{"id":"mert-mumtaz","hidden":false,"ipfs":"QmTjAqsLe91UjbbDRWAbGnmJ5tjdndpShRWiTfgRyXE4xg","language":"en","transactionHash":"0x42de439770a6cbff5f286c7408959ad2e79722a32919c686feec995031af940e","created":"2025-09-27T22:42:25.521Z","updated":"2025-09-27T23:28:56.186Z","title":"Mert Mumtaz","summary":"Mert Mumtaz is the co-founder and CEO of Helius, a Solana-focused developer infrastructure, staking, and privacy platform, and a prominent technical advocate and angel investor in the crypto ecosystem.","content":"**Mert Mumtaz** is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius), a developer infrastructure company for the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain). He is a prominent figure in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) community, known for his technical commentary, vocal advocacy for the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) ecosystem, and active presence on social media. [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) also operates major [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) [validator](https://iq.wiki/wiki/validator) and [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) infrastructure, including the hSOL [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) token, and is building an onchain privacy layer for [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) based on zero-knowledge cryptography.[\\[14\\]](#cite-id-aqw5k58sa6)​[\\[15\\]](#cite-id-1zp61ri68w)​[\\[16\\]](#cite-id-xfntypfl2u)​\n\n## Early Life\n\nMumtaz was born in Istanbul, Turkey. His family relocated to Niagara Falls, Canada, during his childhood, a move prompted by his father's concerns over the political climate in Turkey. Growing up, he was heavily involved in combat sports, including wrestling, rugby, and kickboxing, and initially planned to attend Queen's University on a sports scholarship. He later shifted his focus to academics after what he described as a realization about the value of knowledge, which he humorously attributed to playing the video game _Skyrim_.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-m74KQzpfCl)​\n\n## Education\n\nMumtaz attended Stamford Collegiate high school in Niagara Falls. He pursued an engineering degree in university and was accepted into a selective applied mathematics program, where he met his future [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) co-founders. He also completed a year-long internship at BlackBerry during his studies. Later, he earned a Master's Degree in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-m74KQzpfCl)​[\\[3\\]](#cite-id-EeVipoVEEV)​[\\[11\\]](#cite-id-YaN4kQxSrw)​\n\n## Career\n\nMumtaz began his career holding various roles at technology company BlackBerry and stock media company Shutterstock.[\\[4\\]](#cite-id-Sn5gP08hyc)​[\\[5\\]](#cite-id-wJb9pVu0lR) He later worked in traditional finance for three of Canada's five largest banks, focusing on cybersecurity, trading infrastructure, and digital payments. Subsequently, he joined Clearbanc, a company founded by Michele Romanow, as an engineer building payment systems. It was during this time in early 2021 that he began to focus on the potential of [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) to address inefficiencies in cross-border payments.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-m74KQzpfCl)​\n\nIn April 2021, Mumtaz joined [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) as a software engineer on the platform team, approximately one week before the company's public listing. While at [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase), he researched various [blockchains](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) and developed a strong interest in [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana), building several [non-fungible token](https://iq.wiki/wiki/non-fungible-token-nft) (NFT) bots for its ecosystem in his spare time. In June 2022, he left [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) to co-found [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) with Liam Vovk and Nick Pennie, whom he had met during his university mathematics program.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-m74KQzpfCl)​\n\n### Helius\n\n​[Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) is a developer infrastructure and tooling firm created to support developers building on the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain). The company provides services such as Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs), webhooks, and [APIs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/apis), aiming to simplify the development process on the network.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-i1lg5U8N43) The company was founded by Mumtaz, Liam Vovk (formerly of TikTok), and Nick Pennie (formerly of AWS), who serve as equal partners.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-m74KQzpfCl)​\n\nBy mid-2024, [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) had launched the [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) [validator](https://iq.wiki/wiki/validator) and the hSOL [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) token on [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana), becoming one of the network's largest [validators](https://iq.wiki/wiki/validator) by stake while returning 100% of [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) inflation rewards and 100% of MEV rewards to hSOL stakers.