Musk, Dalio, Mark Cuban Buying “The Next Gen Coin?” The King’s Tease

What Banyan Hill’s Strategic Fortunes is hyping up as “The Ultimate Money-Making Opportunity”?

Ian King continues to promote his “Next Gen Coin” narrative, with the latest ad stressing the pressing need to purchase it May the 23rd,. So, I decided to take a closer look.

The advertisement is framed as a “presentation” featuring Ian King alongside a co-host by the name of I don’t recall. However, the core purpose is to persuade viewers to subscribe into Strategic Fortunes, a newsletter currently available for $47 per year or a one-time $199 “lifetime” fee. This detail is important—Strategic Fortunes serves as an introductory investment newsletter focused on tech trends, likely catering to newcomers who may have hardly any background in cryptocurrency.

Since King also runs multiple premium services under Banyan Hill, such as Next Wave Crypto Fortunes, it’s highly probable that new subscribers will soon be encouraged to upgrade—most notably to Crypto Fortunes, which comes with a steep $1,995 annual fee.

The overall tone of this pitch mirrors nearly every other get-rich-quick promise in the crypto space: “”Wouldn’t it be great if you had captured those massive 18,000% returns that some crypto investors made recently?”

Of course, that doesn’t help us much. Watching the speculative frenzy around cryptocurrencies fade—something that similar to be happening with many digital assets lately—might make those among us who never cashed out on sky-high gains experience slightly less regretful. However, that doesn’t alter the reality that there is no dependable method to foresee which lesser-known altcoin could skyrocket from just a small amount of money and skyrocketing to 1,000 dollars—assuming such extraordinary gains ever occur again in the cryptocurrency space.

That said, hope always lingers. The dream of overnight wealth keeps many people engaged, whether or not they ever plan on trading a Bitcoin windfall for a luxury sports car. Sports betting is booming, raffle ticket transactions soared again post-pandemic, and speculative trading in options set record-breaking volumes last year. Given that, it’s no surprise that the appetite for high-risk, high-reward bets continues to fuel excitement in the blockchain-based finance sector.

At the same time, we’ve seen how closely major cryptocurrencies track broader tech stocks. BTC and ETH, for instance, now move almost in lockstep alongside the Nasdaq100, showing a nearly 90% correlation. With the broader stock market downturn dragging crypto prices down alongside it, it’s clear that Bitcoin isn’t serving as an inflation hedge—though it may still offer an escape route for certain groups, like Russians facing economic sanctions.

Still, there’s something about the idea of a decentralized, government-free financial system that appeals to the libertarian in many of us. A currency controlled by no single entity, governed by its users (even if it operates more like 1 dollar, 1 vote than true democracy), remains an enticing concept. And for the speculators among us, that dream of striking it big in crypto never quite fades. I can’t pretend to be immune. Nearly five years ago, I offloaded a considerable amount of BTC at the time it existed still trading below one thousand dollars—back when a $1 billion market cap seemed almost ridiculous. Was there really room for it to climb higher? At the moment, it didn’t seem likely. Yet here we are. And every so often, I still find myself tempted to jump back in.

So, what exactly Ian King putting on the table? Alright, let’s cut to the chase—here’s a glimpse of his latest pitch:

At that point, Ian King begins mentioning prominent figures who have expressed support for this so-called “Next Gen Coin,” including Mark Cuban, Ken Griffin, Ray Dalio, and Elon Musk. He also cites statements from “Funded by affluent hedge fund elites” who claim that this cryptocurrency has the potential to surpass Bitcoin and become the backbone of international finance.

The way they describe it is certainly compelling. According to them, this coin could serve as the very foundation of the global financial system, influencing everything from stock markets and banking to insurance, and derivatives.

