Startups are rapidly reshaping how individuals and institutions generate returns from digital assets, and Blueprint Finance is emerging as a notable player in that transformation. Founded by Nic Roberts-Huntley, the New York-based firm raised $9.5 million earlier this year to scale its decentralized finance platforms and capture a growing share of the crypto lending market, which now exceeds $36 billion. As traditional financial institutions increase their exposure to digital assets, opportunities for yield generation and impact-oriented investing in crypto are coming into sharper focus.
Speaking at Solana’s Breakpoint conference in Abu Dhabi, Roberts-Huntley highlighted how the UAE has established itself as a global hub for digital assets. He pointed to regulatory clarity at the state level, particularly within the Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Dubai International Financial Centre, as a major draw for institutional investors and global exchanges seeking a stable operating environment. These frameworks have helped position the region as a center for innovation in blockchain finance.
A central theme of the discussion was the convergence of regulation and yield generation in digital assets. Roberts-Huntley emphasized that upcoming regulatory developments, particularly around stablecoins, could unlock a new wave of yield-oriented opportunities. For large financial institutions, the ability to recognize and account for gains from digital assets is critical. Clear regulatory treatment, he argued, is essential for institutions seeking to generate yield through both traditional money markets and decentralized lending strategies.
As institutional interest accelerates, Roberts-Huntley identified a key challenge facing the sector: balance sheet representation and compliance. “Money markets or traditional DeFi lending are commonplace,” he said, but integrating these instruments into regulated financial systems requires navigating complex Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering requirements. Without standardized frameworks, scaling institutional participation remains difficult.
Roberts-Huntley framed institutional yield as more than a passing trend, describing it as a structural shift in capital allocation. Large financial partners are increasingly focused on mitigating risk while generating reliable cash flows. However, deploying capital at scale remains a constraint. Opportunities capable of absorbing more than $1 billion in a single venue are rare, underscoring the need for deeper liquidity and more mature market structures within DeFi.
The discussion also turned to blockchain infrastructure, with Roberts-Huntley pointing to rising enthusiasm around Layer 2 solutions and the Solana network. Known for its speed and reliability, Solana continues to attract developers and capital. He noted that debates between Ethereum and Solana proponents are becoming less relevant, as both ecosystems demonstrate complementary strengths suited to different financial use cases.
Looking ahead, Roberts-Huntley anticipates increased merger and acquisition activity across the digital asset sector. He cited compressed returns in traditional finance and a limited talent pool in crypto as key drivers. “Digital assets seem to be an interesting area of exploration,” he said, adding that acquiring specialized teams and proven protocols will become a strategic priority for firms seeking to scale efficiently.
As the digital asset ecosystem matures, Roberts-Huntley stressed the importance of separating meaningful innovation from market noise. With heightened activity across custodians, exchanges, and infrastructure providers, adaptability will be critical. While challenges remain, advances in blockchain technology continue to create opportunities for sustainable and impact-driven investment strategies.
In conclusion, Nic Roberts-Huntley’s insights underscore the evolving role of decentralized finance in global capital markets. With Blueprint Finance expanding within the $36 billion crypto lending market, institutional yield, regulatory clarity, and scalable infrastructure are becoming defining themes of the next phase of digital asset adoption. Startups like Blueprint Finance are not only participating in this evolution but are actively shaping its direction.