In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Satraj Bambra, CEO and co-founder of Rails and managing partner at Round13 Capital. Together, they explore Rails’ hybrid trading model, its collaboration with Kraken’s Ink layer-2, and what these developments signal for the future of decentralized finance. Satraj unpacks how Rails blends on-chain user custody with centralized execution for speed, compliance, and transparency, while offering a candid take on post-FTX lessons, institutional market entry, and why Ethereum’s rally is powered more by momentum than fundamentals.

What you’ll learn:

  • How Rails’ hybrid design fuses CEX speed with DeFi-grade security
  • Why on-chain custody and centralized matching make trading faster and safer
  • How the Kraken Ink layer-2 partnership powers scale and trust
  • What post-FTX lessons taught builders about custody and compliance
  • Why KYC/KYB is unlocking institutional flow into crypto
  • How exchange-driven liquidity shapes market momentum
  • Why Ethereum’s rally reflects speculation, not fundamentals
  • What’s next: Prop, cross-chain expansion, and institutional vaults driving the next wave of DeFi
  • And much more!

Satraj Bambra is the co-founder and CEO of Rails, a hybrid perpetuals trading platform combining on-chain custody with centralized execution for institutional-grade speed and security. He also serves as managing partner and CIO of the Digital Asset Fund at Round13 Capital, a Toronto-based venture and growth equity firm investing in high-potential technology and blockchain companies. As a seasoned builder and investor, Satraj previously co-founded BlockEQ, a Stellar-based wallet later acquired for its mobile innovation, and has led engineering teams at TWG and Deloitte Digital. With deep experience across product development, venture capital, and crypto markets, he brings a rare dual perspective as both a hands-on builder and a disciplined fund manager helping shape the next phase of digital finance.

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