and for those under 50, retirement should not be thought about. This article is from the When Shift Happens podcast and was compiled, compiled and written by TechFlow. (Synopsis: WebX Exclusive Interview with Gate Exchange CEO Dr. Han: In the 12-year long run of the crypto industry, the secret of growth is from technical people to managers) (Background supplement: Interview with BNC CEO David: Demystifying the past and present of BNB's microstrategy) Guest: Jordi Alexander, founder of Selini Capital Moderator: Kevin Podcast Source: When Shift Happens How to Actually Build Wealth in a New Economy (Crypto vs Stocks) – Jordi Alexander | E136 airtime: August 28, 2025 Summary of key points Jordi Alexander is the founder of Selini Capital, a veteran investor in the cryptocurrency space and a strategic advisor to Mantle. Selini Capital, which he founded, has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 100% over the past 13 years, after Jordi turned down a return offer from Citadel, a well-known Wall Street market maker, to trade crypto assets in Singapore. He has shared screenshots of $5 million worth of trading profits and losses on social media (X:@gametheorizing), and has also participated in chess and bridge events all year round, and is a professional pouncer and quantitative trader. In this issue of Podcast, he has amassed a wealth through a deep understanding of a key insight: traditional currencies and investment strategies are no longer able to adapt to changes in the current economic environment. In addition, he elaborates on why the decline in purchasing power caused by inflation makes it difficult to retire comfortably even with $10 million. He also shared his experience on how to develop strategies to accumulate real wealth in the context of a radical change in the rules of the economy. Key Discussion Topics: Why Traditional Retirement Planning Is Outdated How Inflation Leads to the Depreciation of Fiat Currencies Destroying Savings Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of cryptocurrencies and stocks in the new economic environment How to get out of "survival mode" and build judgment through knowledge and experience Prepare for the impact of AI on the job market and wealth distribution Summary of Highlights There are two key industries in this century: one is to build the building blocks of intelligence (such as AI) and the other is to build the foundational layer of social coordination (such as cryptography). Traditional investment methods do not lead to real wealth growth, and to obtain real wealth, you need to find future growth directions, such as technological innovation or emerging markets. Investing in cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, is a relatively safe option. The growth period of cryptocurrencies lasts until real capital fully enters the market. Looking at the overall cycle of Bitcoin, it is still in a very early stage and is still a long way from "over-inflation". The four-year cycle is a thing of the past, and we are now in a whole new market state. Changes in the market now are more caused by small cycles driven by liquidity, like a kind of "money influx shock". There are still a lot of inefficiencies in the crypto industry, and that means huge opportunities. Working more efficiently and smarter is far more important than simply working hard. Without risk, society cannot achieve progress through innovation and risk-taking. There is no such thing as retirement, and for those under 50, retirement should not be thought about. Judgment is an important ability, just like money. Judgment involves the ability to integrate complex information and make the best decisions, which is precisely the weakness of machines. We need to work in different areas at the same time, and it is very important to be able to create real value economically. You need to work on two things: one is to master key technical skills, and the other is to develop psychological insight and good judgment, that is, excellent soft skills. If you're young and don't have many resources, the most important thing is to improve your skills and understand the world that is coming to make yourself irreplaceable. In the next 10 years, the difference between having $100,000 and having $10 million may not be that big. Keeping the main part of the money in a safe place while taking a small part to risk can both meet the needs of the adventure and ensure your overall financial security. Getting out of survival mode is the number one priority, and this state drains a lot of your mental energy and makes it difficult for you to focus on higher-level goals. Trade existing resources for assets or opportunities that deliver greater returns. The core element of the whole process is to constantly upgrade yourself, which is the only constant factor. Inner obsession and motivation Kevin: Many of my guests have one thing in common: something has happened in their lives that gives them an extra obsession on their shoulders. What's going on in your life that explains this drive within you? Jordi Alexander: I feel like the long-term frustration I had in my 20s, feeling like I wasn't living up to the potential I had. It felt like a beach ball pressed underwater, until I finally managed to unlock and release it, and it bounced upwards. This ascent feeling is wonderful, and when you suddenly rush upwards after getting out of your depressed state, the feeling is addictive. So I always want to keep working hard and see how high the beach ball can fly. That's what motivates me: keep going up and see where I can get there. At the same time, I am actually a very lazy person. There is a lot of laziness in my nature, and my default state is to relax and enjoy. I tend to get addicted to all kinds of things, but this is not very good for an entrepreneur, because entrepreneurs should be more action-oriented. But it helps investors, who often need to make a decision and wait patiently for the next opportunity. Now I'm balancing both roles, and I need to have both action and depth of thought. So I need an energy to overcome my laziness. For me, that motivation comes from an inner obsession: I've seen that self who was very frustrated and didn't reach his potential, and now I want to see another version of myself. This pursuit has been going on for many years and I am addicted to it. How do we deal with the failure of money and the reshaping of future wealth Kevin: You recommended a podcast two years ago, and I remember thinking you were a cryptocurrency investor, right? But you tell me that you're primarily trading volatility rather than directional investing. You don't bet much on those long-term trends and don't make big long-term investments. But then your perspective seems to have changed a bit. This reminds me of a CNBC comment: "Many high-income Americans don't feel rich despite having six-figure salaries." The comment sparked widespread discussion. Today, the real value of money is very different from what it was 5 to 10 years ago. Now $100,000 doesn't make people feel rich, and even millions, tens of millions don't seem enough. The annual loss of wealth due to fiat dilution is very high. If a little relaxing...