Despite a weekend filled with bombings, threats, and geopolitical chaos in the Middle East, the crypto market has made its stance clear: it’s time to go risk-on. In his latest show, Ran Neuner walked viewers through the surprising market resilience following Israel’s strike on Iran and explained why he’s increasing his portfolio risk—even in uncertain times.
“The Market’s Telling Us It’s Risk-On Again”
As futures opened Sunday night, market reactions didn’t follow the script of panic and sell-offs. Instead, Bitcoin bounced, oil fell, and risk assets began rallying.
“Despite what’s going on in the Middle East, we don’t believe this is going to escalate. The market’s saying it’s time to go risk-on,” said Ran.
He showed how oil—a key war sentiment indicator—remained below its long-term trendline, confirming investor confidence that full-blown war or a global oil shock is unlikely. Similarly, Bitcoin reclaimed key levels, and altcoins surged across the board.
Solana Leads the Charge as Altcoins Turn Green
While Bitcoin held firm above $100K, it was Solana that outshined. SOL broke past $155, dragging the broader altcoin market into the green.
“Solana is benefiting from multiple catalysts right now,” Ran explained, referencing the upcoming ETF narrative, infrastructure growth, and increased DEX activity.
The market turned sharply bullish across altcoins, with few exceptions. Even assets like AXL and Venom, which had already run hard in previous sessions, remained mostly in the green.
What Happened? “The Market Already Priced in the Worst”
According to Ran, the sell-off had already occurred in anticipation of a worst-case scenario that never arrived. The fear that Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow channel responsible for transporting over 20% of the world’s oil—was a key concern, but that hasn’t materialized.
“Oil is actually lower than it was before the first invasion,” Ran noted. “That tells you everything you need to know.”
He added that Iran’s limited military capability, China’s interests in keeping the Strait open, and global oil reserves reduce the likelihood of prolonged escalation.
“It’s Not Full Degen Yet—but It’s Time to Scale In”
Despite the optimism, Ran is cautious. He clarified that he’s not going full risk-on or calling for a full-blown altcoin season just yet.
“It’s risk-on—but not full degen,” he said. “I’m scaling in carefully and selectively.”
He shared that he had begun reallocating portions of his Solana and Ethereum holdings into lower-cap projects with stronger upside potential. Among his trades: SUI, Aerodrome, and Jito—all beta plays within the broader SOL and ETH narratives.
Three Narratives Ran Is Betting On
Rather than scattershot altcoin investing, Ran is focused on three specific narratives:
1. ETH and DeFi Summer
With the Genius Act (stablecoin legislation) up for a Senate vote and potential DeFi resurgence on Ethereum, Ran sees upside in DeFi-focused tokens.
Top picks: Ethena, Sky (formerly Maker), Aave, Syrup, and Aerodrome—especially those bridging ETH to Layer 2s like Base.
2. Solana ETF Summer
Ran is bullish on the upcoming Solana ETF approval and its ripple effects across Solana’s ecosystem.
“This is going to be staking summer + in-kind redemption,” he said, hinting at reduced capital gains and yield-generating structures benefiting SOL and its infrastructure plays.
Top picks: Jito, Raydium, Kamino, Jupiter, and Fluid.
3. Hyperliquid and the CLOB Narrative
Central Limit Order Book (CLOB) DEXes are gaining traction, with Hyperliquid leading the charge. It hit all-time highs recently and is outpacing other perpetual DEXes.
Ran noted that other players—like Bybit with its upcoming “Byreal” on Solana—are entering the ring, attempting to steal market share.
Why Solana Is Winning the DEX Wars
Bybit’s choice to launch its decentralized exchange, Byreal, on Solana is a major vote of confidence in the chain.
“They didn’t go with their own chain, or with ETH. They chose Solana,” Ran emphasized.
He sees this as part of a broader trend where Solana becomes the go-to for high-speed, scalable, and user-friendly DEX development. Apps like Pump.fun, Jupiter, and others are already proving Solana’s strength as a DEX-first chain.
“Everything’s Moving On-Chain—Even Centralized Exchanges Know It”
Ran pointed to Coinbase’s integration of DEXes into its app and Binance’s DEX launch as signs that the industry is shifting.
“When CEXs start embracing DeFi, that’s your cue that on-chain is where the real growth will be.”
This is why he’s heavily positioning into Aerodrome, which he bought at $0.62 and has already seen grow by over 30%.
Watch the Fed, Japan, and the Genius Act This Week
While markets have moved past war fears, Ran says there are three key macro events to monitor this week:
- FOMC Meeting (Wednesday) – No rate cuts are expected, but the “dot plot” may shift from two cuts to just one, which could spook markets temporarily.
- Bank of Japan Decision – Unlikely to raise rates despite inflation, but a surprise hike could trigger short-term volatility.
- Senate Vote on the Genius Act – A pivotal moment for U.S. stablecoin regulation, potentially sparking a DeFi summer on ETH.
Bonus News: Tron Plans a MicroStrategy-Style Public Listing
Just before the show aired, news broke that Tron (TRX) plans to go public via a reverse listing alongside Eric Trump, forming a MicroStrategy-style entity that holds TRX on its balance sheet.
“Would you invest in the MicroStrategy of Tron?” Ran laughed. “I’m not sure I would. But it’s one hell of a headline.”
TRX spiked on the announcement, as did SRM Entertainment, the shell company facilitating the move.
Conclusion: Markets Are Forward-Looking—Time to Be Selective and Bold
Ran’s final message was clear:
“Markets are telling us this conflict won’t last long. It’s time to position smartly for what’s ahead.”
His strategy isn’t about going all-in on risky altcoins. Instead, it’s about leaning into high-conviction narratives, staying nimble, and anticipating what’s next.