How to Invest in the "Core" of AI, Crypto, and Real Estate in 2026 with Dan Daly
Episode
49 min
Read time
2 min
Topics
Relationships, Investing, Fundraising & VC
AI-Generated Summary
Key Takeaways
- ✓Foundational Asset Framework: Identify the core resource powering each trend rather than the trend itself. When EVs and data centers created chip shortages in 2020, Daly bought semiconductor ETFs, then traced demand further upstream to copper and uranium ETFs — the raw materials semiconductors require. This "core of the onion" approach reduces single-stock risk while capturing structural growth.
- ✓Crypto Infrastructure Play: Rather than speculating on meme coins, position in blockchain "highways" — Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, and Aave — that process all on-chain transactions. As governments tokenize treasuries and the broader financial system migrates on-chain, these networks function like toll booths collecting fees on every transaction regardless of which individual coin wins.
- ✓Home Equity Leverage Strategy: Homeowners with significant equity can extract it tax-free via a home equity loan, since property taxes were already paid throughout ownership. Daly pulled $500,000 tax-free from one paid-down property and used it to purchase three income-producing rentals, each fully tenant-occupied with mortgage costs covered by rental income.
- ✓Portugal Real Estate Arbitrage: Porto, Portugal offers 3.8% fixed 20-year mortgage rates versus 6.8% in the US, 50% loan-to-value financing, ~$300 annual property taxes, and ~€150 annual insurance. Fully renovated city-center apartments were purchasable for $300,000 in 2022 and have since doubled in value, while generating 98% Airbnb occupancy in a high-tourism, non-seasonal urban location.
- ✓Portugal Golden Visa Fund Structure: Investing €500,000 into a government-regulated fund grants permanent EU residency for an entire family — including spouse, children, and elderly dependents — under one application after five years. Investors receive an estimated 7% annual yield during the hold period plus an exit return when the fund's boutique hotel portfolio is sold to institutional buyers like major hotel chains.
What It Covers
Investor Dan Daly shares his framework for identifying foundational assets across three sectors: AI infrastructure (nuclear energy, semiconductors), cryptocurrency rails (Ethereum, Solana, XRP), and international real estate. He details how he built a Portugal short-term rental portfolio starting in 2022 and is now launching a $25M private equity fund.
Key Questions Answered
- •Foundational Asset Framework: Identify the core resource powering each trend rather than the trend itself. When EVs and data centers created chip shortages in 2020, Daly bought semiconductor ETFs, then traced demand further upstream to copper and uranium ETFs — the raw materials semiconductors require. This "core of the onion" approach reduces single-stock risk while capturing structural growth.
- •Crypto Infrastructure Play: Rather than speculating on meme coins, position in blockchain "highways" — Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, and Aave — that process all on-chain transactions. As governments tokenize treasuries and the broader financial system migrates on-chain, these networks function like toll booths collecting fees on every transaction regardless of which individual coin wins.
- •Home Equity Leverage Strategy: Homeowners with significant equity can extract it tax-free via a home equity loan, since property taxes were already paid throughout ownership. Daly pulled $500,000 tax-free from one paid-down property and used it to purchase three income-producing rentals, each fully tenant-occupied with mortgage costs covered by rental income.
- •Portugal Real Estate Arbitrage: Porto, Portugal offers 3.8% fixed 20-year mortgage rates versus 6.8% in the US, 50% loan-to-value financing, ~$300 annual property taxes, and ~€150 annual insurance. Fully renovated city-center apartments were purchasable for $300,000 in 2022 and have since doubled in value, while generating 98% Airbnb occupancy in a high-tourism, non-seasonal urban location.
- •Portugal Golden Visa Fund Structure: Investing €500,000 into a government-regulated fund grants permanent EU residency for an entire family — including spouse, children, and elderly dependents — under one application after five years. Investors receive an estimated 7% annual yield during the hold period plus an exit return when the fund's boutique hotel portfolio is sold to institutional buyers like major hotel chains.
Notable Moment
Daly described spending three months competing for US multifamily properties, only to repeatedly lose to 300+ competing buyers. Shifting to Porto, Portugal, he received broker callbacks within 20 minutes — illustrating how geographic arbitrage eliminates competition and creates deal access unavailable in saturated domestic markets.
Episode Transcript
Right. Your equity in your house is tax free. So when you take that, from your house, it's tax free because you've been paying tax on the house the entire time you owned it, so you don't get taxed on it twice. So that was a head scratcher for me. Oh my god. The bank just wrote me a check for 500,000 tax free. I took that and bought three properties with it. And all of those properties have tenants, and all of those properties are fully occupied, and they are paid down by the tenant. Starting something new isn't just hard. It's terrifying. So much work goes into this thing that you're not entirely sure how it'll work out, and it could be hard to make that leap of faith. Trust me. I know. When I started this podcast, I wasn't even sure what I was doing. What if no one listens? What if I make a fool of myself? What if no one buys my products? Now I know that I was right in believing in myself and launching our podcast, Investing for Beginners. Despite all the fears and hesitations, it also helps when you have a partner like Shopify on your side to help. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e commerce in The US. From household names like Gymshark and Allbirds to brands just getting started. Get started with your own design studio with hundreds of ready to use templates. Shopify helps you build a beautiful online store that matches your brand style. Accelerate your efficiency whether you're uploading new products or trying to improve existing ones. Shopify is packed with helpful AI tools that write product descriptions, page headlines, and even enhance your product photography. Get the word out like you have a marketing team behind you. Easily create email and social media campaigns wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling. Best yet, Shopify is your commerce expert with world class expertise in everything from managing inventory to international shipping to processing returns and beyond. Did I mention that iconic purple shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify has the best converting checkout on the planet. It also helps boost conversions, meaning less carts going abandoned and more sales for you. It's time to turn those what ifs into with Shopify today. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com/beginners. Go to shopify.com/beginners. That's shopify.com/beginners. This show is sponsored by Liquid Ivy. Want to know a counterintuitive investing truth? Taking breaks actually accelerates progress. I used to power through exhaustion, thinking more hours meant better analysis. Wrong. I'd missed crucial details and financial statements because my brain was fried. Now I prioritize recovery and hydration, and my work quality has never been better. That's why I use LiquidIV's hydration multiplier sugar free hydration. Whether you're a post workout, traveling, or just tackling a demanding …
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“Rather than speculating on meme coins, position in blockchain "highways" — Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, and Aave — that process all on-chain transactions.”
“Rather than speculating on meme coins, position in blockchain "highways" — Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, and Aave — that process all on-chain transactions.”
“Rather than speculating on meme coins, position in blockchain "highways" — Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, and Aave — that process all on-chain transactions.”
“Rather than speculating on meme coins, position in blockchain "highways" — Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, and Aave — that process all on-chain transactions.”
“Rather than speculating on meme coins, position in blockchain "highways" — Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, and Aave — that process all on-chain transactions.”
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