Decentralize, Digitize, Energize: Positioning for Disruptive Investment Trends
September 29, 2025
Watch Time 2:32 MIN
Positioning for Disruptive Investment Trends
Hi, my name is Dave Schassler. I work in the Multi-Asset Solutions group here at VanEck. At VanEck, we're always talking about we position ourselves as a macro thematic shop. When I say macro thematic, really what I'm saying is we focus on the big themes that are going to be disruptive to society. That's what we focus on from an investment perspective.
Within the multi-asset solutions group, we make those ideas investable. And we make them investable in a risk managed way. That's what we do through our model portfolios.
Investment Themes: Decentralized, Digitized, Energized.
Right now we see the collision of the biggest themes in our lifetimes, not only from an investment perspective, but just as actually people living through it. So let's talk about what those are.
The first is decentralized. The idea that there is a lot of excess fiat currency out there and in a world where there's lots of currencies, assets with embedded scarcity, those perform. That's why you're seeing gold perform.
The second digitized. The idea that we're in a new era, that we're in a period of huge innovation driven from AI. AI is going to drive productivity. That productivity is going to drive economic growth.
And then the third, if you believe in the second point, you have to believe in the third, which is that we need a lot more energy. The world's going to need a lot more energy. Right now, that means traditional resources here and in the future, in the medium term, it's going to be likely nuclear energy. And there's going to be a lot of innovation as well. So we're all hands on deck, science-based approach to energy.
How are we getting exposure to it? Within the model portfolios for decentralized, we've got a lot of exposure to gold and we've got exposure to Bitcoin. Those are decentralized store value assets, not controlled by any government, not controlled by any organization, truly independent assets, assets with embedded scarcity.
The second digitized, how are we getting exposure to AI? We are a long innovation. Specifically, we're allowing US growth stocks. That's where we're getting exposure to the AI theme.
And then third, energized. We have exposure to commodities and natural resource equities. That's how we're going to get the power now. And we've got exposure to the future of power, the innovation of power through nuclear technology. So that's how we have exposure. our key themes again.
Decentralized, digitized, energized.
Thank you very much for listening today. We encourage you to visit our website, vaneck.com. Check out the monthly model updates. In there, we talk about monthly commentary, what's happening with our themes, how we're getting exposure, comes out every month, sign up. Thank you so much.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE
Coin Definitions
Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized digital currency, without a central bank or single administrator, that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries.
Please note that VanEck may offer investments products that invest in the asset class(es) or industries included in this video.
This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned are unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees.
Investments in commodities can be very volatile and direct investment in these markets can be very risky, especially for inexperienced investors.
There are inherent risks with equity investing. These risks include, but are not limited to stock market, manager, or investment style. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices.
Gold investments are subject to the risks associated with concentrating its assets in the gold industry, which can be significantly affected by international economic, monetary and political developments. Investments in gold may decline in value due to developments specific to the gold industry. Foreign gold security investments involve risks related to adverse political and economic developments unique to a country or a region, currency fluctuations or controls, and the possibility of arbitrary action by foreign governments, or political, economic or social instability. Gold investments are subject to risks associated with investments in U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, commodities and commodity-linked derivatives, commodities and commodity-linked derivatives tax, gold-mining industry, derivatives, emerging market securities, foreign currency transactions, foreign securities, other investment companies, management, market, non-diversification, operational, regulatory, small- and medium-capitalization companies and subsidiary risks.
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