Coin Stories Episode Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Coin Stories
Host: Natalie Brunell
Guest: Eric Jackson, Founder of EMJ Capital
Episode: "Eric Jackson: Finding the Next 100x Investment, AI Investing Models and Bitcoin's Future"
Date: November 25, 2025

This episode features Eric Jackson, renowned hedge fund manager and founder of EMJ Capital, as he sits down with Natalie Brunell to discuss his approach to finding "100x" investments (so-called "100 baggers"), the integration of AI in investment modeling, and the future of Bitcoin as both an asset and monetary standard. Eric shares personal stories about his family’s immigrant background, insights into real estate disruption, lessons learned from retail investors, and his bullish thesis for Bitcoin (with eye-popping projections!). The conversation blends investing philosophy, practical opportunities, AI’s impact, and the democratization of wealth creation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Eric Jackson’s Background and Investing Philosophy

• Immigrant Roots & Inspiration
  Eric begins by reflecting on his grandparents’ migration from Western Ukraine, their struggles during the Great Depression, and how these experiences instilled a belief in “buying quality” and self-reliance.

  “My grandfather always told me, the government’s never gonna save you… you’re gonna have to push yourself ahead.” – Eric Jackson (03:20)

• Investment Ethos: Optimism & Blue Sky Thinking
  Rather than focusing on failure-risk, Eric approaches stocks by asking: "What could go right?"

  “Short sellers wake up thinking what could go wrong. I wake up thinking, what are all the amazing things that could go right?" – Eric Jackson (08:00)

  • Seeks transformative companies with huge asymmetric upside (“100x potential”), not just incremental gains.

100x Investments & AI-Powered Modeling

• Carvana & The Anatomy of a “100 Bagger”
  Eric shares the Carvana story: from collapse ($400 → $3.50) and dismissive sentiment, to his AI models flagging the turnaround. Key catalyst: insider buying, conviction from management, and AI indicators converging.

  “[Our AI] said, hey, Carvana, something’s going on here…should be number two in your portfolio. This was at $11 a share.” – Eric Jackson (10:24)

• Secret Sauce: Combining AI, Management Signals, and Narrative
  The role of AI is not just in flagging statistical outliers but in reinforcing analysis of management conviction and market psychology.

  • Cites importance of “narrative” in attracting investors and driving “socially constructed” stock prices.

The Opendoor “Open Army” and Real Estate Disruption

• Opendoor’s Model Explained
  Opendoor aims to revolutionize real estate by enabling 3-day home sales wholly online, using AI for pricing, inspections, and minimizing human involvement.

  “They want to do three day closes…when you click submit, your money is in your account three days from now. And before you leave, they offer a credit line to browse homes to buy.” – Eric Jackson (18:45)

• Role of AI in Real Estate
  From home inspections to staging, Opendoor cuts staff (from 11 to 1 per transaction) and scales through technology.

  “OpenDoor hopes to take headcount down 80-90%...AI is filling the rest.” – Eric Jackson (23:41)

• Impact on Agents and Community
  Despite fears, many real estate agents are part of the “Open Army” as a hedge for the industry’s evolution.

Bitcoin: Conviction, Treasury Models, and AI Trading

• Jackson’s Bull Thesis on Bitcoin
  Eric is a long-time holder and extreme Bitcoin bull, launching a new Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) focused on BTC, ETH, and “Carvana coins” (high-upside altcoins).

  “I think long term, I’m just as bullish as Michael Saylor. The price of Bitcoin will go to $50 million plus.” – Eric Jackson (28:08)

• AI vs. Traditional Asset Models
  AI models built on Bitcoin transactions (on-chain data, whale movements, stablecoin flows) give an “83% hit rate” vs. ~51% for stock models due to blockchain transparency.

  “There’s so much more information saved on the blockchain… that’s why the model is right 83% of the time.” – Eric Jackson (33:02)

• Building the Next-Gen Treasury Product
  Jackson envisions a DAT hedged dynamically with AI signals—aiming to outperform during drawdowns and upswings, improving upon “Generation 1” (e.g., MicroStrategy).