[\\[14\\]](#cite-id-aqw5k58sa6)​\n\nIn 2024, [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) announced it had raised a $9.5 million Series A funding round led by [Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/foundation) Capital. Notable participants in the round included [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) co-founders [Anatoly Yakovenko](https://iq.wiki/wiki/anatoly-yakovenko) and [Raj Gokal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/raj-gokal). The funding was intended to expand the company's engineering team and enhance its infrastructure offerings.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-i1lg5U8N43)​[\\[6\\]](#cite-id-AiiwlwM40I)​\n\n​[Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) later announced a cumulative $21.75 million fundraise co-led by Haun Ventures and Founders Fund, with continued participation from [Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/foundation) Capital, Chapter One, 6th Man Ventures, and Spearhead.[\\[14\\]](#cite-id-aqw5k58sa6)​\n\nIn 2026, Helius acquired Light Protocol, the team behind [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana)'s zero-knowledge syscalls and ZK Compression, to build a programmable onchain privacy layer for Solana featuring encrypted balances and confidential markets.[\\[15\\]](#cite-id-1zp61ri68w) Light Protocol, founded in 2021 to develop zero-knowledge-powered privacy tools before co-developing the ZK Compression data solution with Helius, was acquired so its team could focus on a fully programmable ZK-based privacy protocol for private payments and private DeFi on Solana, which Helius plans to open to developers in the coming months.[\\[19\\]](#cite-id-tub89klgjb) Discussing the deal, Mumtaz stated that \"crypto without privacy is not crypto\" and argued that [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) privacy will play a role similar to HTTPS on the web by making the underlying infrastructure safe and scalable for global commerce.[\\[19\\]](#cite-id-tub89klgjb) The company also introduced new developer products, including the `balance-at` Wallet API endpoint for querying historical SOL and SPL token balances at any past time and the `preprocessedSubscribe` WebSocket feed, which streams decoded pre-execution Solana transactions for latency-sensitive applications.[\\[17\\]](#cite-id-61qpmx2qdk)​[\\[18\\]](#cite-id-2r3sfjf2pz)​\n\n## Role and Public Stances in the Solana Ecosystem\n\nMumtaz is recognized as a significant and vocal advocate for the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) ecosystem. He gained prominence following the collapse of the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) exchange [FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx) in late 2022, a period during which he actively worked to restore confidence in the network. He is known for his active presence on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he uses his technical background to address what he considers to be misinformation about [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana)'s engineering and performance.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-m74KQzpfCl) Despite this advocacy, he combines support for the ecosystem with critical engagement intended to drive improvements from within.\n\nDespite his advocacy, Mumtaz is also a vocal critic of the ecosystem, aiming to drive improvements from within. He has publicly criticized the promotion of what he deems misleading metrics, such as inflated active user counts that are primarily driven by bots. He has also highlighted technical shortcomings, such as issues with [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana)'s Application Binary Interface (ABI), which he noted is handled better in the [Ethereum Virtual Machine](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-virtual-machine-evm) (EVM) ecosystem.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-m74KQzpfCl) In June 2026, responding to social media debate over whether to hold [Solana (SOL)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana-sol) or [Zcash](https://iq.wiki/wiki/zcash) (ZEC), he described the two as \"completely different types of assets,\" likening [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) to a productive trading platform similar to brokerage firm Robinhood and Zcash to a monetary store of value comparable to gold, and characterizing the SOL-versus-ZEC framing as a category error rather than a direct trade-off.[\\[20\\]](#cite-id-xiunvy47c2) In later commentary, he has emphasized privacy as a necessary property for institutional adoption of onchain finance, arguing that [blockchains](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) lack even banking-level confidentiality and that encrypted balances and MEV-resistant trading are prerequisites for regulated markets.