Blake

I ramble about stuff: crypto, markets, business, braai and rugby - not necessarily in that order. Heading the growth at @VALRdotcom. Pro Aris et Focis.

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

Imagine the confidence boost capital allocators would have if they didn’t fear their funds would be stuck if they invested onshore. You always keep more out than in when building financial walls.

[Farzam Ehsani @farzamehsani]

https://t.co/raEizjwCBf

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

The winners of today’s @ComradesRace up run absolutely smashed the record by all measures. Both absolute time and pace. Incredible races by @gerdarun and George Kusche.

The Comrades course has changed distances over the years so it’s sometimes hard to compare records. Bruce Fordyce’s runs are still very impressive decades later on average pace.

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

Unfortunately exchange control is a topic that no political parties or MPs are rallying around. To see real reform in this area we need a finance minister with this high up their agenda. Anything short of this and unfortunately the work to really relook at whether and how this serves South Africa is unlikely to receive real prioritisation.

[VALR @VALRdotcom]

Despite fluctuating market conditions, stablecoins have been on a relentless rise, reshaping global finance in meaningful ways.

In this article, VALR’s CCO, Blake Player, takes a deeper look at stablecoins and VALR’s role in connecting Africa’s vibrant economies to global capital.

Processing over $15 billion in stablecoin volumes annually, VALR is South Africa's largest provider of stablecoin services and consistently ranks among the top 10 minters of USDC globally.

Read here: https://t.co/s07tLeBUjR
Get in touch: [email protected]

@BlakePlayerSays

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

I am not a fan of card payments online in general. I find the 3DS extremely poor and out of flow. QR payments / Apple Pay etc are much better where the auth is in flow and you're not taken to a new environment or app to approve. I can't tell you how many times my payments have failed when I have approved the payment on my banking app but failed to return to the original checkout screen fast enough because you think you're done. Surely there is a way to prevent this? @Visa @Mastercard

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

I think there is a deeper problem than use cases being built on Solana. There is just an inherent lack of economic value capture by SOL holders. The rewards flow to validators and projects built on top of the infra (https://t.co/UlA08Mnqnm, JUP etc). Without a meaningful way to deliver value to ordinary holders like Hype has, it is challenging to see SOL attract large pools of capital.

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

Ultimately this "safety net" relies on Strategy either diluting shareholders through equity raise that doesn't buy BTC and below NAV, or through selling BTC. Both those these have negative price pressure for Bitcoin. I.e. the plan relies long term on others propping up the price of MSTR vs NAV as the ability to raise equity in a dilutive way is not guaranteed.

[Betirement @betirement]

This week's bitcoin dip has triggered STRC to fall beneath $99. In this video, I walk through the math of how Strategy's bitcoin reserve gives me confidence that they will be able to pay STRC dividends for decades...

[Solid Intel 📡 @solidintel_x]

INTEL: Michael Saylor announced that Strategy might sell a small amount of BTC to cover dividends on $STRC

- Total raised via STRC: $8.5B
- Current annual dividend rate: 11.5% (paid monthly)
- Monthly payout: ~$82M (~$984M/year)
- Cash on balance sheet: $2.2B

Last week they raised ~$82M through STRC, but instead of buying BTC, the money went straight to dividend payments.

[Wyden @wyden_io]

Wyden Expands Global Liquidity Network with VALR Integration

Wyden has integrated VALR, Africa’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, into its global liquidity network. The integration provides Wyden’s institutional clients with direct access to deep ZAR-denominated liquidity and more than 100 digital assets through the Wyden trading platform.

By combining Wyden’s Smart Order Routing and best execution capabilities with VALR’s comprehensive product suite, institutions can trade across South African and global digital asset markets with greater efficiency while maintaining robust regulatory compliance.

As noted by Andy Flury, the integration strengthens Wyden’s institutional presence in a strategically important market and expands access to one of the deepest liquidity venues in the region.

#DigitalAssets #InstitutionalTrading #Liquidity #FinTech #Wyden #VALR

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

The VALR10 product is now by far the cheapest and easiest way to gain diversified exposure to the crypto market. Available through all @VALRdotcom channels: API, OTC, Web and Mobile.

