When it comes to obvious asset class similarities, crypto and crude might seem to have little in common.  But for Rich Rosenblum, there are linkages between them upon closer inspection.  Seeing similarities in the diversifying characteristics of both assets in broad portfolios, Rich also notes the tendency for digital assets and crude to experience phases of investment and then value extraction from that investment.  The net result is volatility.  On this episode of the Alpha Exchange, it was a pleasure to solicit the insights of Rich, the former global head of oil derivatives at Goldman Sachs and, for the last 7 years, a co-founder and head of trading at GSR Markets, focused on delivering trading and investment product solutions to the crypto space.  Our conversation explores the financial attributes of bitcoin – its correlation to risk markets, its periods of strong price momentum and how it may perform during the chaos that investors are especially worried about right now.  We also discuss the expanding market for options on bitcoin and the manner in which the vol surface is priced both across strike and time.  The increasing degree of liquidity in this market provides new opportunities to gain exposure to both the upside and downside movements in the largest cryptocurrency.  Please enjoy this episode of the Alpha Exchange, my conversation with Rich Rosenblum.