[\\[16\\]](#cite-id-xfntypfl2u) He has also engaged with the Zcash privacy narrative by highlighting an AI-assisted audit that exposed a long-standing Orchard shielded pool bug as evidence for adopting aviation-grade engineering standards in crypto and as an influence on his work on a ZK-based privacy layer for Solana.[\\[20\\]](#cite-id-xiunvy47c2)​[\\[21\\]](#cite-id-extt7yz9nf)​\n\nIn February 2025, Mumtaz publicly defended [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) against criticism that labeled it a \"meme coin casino\" following several high-profile scams. He argued that the actions of a few malicious actors should not define an entire ecosystem that hosts thousands of legitimate developers. He drew a [parallel](https://iq.wiki/wiki/parallel) to the 2017 [Initial Coin Offering](https://iq.wiki/wiki/initial-coin-offering) (ICO) boom on [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum), where a high percentage of projects were also identified as fraudulent, to argue that such challenges are not unique to [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana).[\\[7\\]](#cite-id-T4P3i2tyaZ) Mumtaz frequently shares his views on the broader implications of [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) and proposes new ideas for the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) ecosystem.\n\nThe subsections of this section outline several of his named theses and proposals for crypto and [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana), including his \"Capitalism 2.0\" framing of cryptocurrency, a proposal for a Solana-aligned [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin), and his skepticism toward tokenizing all forms of crypto infrastructure.\n\n### \"Capitalism 2.0\" Thesis\n\nMumtaz has argued that [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) should be understood as \"Capitalism 2.0\" rather than \"Web 3.0.\" He posits that the \"Web 3.0\" label diminishes the technology's significance, which he believes is a fundamental evolution of the capitalist system. According to his thesis, crypto enhances core components of capitalism, such as immutable property rights, transparent information flow, and frictionless capital movement.[\\[8\\]](#cite-id-4MkC0HfKaY)​\n\n### Solana-Aligned Stablecoin\n\nIn September 2025, Mumtaz proposed the creation of a Solana-aligned [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) to address what he termed \"yield leakage.\" He argued that a major [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) on the network captures yield from its reserves and uses it to fund a competing ecosystem. His proposal suggested that a new [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) could redirect the yield from its reserves back into the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) ecosystem, potentially through SOL token buybacks or burns. He later refined the idea, suggesting it could be implemented by competing Digital-Asset Treasury companies (DATs).[\\[9\\]](#cite-id-nINqDkXuXR)​\n\n### Skepticism on Tokenization\n\nMumtaz has expressed skepticism about the necessity of tokenizing all forms of crypto infrastructure. In a public discussion with [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) co-founder [Anatoly Yakovenko](https://iq.wiki/wiki/anatoly-yakovenko) in September 2025, he questioned the utility of a crypto wallet having its own token. While Yakovenko argued that any project with revenue should have a token to return profits to holders, Mumtaz suggested that such a move could risk altering the fundamental purpose of the infrastructure.[\\[9\\]](#cite-id-nINqDkXuXR)​\n\n## Angel Investing\n\nMumtaz is an active angel investor in the technology and financial services sectors, with a focus on [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3), crypto infrastructure, and software development applications. His portfolio includes investments in over 20 companies, such as [Monad](https://iq.wiki/wiki/monad), [Berachain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/berachain), [Eclipse](https://iq.wiki/wiki/eclipse), and Zeta Markets. He has co-invested alongside firms like [Robot Ventures](https://iq.wiki/wiki/robot-ventures) and [Electric Capital](https://iq.wiki/wiki/electric-capital), as well as individuals including [Anatoly Yakovenko](https://iq.wiki/wiki/anatoly-yakovenko).[\\[10\\]](#cite-id-T4946zyeRE)​[\\[3\\]](#cite-id-EeVipoVEEV)​\n\n## Controversies\n\nIn January 2025, Miles Smith, a former Lead Infrastructure Engineer at [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) who left the company in 2023, published a series of allegations against Mumtaz on the social media platform X. Smith accused Mumtaz of creating a toxic work environment, including an instance of verbal abuse toward a vendor. He also alleged that [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) misrepresented its technical uptime by using services from a competitor, QuickNode, to mask internal performance issues. Further allegations included the improper acquisition of a hackathon project named \"Xray\" and that Mumtaz actively sabotaged Smith's subsequent fundraising efforts.[\\[6\\]](#cite-id-AiiwlwM40I)​\n\nMumtaz publicly denied all the claims, stating, \"nothing like this even remotely happened.