Solana 'will make everyone an investor' — Solana nCMO

The current capital market structure inadequately serves a broad investor base, according to Akshay BD, Solana Foundation’s non-chief marketing officer (nCMO). At the Accelerate 2025 conference, he argued that blockchain technology, particularly Solana, offers a solution, aiming to empower “everyone as an investor or dreamer.”

Akshay highlighted investor uncertainty stemming from low bond yields, asset bubbles, and the perceived ineffectiveness of traditional asset allocation models, exemplified by the 60/40 portfolio’s inconsistent returns. He linked this to a widening gap between wage income and asset-based wealth, noting retail investors’ exclusion from private markets, contributing to overheated public markets.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence further exacerbates this economic divide, prompting the question of whether universal basic income or universal basic ownership—facilitated by crypto infrastructure—is the preferred solution. Akshay envisions crypto enabling broader asset ownership, allowing individuals to invest in various sectors through tokenization, as simple as scanning a QR code.

US public equity markets, exemplified by the S&P 500’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio consistently above its historical average since 2018, have traded above historical valuations for an extended period. While factors like low interest rates and investor optimism contribute, high valuations have historically preceded market corrections.

Akshay proposes addressing market overheating by opening markets to retail investors, a goal pursued by sectors like real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. While previous attempts faced technological limitations, he believes that crypto’s ability to financialize productive assets within an economy allows for broader ownership participation. This democratization of ownership, he argues, could fundamentally shift economic participation and distribution of wealth. The Solana ecosystem, with its focus on scalability and ease of use, is positioned to play a key role in this transformation.