Mert Mumtaz, co-founder and CEO of Helius, breaks down why he sees Solana and Zcash as two of crypto's most undervalued bets heading into 2026, using his "physics and incentives" framework to separate real conviction from trader noise.

He also debunks the recent Zcash security scare, explains why AI is forcing crypto toward "spaceflight-level" security standards, and weighs in on Near's high-upside, low-conviction potential.

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Follow Mert Mumtaz

• Twitter: https://x.com/0xMert_

• Twitter: https://x.com/heliuslabs

• Website: https://www.helius.dev/

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DISCLAIMER

The info contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial, legal, or tax advice. The content of this video is solely the opinions of the speakers who are not a licensed financial advisor or registered investment advisor. Trading cryptocurrencies poses considerable risk of loss. The speakers do not guarantee any particular outcome.

0:00 Introduction

1:57 Coffee, Zyns, & Sleep Discussion

3:26 Is It Better To Work At Night With ADHD

4:05 How Mert Has A Relationship Despite His Schedule

6:45 Mert On Being A Parent

7:30 How Mert Grew On X So Fast

8:51 Partnerships: @Variational @BitwiseInvest

9:44 Mert’s Experience With SOL’s Price Drop

15:48 The Behind The Scenes With Solana

18:22 How Solana’s Future-Proofing Its Ecosystem

25:47 Why Businesses Will Build On Solana

28:05 Why Solana Isn’t Seen As The Obvious Choice

30:38 Partnerships: @KASTxyz @Trezor

31:43 Mert’s Thesis Behind Solana In 2026

36:42 Solana Will Become The Biggest Financial Economy

42:45 The Timeline On Solana’s Changes Going Live

44:23 Is Solana Making Its Comeback?

47:31 Partnerships: @JupiterExchange @Ethena

48:14 The Zcash Drama Explained

55:39 AI’s Advancement Means Crypto Must Evolve

59:24 What Is Zcash’s Potential

1:04:40 How Is NEAR Special Like Solana & Zcash

1:09:32 Closing Thoughts

E179: Helius CEO: These 3 Crypto Coins Are MASSIVELY Underpriced (2026 Cycle)

When Shift Happens Podcast

E179: Helius CEO: These 3 Crypto Coins Are MASSIVELY Underpriced (2026 Cycle)