\" He characterized Smith as a \"disgruntled employee\" whom he had terminated and who had been \"harassing\" him for several years. Mumtaz suggested the allegations were fabricated to gain attention for Smith's own business ventures.[\\[6\\]](#cite-id-AiiwlwM40I) Beyond these disputes, he has also become an outspoken advocate for onchain privacy in mainstream crypto media, linking his commentary on [Zcash](https://iq.wiki/wiki/zcash) with efforts to develop Solana-based privacy tools.[\\[19\\]](#cite-id-tub89klgjb)​\n\n## Interviews\n\n### When Shift Happens #01\n\nOn November 28, 2024, Mert Mumtaz participated in an interview on the YouTube program When Shift Happens (Episode 98), titled Mert Mumtaz: How [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) Hits $1,000 (And Makes You Rich). In this conversation, he discussed his perspective on the development of the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain), the activities of [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) Labs, and aspects of his personal background.\n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=b8A-pt-xKX8)\n\nMumtaz described [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) as a platform that could serve as a global computing system, enabling individuals to create applications that are tested directly by market dynamics. He explained that [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) Labs, supported by investment from Founders Fund, provides infrastructure intended to simplify and accelerate development within the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) ecosystem.\n\nAddressing the events following the collapse of [FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx) in 2022, Mumtaz stated that the episode ultimately had a constructive effect on [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) by eliminating harmful influences and reinforcing a focus on technical progress. He expressed the view that Solana could capture large-scale opportunities in global finance and technology and suggested that its token could eventually reach a value above $1,000.\n\nIn addition to technical and market considerations, the discussion included his attention to misinformation in the digital asset industry and his belief in prioritizing direct action over extensive debate. Mumtaz also referred to formative personal experiences, including the loss of his mother at an early age, which shaped his outlook on resilience and discipline. He emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and avoiding complacency in competitive technological fields.[\\[12\\]](#cite-id-MxPTvzGKz3)​\n\n### Mert Mumtaz on Solana, Company Culture and Risk Taking #02\n\nOn April 29, 2025, The Y-Axis Podcast featured Mert Mumtaz, co-founder and CEO of [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius), in a discussion centered on entrepreneurship, organizational culture, and the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain). During the interview, Mumtaz described his career trajectory, including his time at [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) and his decision to establish [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius), a developer platform within the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) ecosystem.\n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=xme8Jk-n_Ic)\n\nAccording to Mumtaz, entrepreneurship requires both risk tolerance and the establishment of a clear cultural framework. He stated that [Helius](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helius) approaches recruitment by valuing motivation and alignment with the company’s goals, rather than focusing exclusively on formal qualifications. He also noted that in a remote-first context, written communication plays a central role in maintaining coordination, transparency, and efficiency among team members.\n\nFrom a technical perspective, Mumtaz explained his position on [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana)’s architecture, emphasizing its design philosophy of leveraging hardware capacity to achieve higher levels of scalability. He contrasted this with alternative [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) models that, in his view, place heavier reliance on software abstractions. He also addressed incentive structures within the [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industry, arguing that the dominance of short-term financial interests creates challenges for sustainable development and long-term innovation.\n\nThe conversation additionally covered the integration of artificial intelligence into professional workflows. Mumtaz described AI as useful for tasks such as coding support and ideation, while maintaining reservations about its capacity to produce authentic written communication. His remarks provided an account of his perspectives on startup building, workplace practices, [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) design, and economic dynamics in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) sector.