This might feel a bit like tempting fate right now, but…

The timeframe King emphasizes in his pitch—“within the next 3 months”—hinges on the notion that this so-called “Next Gen Crypto” has an impending “upgrade date” approaching…

The reasoning behind why this so-called “Next Gen Coin” is expected to surge seems to rest on several key points. First, it’s reportedly attracting growing interest from large financial institutions, as demonstrated by the high-profile investors King references who have openly backed it. Second, the argument follows a familiar tech evolution narrative—just as Facebook outperformed MySpace, this “blockchain 2.0” is positioned to surpass Bitcoin and achieve massive growth. And finally, there’s an impending “upgrade” that is supposedly set to propel it even higher.

So, what exactly is this upgrade? According to the ad:

And just before we plug those clues into the Thinkolator, there’s one last burst of excitement to seal the deal…

If you look at what took place when the global economy started relying on the USD for oil transactions, the impact becomes clear. Take the mid of the 1970s as a reference point—at the time when Saudis agreed to conduct oil trade exclusively in US dollars under the “petrodollar” system. Since then, holding onto dollars alone would have eroded roughly eighty percent of what you could buy with your money. While the dollar remained a dominant currency, its value declined over time as more of it was printed to accommodate government spending. Even if you had kept your money within a saving account earning interest or invested in fixed-income instruments like Treasury Notes, inflation would have still eaten away at your wealth.

Now, consider an alternative scenario—being an early investor in Visa’s payment network. By owning a share of the network alongside the participating banks, you could have captured significant value through transaction fees. Visa provided security, convenience, and infrastructure that accelerated the flow of money across the system. But where did the profits go? While consumers and businesses benefited from easier transactions, they ultimately bore the costs through fees paid to banks, Visa, and the intermediaries facilitating merchant adoption. The real winners were those who owned the system as a whole, as Visa’s ability to generate revenue beyond operational expenses propelled it to over $400 billion.valuation.

Perhaps this is a more fitting analogy—where the real value lies not in the currency but in the infrastructure and ecosystem that facilitates its movement, generating sustained profits through transaction fees.

Simply because more people adopt a money or a payment system doesn’t automatically mean its value will increase. For that to happen, either the currency itself needs to have built-in scarcity—like Bitcoin, that possesses a fixed supply cap, or gold, which requires costly extraction to expand its supply—or it needs to generate revenue in some way. That’s where Ian King’s pitch about “becoming the bank” comes in, suggesting that holders of this cryptocurrency could capture a portion of the fees that traditionally go to financial intermediaries.

So yes, if this digital asset gains widespread adoption, its value could rise—especially if it has scarcity or generates a profit from transaction flow. But there’s also a chance that it won’t—so temper those expectations.

And what exactly is this so-called “Next Gen Coin”? Well, although the suspense, it turns out Ian King actually promoting Ethereum (ETH), the world’s second-biggest digital currency by market cap. If you’ve ever dipped a toe into crypto, chances are you’ve owned a certain amount of Ether during some point. It was the first major alternative to Bitcoin and has largely followed the same market trends. Just take a look at the price movements of BTC and ETH for the past 5 years—they’re strikingly similar.

Ethereum can be understood as a foundational computing platform that powers a decentralized global blockchain. It is a programmable network that serves as the backbone for many other cryptocurrencies. The Ethereum token—often referred to interchangeably as Ethereum—plays a crucial role in maintaining the blockchain’s security and efficiency. Computers across the network validate transactions and uphold security through a process initially known as mining, which rewarded participants with ETH. However, Ethereum has been transitioning from a proof-of-work (PoW) system, which relies on computational effort, to a proof-of-stake (PoS) model. This shift moves validation from energy-intensive mining to a system where individuals stake their Ethereum as collateral, making the process more akin to earning profits from capital investment rather than labor. This approach improves scalability while maintaining network integrity.

To enhance its efficiency, Ethereum continues to evolve. One key upgrade is sharding—a technique that divides partitioning the blockchain”, more manageable segments to increase transaction speed while maintaining security and coherence. As these advancements unfold, Ethereum is turning into a more practical and powerful platform for decentralized applications.

