Aztec Amaya has played a role in some of the most well-known ecosystems in crypto. Currently, the Chief Strategy Officer at Lunar Digital Assets, his early contributions to Polygon and ongoing work with QuickSwap and LitVM reflect a focus on long-term strategy over short-term attention.
We spoke to Aztec about his journey, the lessons learned from building in Web3, and the direction he’s headed next.
Q: You’ve been part of the space for years. What got you started in Web3?
Aztec: I came into the space around the time Matic Network was still under the radar. I was interested in the tech, but more than that, I saw a gap in how many of these teams were building solid products but struggling to connect with real users.
My initial work was around community building and strategic marketing. That eventually led to helping Matic with their rebrand to Polygon and supporting early awareness efforts, which helped them raise and scale.
Q: Let’s talk about that. What specifically did your role with Polygon involve?
Aztec: It started with a marketing strategy. But over time, it moved into ecosystem-level work. One major initiative was co-incubating QuickSwap, which became the biggest DEX on Polygon. That project gave the ecosystem a core use case early on.
I also contributed to the research and rationale behind the shift from Matic to Polygon. That rebrand wasn’t cosmetic; it was a repositioning of the entire protocol. That change helped draw in attention from major players and created room for other projects to grow under that umbrella.
Q: You’re now Chief Strategy Officer at Lunar Digital Assets. How does your current role differ from the early Polygon days?
Aztec: The scope is much broader. At LDA, I’m involved across multiple projects. That includes not just marketing, but team building, product direction, and working closely with founders to think about scalability and long-term value.
One of the biggest shifts has been understanding how to take lessons from a fast-scaling protocol like Polygon and apply them to projects that are starting much smaller but still want to grow in a sustainable way.
Q: A lot of people know you now through QuickSwap’s show “The Aggregated.” What was the idea behind starting that?
Aztec: Honestly, it started pretty organically. We wanted a space to have real conversations—unscripted, long-form, and not driven by headlines. It turned into a live space with industry voices every Friday, and over time, listenership grew well beyond what we expected.
I co-host it with Roc Zacharias, and we try to keep it grounded. The goal is to give the audience something more thoughtful than just “what’s pumping today.”
Q: You’ve mentioned LitVM as a focus now. Can you explain what it is and why it’s being built on Litecoin?
Aztec: LitVM is a zk-based layer built to bring smart contract capabilities to Litecoin. The idea is to take a legacy asset like Litecoin—widely held, liquid, and with a strong brand- and give it utility in the Web3 context.
We’re working with teams from both the Ethereum and Bitcoin zk rollup space. The goal isn’t to compete with newer chains but to unlock use cases like DeFi, NFTs, or even real-world assets that can settle back to Litecoin.
Q: Why focus on Litecoin now? Doesn’t that feel like a move backward, given where the innovation is happening?
Aztec: Not necessarily. Litecoin is still in the top 20 by market cap, with a large base of long-term holders. What it lacks is programmability.
LitVM adds that. The approach is to make Litecoin more useful without compromising on its simplicity and security. It’s not about chasing trends, it’s about creating functionality for a user base that’s already here.
Q: You’ve worked on QuickSwap, Polygon, and now LitVM. What patterns do you look for before getting involved in a project?
Aztec: A few things matter consistently:
→ Does it solve a real problem?
→ Is there a committed team behind it?
→ Is there potential for organic community support?
I’ve learned that it’s not always about hype or token price. Projects that survive are the ones that focus on utility and iterate based on feedback. Flashy launches can fade quickly if the fundamentals aren’t solid.
Q: What are some mistakes you think the Web3 space still repeats?
Aztec: Rushing to market without product-market fit is a big one. Also, underestimating how hard it is to build a real community. Airdrops don’t build loyalty—consistent engagement does.
Another issue is the obsession with copying what worked for someone else, without understanding why it worked. There’s no one-size-fits-all in crypto.
Q: What’s next for you in the coming months?
Aztec: Right now, most of my focus is on getting LitVM to testnet. We’re building the community, refining the tech, and preparing for real users.
Beyond that, LDA is still incubating a few projects that are in stealth. We’ll talk more about those when they’re ready. But the common thread across all of them is trying to create lasting value, something that holds up over cycles.
Closing Thoughts
Aztec Amaya doesn’t define success by visibility, but by longevity. Whether helping Polygon build a foundation or bringing new layers to Litecoin, his work stays centered on product, community, and sustainable scale.
In an industry that often rewards speed, Amaya’s approach is more methodical—but perhaps, more durable.