[\\[13\\]](#cite-id-lvFpDUZZQ7)​\n","recentActivity":null,"operator":{"id":"0x1E23b34d3106F0C1c74D17f2Cd0F65cdb039b138"},"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"tags":[{"id":"Developer"},{"id":"Founder"},{"id":"Speaker"}],"images":[{"id":"QmVBZcPoEjz5vo71XE3u5FwxP6dbouuz9T2E1r8gLKurDT","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"media":[{"name":null,"id":"Qme11FTNaLCXGCxjYJHigLyqHCoi5CcMG8dujbGHCYK2G1","size":null,"type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"name":null,"id":"QmbGuNvQveyzYoK9thcbUPdB4NStWeRkDrwynrMowFbV7j","size":null,"type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"name":"1755785362426.png","id":"Qmc13vaUy417YMbo1ZZeek1yZnKFpooWMYzSqaZWEHazyh","size":null,"type":null,"source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"name":"Mert-Mumtaz-675x675.jpg","id":"Qmcbzm2zEdoLR2Xo2RaPqH3E1aWDpJuTL2KafiW3wjYuuZ","size":null,"type":null,"source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"name":"b8A-pt-xKX8","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8A-pt-xKX8","size":null,"type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"xme8Jk-n_Ic","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xme8Jk-n_Ic","size":null,"type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"}],"linkedWikis":{"founders":[],"blockchains":[],"speakers":[]},"events":[{"id":"9608a380-480a-4d6a-9c60-d626b0477114","type":null,"date":"2021-04-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":null,"continent":null,"title":"Joined Coinbase as Engineer","description":"Mert Mumtaz joined Coinbase as a software engineer on the platform team, where he developed a deep interest in the Solana blockchain.","link":null},{"id":"b59b7bd3-0d87-4a16-b1fe-16dc6143fdcd","type":null,"date":"2022-06-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":null,"continent":null,"title":"Co-founded Helius","description":"Mumtaz left Coinbase to co-found Helius, a developer tooling and infrastructure firm for the Solana blockchain, with Liam Vovk and Nick Pennie.","link":null},{"id":"56d44155-dfcf-4f4a-9177-6b19d58811ad","type":null,"date":"2022-11-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":null,"continent":null,"title":"Became Prominent Solana Advocate","description":"Following the collapse of FTX, Mumtaz became a key public advocate for Solana, using his technical expertise to restore confidence in the ecosystem.","link":null},{"id":"d48d827c-781c-48ec-967a-6b69a5b882f2","type":null,"date":"2024-01-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":null,"continent":null,"title":"Helius Raised Series A Funding","description":"Helius announced a $9.5 million Series A funding round led by Foundation Capital, with participation from Solana's co-founders.","link":"https://crypto.news/former-helius-engineer-describes-founder-mert-mumtaz-as-toxic-in-lengthy-x-post/"},{"title":"Helius Launched Validator and hSOL Liquid Staking Token","date":"2024-05-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Helius announced the launch of its Solana validator and the hSOL liquid staking token, returning 100% of inflation and MEV rewards to stakers.","link":"https://www.helius.dev/blog/funding-announcement","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"117dea79-4aee-456e-8ebe-d53071181cb2"},{"title":"Helius Announced Cumulative $21.75 Million Fundraise","date":"2024-05-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Helius reported a cumulative $21.75 million fundraise co-led by Haun Ventures and Founders Fund, with participation from existing investors.","link":"https://www.helius.dev/blog/funding-announcement","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"1ad98fc4-05a2-4da6-9e3e-ba6baf8c4ff1"},{"id":"a7c1e003-5f71-4b9c-8ebe-9ef85849d76d","type":"DEFAULT","date":"2025-01-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":"","continent":"","title":"Faced Public Allegations","description":"Former Helius engineer Miles Smith published a lengthy X post alleging workplace misconduct by Mumtaz, which Mumtaz publicly denied.","link":"https://crypto.news/former-helius-engineer-describes-founder-mert-mumtaz-as-toxic-in-lengthy-x-post/"},{"title":"Defended Solana Amid Meme Coin Criticism","date":"2025-02-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Mumtaz publicly defended Solana against criticism labeling it a \"meme coin casino,\" arguing that bad actors should not define the ecosystem.","link":"https://cryptopotato.com/helius-labs-ceo-defends-solana-amid-criticism-over-meme-coin-frenzy/","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"aade541b-36ed-4d40-8bab-7860011a68e4"},{"title":"Helius Acquired Light Protocol","date":"2026-06-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Helius acquired Light Protocol, the team behind Solana's ZK syscalls and ZK Compression, to build Solana's onchain privacy layer.","link":"https://solanacompass.com/news/helius-acquires-light-protocol-to-build-solanas-privacy-layer","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"cd1e2b31-9796-46f1-a73a-fdf30a65ce5d"}],"founderWikis":[],"blockchainWikis":[],"metadata":[{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/0xMert_"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mertmumtaz/"},{"id":"website","value":"https://helius.dev"},{"id":"youtube_profile","value":"https://youtube.com/@AccelerateWithMert"},{"id":"words-changed","value":"18"},{"id":"percent-changed","value":"2.31"},{"id":"blocks-changed","value":"content, tags, summary"},{"id":"wiki-score","value":"100"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"i1lg5U8N43\",\"url\":\"https://www.theblock.co/profile/348913/mert-mumtaz\",\"description\":\"The