Like many aspects of the financial world, those who control capital tend to benefit the most. On Ethereum, transaction fees, commonly known as “gas fees,” are distributed partially due to those who stake their Ethereum to help validate transactions. Staking allows users to earn a return that resembles, however, it is not” exactly, interest on a deposit.

Currently, transacting on Ethereum can be costlier and slower compared to traditional banking methods, such as credit cards or standard wire transfers. Fees and processing times are sometimes unpredictable. However, as Ethereum’s network continues to develop and optimize efficiency, the expectation is that processing fees will decline, making the platform more accessible and reducing friction in financial interactions.

Ethereum is designed to support smart contracts, allowing for seamless integration between various blockchain initiatives. This makes it a powerful platform with the potential to serve as the backbone. In the upcoming iteration on the web—often referred to as Web 3. The goal is to provide enhanced safety and resilience compared to the current internet infrastructure. However, Ethereum faces stiff competition from newer blockchain technologies that have emerged to address its limitations, just as Ethereum itself was created to improve upon BTC’s shortcomings.

Bitcoin, in contrast, is generally perceived as a form of digital gold. It has a built-in scarcity model, unlike Ethereum, which has no fixed supply cap. Bitcoin’s first-mover advantage has helped it gain trust and widespread recognition like an asset. However, it is not well-suited for fast or frequent transactions, nor does it serve as a versatile system for building decentralized applications, as Ethereum does.

So, what exactly is “upgrade” Ian King is referring to? Primarily, it’s Ethereum’s transition from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS), which enhances scalability while significantly reducing energy consumption. The traditional mining process, which relies on computationally intensive math problems, consumes vast amounts of electricity. In contrast, staking requires close to none energy. This shift is part of Ethereum’s broader upgrade, commonly known as Ethereum 2, which has been rolling out in phases. While the fusion of the latest staking mechanism mechanism with Ethereum’s main network is expected soon, additional features like shard chains—designed to drastically improve speed—are not likely to be fully implemented until later. The transition has already taken longer than initially anticipated; early expectations were for Ethereum 2 to debuted in 2019.

Could these upgrades boost Ethereum’s value? In theory, a quicker and more efficient blockchain should enhance the network’s worth.

But will this translate into a higher price for every ETH token? That remains uncertain. A more efficient system may reduce the demand for ETH to maintain the network’s stability, and if staking yields decline, investors may be less inclined to lock up their capital in ETH. The long-term impact on price will likely depend on how these changes affect the supply-demand dynamics of the ecosystem.

Bitcoin is often easier to conceptualize because, in essence, it operates as a system where electricity is converted into value. The mining process requires computational power, and since miners are rewarded with Bitcoin, the network functions as a method for exchanging electricity for digital assets. Coupled with Bitcoin’s fixed supply cap, this has created a sense of artificial scarcity, contributing to its perceived value.

Ethereum, on the other hand, is more complex. Trying to determine its worth is similar to attempting to quantify the worth across the web itself. If the Ethereum network expands, does that mean each unit of ETH becomes more valuable? Should we measure it based on the number of transactions, the volume of data transferred, or the adoption of smart contracts? It’s a tricky calculation, and there isn’t a straightforward answer.

This uncertainty makes it difficult to predict Ethereum’s future price. The argument that a faster, more efficient Ethereum should lead to a higher ETH price is appealing, but it’s not guaranteed. Ultimately, the worth of any asset is dictated by what people are willing to pay for it. The reality that BTC and ETH have largely moved in tandem over the past 5 years, although their differences in use cases and communities, suggests that market sentiment plays a bigger role in their pricing than fundamentals do. Appeal to traders is what drives short-term price movements, and the buzz surrounding Ethereum’s upgrades could certainly contribute to its appeal.

I don’t claim to be a crypto expert, and it is possible that aspects of these technologies that I don’t fully grasp. But this framework helps me think about their value in a broader sense. If you’re interested, I’m happy to explore these ideas further.