Direct subscriptions / redemptions available via API and OTC for large subscriptions and institutional use cases.

[VALR @VALRdotcom]

We've reduced the annual management fee for the VALR10 Crypto Bundle from 2% to 0.2%.

VALR10 offers diversified exposure to the top 10 crypto assets listed on VALR.

Stay tuned. More crypto bundles are on the way.

Explore crypto bundles: https://t.co/HJRuTgvr7F

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

Tweet of the year so far, well done @BitMEXResearch

[BitMEX Research @BitMEXResearch]

Don't forget the Trump "silly thing" playbook:

1. Trump announces a silly thing

2. European Union says the silly thing is deeply concerning and it will consider its options

3. The Prime Minister of Japan calls Trump to discuss the silly thing and has a productive discussion about the silly thing , but is still concerned

4. UK Prime Minister would like to have a discussion with Trump to discuss the silly thing. Wants to position the UK in a moderate position halfway between the silly thing and normal things, to act as a bridge

5. Prime Minister of Israel calls Trump to discuss the silly thing and protect Israel from it

6. Rumours circulate that China will do a silly thing of its own

7. Russia stays quite, because Russia seems to benefit from the silly thing

8. Stocks crash and American business leaders want to speak to Trump to convince him that the silly thing is silly

9. Some say the silly thing is illegal and that it will go to the Supreme Court

10. Rumours circulate that Trump will cancel the silly thing

11. On @polymarket the implied probability that Trump will end the silly thing skyrockets

12. Trump denies that he will stop the silly thing, the price crashes. Stocks crash

13. Trump suddenly stops the silly thing. It was all a bluff! Art Of The Deal. Trump supporters say it was all 5D chess and somehow worked

[DHL Stormers @THESTORMERS]

There will be no tickets on sale at the stadium on Saturday because they are all GONE!

📲 Add yours to your phone's wallet from our App now to make it a quick tap for easy entry.

#STOvBUL #inittogether

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

@solidintel_x @grok can you share some insight into how they are doing this?

[Bitcoin Events @BitcoinEventsCo]

🚀 Oh, how the world of crypto has shifted!

🔥From fireworks, Lambos, and the “Wild West” era… to a maturing ecosystem that’s gaining regulatory clarity, real institutional traction and utility across Africa 🌍✨

🎥 Watch the exciting panel on “Unlocking Africa's Crypto Potential: Institutional Adoption, Tokenisation, and ETFs as Catalysts for Expansion” available now on our YouTube channel: https://t.co/1UtKbxLaVH

Moderator: Callan Richardson: Head of Growth - Africa at @bitget @BitgetAfrica
@BlakePlayerSays: Chief Commercial Officer at @VALRdotcom
Christo de Wit: Country Manager South Africa at @LunoGlobal

What do you think success will look like in the next 5 years?

#CryptoFest2025

[Blake @BlakePlayerSays]

Let this week be a teacher

[chimp @chimpp]

Nuke it harder

I want this pain to be generational

[VALR @VALRdotcom]

On the latest @Moneyweb Crypto podcast, VALR’s Chief Commercial Officer, @BlakePlayerSays, unpacks the VALR10 crypto bundle, VALR's partnership with Mukuru, and what’s happening in the crypto market.

Listen now: https://t.co/1MWlVf6z37

[VALR @VALRdotcom]

VALR is proud to announce a partnership with @mukurudotcom to power a new USDC wallet, bringing regulated USD stablecoin savings to millions across Africa.

Farzam Ehsani @farzamehsani , Co-Founder and CEO of VALR, stated: “This partnership is a profound step toward realising our shared vision of an inclusive financial ecosystem that unites humanity, advancing financial services in society.”

Andy Jury, Group CEO of Mukuru, added: "This partnership with VALR is a clear step forward in our strategy to enable Africa’s emerging consumers to send, store, and spend value seamlessly."

Together, we are advancing accessible, regulated financial solutions for the continent.