Block profile of Mert Mumtaz\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"m74KQzpfCl\",\"url\":\"https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/solana-champion-mert-mumtaz-fud-sol-most-helius/\",\"description\":\"Cointelegraph profile on Mert Mumtaz\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"EeVipoVEEV\",\"url\":\"https://sosovalue.com/person/mert-mumtaz-1844232481695289346\",\"description\":\"SoSoValue profile listing education\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"Sn5gP08hyc\",\"url\":\"https://www.coindesk.com/author/mert-mumtaz\",\"description\":\"CoinDesk author profile for Mert Mumtaz\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"wJb9pVu0lR\",\"url\":\"https://www.proofoftalk.io/speakers/mert-mumtaz\",\"description\":\"Proof of Talk speaker biography\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"AiiwlwM40I\",\"url\":\"https://crypto.news/former-helius-engineer-describes-founder-mert-mumtaz-as-toxic-in-lengthy-x-post/\",\"description\":\"Report on Helius funding and team expansion\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"T4P3i2tyaZ\",\"url\":\"https://cryptopotato.com/helius-labs-ceo-defends-solana-amid-criticism-over-meme-coin-frenzy/\",\"description\":\"Mumtaz defends Solana against meme coin criticism\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"4MkC0HfKaY\",\"url\":\"https://btcpeers.com/helius-ceo-claims-cryptocurrency-represents-capitalism-advancement-rather-than-web-development/\",\"description\":\"Mert Mumtaz's \\\"Capitalism 2.0\\\" thesis\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"nINqDkXuXR\",\"url\":\"https://cryptopolitan.com/helius-labs-ceo-solana-co-founder-disagree/\",\"description\":\"Proposal for a Solana-aligned stablecoin\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"T4946zyeRE\",\"url\":\"https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/538847-29\",\"description\":\"PitchBook profile of Mert Mumtaz\",\"timestamp\":1759012511946},{\"id\":\"YaN4kQxSrw\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn: Mert Mumtaz\",\"timestamp\":1759012769195,\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mertmumtaz/\"},{\"id\":\"MxPTvzGKz3\",\"description\":\"Mert Mumtaz: How Solana Hits $1,000 (And Makes You Rich) | E98\\n\",\"timestamp\":1759013193458,\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8A-pt-xKX8\"},{\"id\":\"lvFpDUZZQ7\",\"description\":\"Mert Mumtaz: Solana, Company Building, Culture, Incentives, and Risk Taking\\n\",\"timestamp\":1759013384176,\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xme8Jk-n_Ic\"},{\"id\":\"aqw5k58sa6\",\"url\":\"https://www.helius.dev/blog/funding-announcement\",\"description\":\"Helius funding and validator announcement\",\"timestamp\":1788736092870},{\"id\":\"1zp61ri68w\",\"url\":\"https://solanacompass.com/news/helius-acquires-light-protocol-to-build-solanas-privacy-layer\",\"description\":\"Helius acquisition of Light Protocol for Solana privacy layer\",\"timestamp\":1788736092870},{\"id\":\"xfntypfl2u\",\"url\":\"https://genfinity.io/2026/08/07/helius-mert-mumtaz-solana-privacy-protocol-encrypted-balances/\",\"description\":\"Interview on Solana privacy protocol and encrypted balances\",\"timestamp\":1788736092870},{\"id\":\"61qpmx2qdk\",\"url\":\"https://solanacompass.com/news/helius-launches-balance-at-api-query-any-solana-wallets-historical-balance-in-one-call\",\"description\":\"Helius launches balance-at historical balance API\",\"timestamp\":1788736092870},{\"id\":\"2r3sfjf2pz\",\"url\":\"https://solanacompass.com/news/helius-launches-preprocessedsubscribe-stream-pre-execution-solana-transactions\",\"description\":\"'Helius launches preprocessedSubscribe pre-execution transaction feed\",\"timestamp\":1788736092870},{\"id\":\"tub89klgjb\",\"url\":\"https://www.theblock.co/news/deals/2026-06-10-solana-infrastructure-firm-helius-acquires-light-protocol-expand-onchain-privacy-403982\",\"description\":\"Solana infrastructure firm Helius acquires Light Protocol to expand onchain privacy\",\"timestamp\":1788736350961},{\"id\":\"xiunvy47c2\",\"url\":\"https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/cryptocurrency/helius-ceo-mumtaz-sol-zec-robinhood-gold-debate/cZKq8soR7Js\",\"description\":\"'Why Hold Robinhood Over Gold?': Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz Brushes Off SOL Vs ZEC Narrative Debate\",\"timestamp\":1788736350961},{\"id\":\"extt7yz9nf\",\"url\":\"https://cryptonews.net/news/altcoins/33335531/\",\"description\":\"Solana Developer Mert Mumtaz Praises an Altcoin Big Time\",\"timestamp\":1788736350961}]"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmTjAqsLe91UjbbDRWAbGnmJ5tjdndpShRWiTfgRyXE4xg"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"Expand Mert Mumtaz wiki: summary, timeline, tags (+458w)"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmTjAqsLe91UjbbDRWAbGnmJ5tjdndpShRWiTfgRyXE4xg"}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x1E23b34d3106F0C1c74D17f2Cd0F65cdb039b138"},"views":1326}