For full transparency, I do hold BTC and ETH—a greater emphasis on the second—but I see every crypto investment as speculative. In some ways, they resemble rare metals, which have historically been valued beyond their practical uses. The difference is that gold, silver have been ingrained in human culture for thousands of years, whereas Bitcoin’s recognition like a resource is still in its infancy. After all, it was only twelve years back that Laszlo Hanyecz famously exchanged 10,000 BTC for 2 pizzas, marking the first real-world Bitcoin transaction.

Let’s get one thing straight—these weren’t handcrafted, wood-fired Neapolitan masterpieces. The pizzas had been supplied by Papa John’s. No shade to Papa’s fans, however, $150 million? Not even with inflation.

The world of blockchain is bustling with thousands of ongoing projects, several of which rely on cryptocurrencies as the primary means of payment or incentive. Some of these projects are led by serious professionals with solid visions, and their technological concepts sound both sophisticated and innovative—even to someone without deep technical expertise. Occasionally, there’s even a rational economic framework backing these tokens, lending credibility to their potential value.

However, the reality is that the price action in crypto markets is largely dictated by traders who may have little understanding of the underlying blockchain projects they are investing in—much like the GameStop frenzy of early 2021, where many traders on Reddit paid little attention to balance sheets or strategic planning. Unlike stocks, cryptocurrencies don’t grant ownership rights or direct claims to tangible assets. Instead, these tokens often serve as a method to participate in a growing network, where value is driven by adoption and expansion rather than traditional financial fundamentals.

Because of this, cryptocurrency valuations are largely a reflection of market sentiment. Unlike equities, which can be anchored by earnings, dividends, or asset values, cryptocurrencies lack a fundamental safety net. There’s no intrinsic “book value” to provide stability, and that means drastic price swings—sometimes as much as 90% inside a single day—are always a possibility. While BTC and ETH are considered the “blue chips” of crypto due to their widespread adoption and institutional investment, their pricing still largely depends on past trends and technical analysis rather than measurable economic performance.

In traditional markets, when a stock drops significantly, its valuation eventually reaches a floor—whether due to company assets, earnings potential, or dividend yields attracting buyers. Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, lack such a mechanism. From nine thousand dollars, Bitcoin soared to thirty thousand dollars in two years wasn’t based on earnings or cash flow but simply on growing demand and collective belief in its value. Investor sentiment can shift quickly, and when it does, crypto prices can nosedive without warning.

A look at Shopify (SHOP) offers a useful comparison. In 2020, Shopify’s valuation surged from 15 times sales to over 50 times sales as sentiment pushed it higher. Eventually, the stock retraced to a more reasonable 10 times sales, as fundamentals and investor perception found a middle ground. With cryptocurrencies, there’s no easy valuation multiple to apply—no revenue, no earnings, no clear way to determine what’s “cheap” or “expensive.” For Ethereum, staking might offer a clearer valuation framework, as investors seek yield based on network participation, but the long-term implications remain uncertain.

Moreover, the crypto space is filled with projects promising high yields, many of which resemble pyramid schemes with no real economic engine behind them. While Ethereum’s staking mechanism might be more sustainable due to its transaction fees, the broader crypto landscape remains fraught with risk. There’s always a chance that one major collapse could trigger a loss of confidence, leading to a widespread market downturn.

For now, large-cap cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum tend to move in tandem with the Nasdaq100. The overlap between tech stock investors and crypto traders creates a strong correlation—roughly 90% allocated to the QQQ fund this year—meaning that broader market sell-offs often spill into crypto as well.

If you’re just starting with crypto, Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most typical entry points. While they have fundamental differences, their price movements are closely linked, making either one a similar bet in the short term. The space is evolving rapidly, and while I don’t claim to fully understand it, I allocate a small portion of my asset allocation—about 2-3%—to crypto, like my approach with precious metals.

So, are you willing to adhere to Ian King’s bet on Ethereum’s next big upgrade? Or do you have your own crypto favorites?