ETH Phoenix 2025
Richard Stangland
Chief of Staff · Lunar Digital Assets
We're the venture studio that's incubated unicorns like Polygon and QuickSwap — and I also host BitAngels' global events, connecting founders with the capital and network to actually build.
Who Gave Me My First Break
My name is Richard, and I'm Chief of Staff for Lunar Digital Assets, the venture studio known for incubating unicorns like Polygon, QuickSwap, Persistence, and quite a few others. We've got a few big bets out right now — LitVM, a Litecoin layer two, and Mattar Fly / American Fortress, a fintech security infrastructure play. We're always on the lookout for great projects to invest in and work with.
I also host and coordinate the global events here with BitAngels.
What I'm Building Now
Something like the success of putting together the right founders in a room like this actually stems from our founder, Michael Terpin — the godfather of crypto, as CNBC coined him. We're the very first angel network and pitch competition ever created specifically for Web3. Every other industry has had one, but Michael did this 14 years ago. We're not only the longest-running, but we have chapters in Korea, Singapore, London, France — we're even discussing Malaysia, and our next event is in Argentina.
What separates a founder I believe in from one I don't is tenacity — a founder who embodies their product, who really puts in the work. There's a difference between a missionary and a mercenary. A lot of founders come out here with their entire goal being to exit, to make money. That's a benefit, but it shouldn't be the sole goal — money is a byproduct of building something impactful that actually brings solutions to the world. Those missionary founders are what we look for, and those are what create a great founder.
- Venture studio behind Polygon, QuickSwap, Persistence, and other incubated projects
- Current bets: LitVM (Litecoin layer two) and Mattar Fly / American Fortress (fintech security infrastructure)
- Hosts and coordinates BitAngels' global events (Korea, Singapore, London, France, Argentina)
- First angel network and pitch competition created specifically for Web3, founded 14 years ago by Michael Terpin
Richard Stangland: Lunar Digital Assets & BitAngels
Richard Stangland on Lunar Digital Assets' venture studio track record and what separates a missionary founder from a mercenary one.
Future
Where We're Going
We're looking at founders who are in the missionary category — the ones who see their soul goal as building something that progresses our industry, not just exiting. That's the filter that creates a great founder, and it's what we look for at every event we run, from Phoenix to Argentina and beyond.
Fast Facts
At a glance
Company
Lunar Digital Assets
Role
Chief of Staff; also hosts BitAngels' global events
Notable incubations
Polygon, QuickSwap, Persistence
Current bets
LitVM (Litecoin L2), Mattar Fly / American Fortress
Event
ETH Phoenix 2025
“Money is just a byproduct of you building something that's going to be impactful, that's going to help progress our space and actually bring solutions to the world.”
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