Retail Investors, Community, and the Power of Narrative

• Redefining Retail Investment
  Eric rejects the “dumb money” label, pointing to the intelligence, creativity, and hunger among ordinary investors he’s met worldwide (from painters to fishermen).

  “The biggest surprise for me this year is how smart, hungry, and disciplined retail investors are. They’re not dumb money.” – Eric Jackson (37:04)

• Rising Dynasty Philosophy
  Encourages bold bets (“slugging percentage over batting average”)—meaning when you find a mega-opportunity, back it meaningfully instead of over-diversifying.

• Personal Failing and Growth
  Emphasizes the necessity of learning through failure and perseverance, echoing entrepreneurial stories from his family.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Bitcoin’s Future

  “I think the price of Bitcoin will go to $50 million plus.” – Eric Jackson (28:09)

• On Using AI for Trading

  “Our AI Bitcoin models have an 83% hit rate. Stocks are maybe 51%. It’s the transparency of the blockchain.” – Eric Jackson (33:02)

• On Retail Investor Motivation

  “I see this as my second job…if I just do painting, it’s not enough to provide generational wealth. Investing is a way to jump the line.” – Anonymous retail investor via Eric Jackson (38:12)

• On the Opendoor “Open Army”

  “Probably the profession most represented in the Open Army internationally are real estate agents.” – Eric Jackson (22:59)

• On Empowerment and Opportunity

  “We are so blessed—nobody before us could just type into ChatGPT and get all the information of humankind instantly downloaded.” – Eric Jackson (43:10)

• Viral: The Drake Videos
  Eric’s son challenged him to make daily videos in front of Drake’s house in Toronto to promote Opendoor until Drake invests (now >88 days and counting), connecting memes, celebrity culture, and finance in a light-hearted campaign with real impact.

Highlighted Segments (Timestamps)

| Segment Description | Timestamp | | -------------------------- | --------- | | Eric's Family & “Buy Quality” Ethos | 00:57 – 05:49 | | Investment Philosophy & Carvana Case Study | 07:54 – 13:00 | | Opendoor, AI, and Real Estate Innovation | 16:36 – 27:00 | | Bitcoin Convictions & DAT Launch | 27:21 – 34:11 | | The Smart Retail Investor | 36:29 – 41:18 | | “Rising Dynasty” & Going Big on 100x Plays | 41:18 – 45:37 | | Allocation Advice for $1M Portfolio | 47:12 – 48:19 | | Current 100x Stock Opportunities | 48:19 – 51:36 | | AI Models: How DIY Investors Can Compete | 51:36 – 53:46 | | The Drake Social Media Campaign | 53:46 – 55:52 |

Actionable Takeaways

• For investors: Look for companies where the downside is misunderstood, but the upside is “blue sky.” Be bold (when warranted) rather than sprinkled thinly across dozens of ideas.
• On AI: Adapt to AI tools for investing—those who learn to use data creatively will have an edge.
• On Bitcoin: BTC remains at the core; complementary investments should be made with a careful, thesis-driven approach.
• For communities: Narratives drive investing as much as numbers; use storytelling and grassroots engagement (“Open Army,” viral videos) to build conviction and community.

In Closing

Eric Jackson’s blend of optimism, cutting-edge AI application, and deep respect for “ordinary” investors leads to a message of empowerment: transformative opportunities (whether in stocks or Bitcoin) are increasingly open to all, and those willing to learn, fail, and swing big, can rewrite their family’s financial future—just like his own grandfather dreamed.

Notable Resources Mentioned:

• Carvana
• Opendoor
• Iron & Cipher (AI/data center plays)
• Hut 8 and Better Home and Finance (BEtr)
• Sana (biotech innovation)
• MicroStrategy (as “BTC rocket fuel”)
• Advice: “Always buy quality, don’t buy cheap” — Eric’s grandfather