a16zcrypto

@a16zcrypto

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"Decentralization must be incentivized, not ignored. So I argue in this piece that we must start with a better definition of decentralization — one that moves us beyond the ambiguities that have caused unintended consequences, and that could simplify things for both policymakers and builders." – @milesjennings Full post: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/defining-decentralization-control/

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AI and crypto… How will these two powerful technologies collide, and what happens when they do? Today’s episode is a special one. It’s a round table on some of the most compelling ideas at the intersection of AI and crypto, sourced from members of the a16z crypto team. You’re going to hear from builders, researchers, and deal makers who are all wrestling with the big question: How will these two powerful technologies collide, and what happens when they do? https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/ai-crypto-11-ideas/

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Can cryptography solve the problem of MEV? One approach is an encrypted mempool, where users broadcast encrypted transactions that are only revealed after they are sequenced. Hence, a consensus protocol would have to commit to a transaction ordering blindly, seemingly preventing the ability to take advantage of MEV opportunities during the ordering process. Unfortunately, for both practical and theoretical reasons, we don’t see encrypted mempools providing a universal solution to MEV. We outline the difficulties and explore how encrypted mempools might be designed: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/limits-encrypted-mempools/

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6 use cases for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN): 1. Energy 2. Telecom 3. Transportation 4. AI 5. Robotics See #6 here: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/6-use-cases-for-depin/ by @guy

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Attackers can use data stolen in breaches — your name, email and physical addresses, phone numbers, government-issued ID, Social Security Number, bank account information, and more — to steal even more sensitive things from you: your identity, online accounts, money, and more. Every piece of information attackers glean makes it easier for and likelier that they will acquire more, usually through targeted phishing attacks. If you suspect or know that your personal information has been compromised, take steps to protect yourself. Better yet, get ahead of the next breach by taking these actions now. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to respond to — and proactively defend against — the fallout from data breaches, both immediately and long term. ➡️ https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/how-to-protect-after-data-breach/

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Personal and physical security for founders, operators, and investors: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/personal-physical-security/

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In case you missed it... Here's our summer 2025 reading list: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/books-were-reading-summer-2025/

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How stablecoins become money: Liquidity, sovereignty, and credit by @sambroner https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/how-stablecoins-become-money/

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In a now-annual tradition, the a16z crypto editorial team discusses themes (and picks) from a16z crypto’s latest reading list, as well as books we keep re-reading, childhood favorites, classics, adaptations on adaptations — in book and movie form! — and much more. Tune in: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/what-were-reading-summer-technology-changing-reading/ @hackr @stzinn @tims @smc90

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In this post, we share 11 use cases at the intersection of crypto and AI to help kickstart conversations about what’s possible, what challenges are left to solve, and more. They’re all grounded in technology being built today, from processing a multitude of micropayments to ensuring humans own their relationships with the AI of the future. Full post: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/ai-crypto-crossovers/

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Our summer reading list is live! This season’s list — part of our semiannual tradition — spans a wide range of genres from true stories and speculative fiction to poetry, but the throughlines are still clear: striving for mastery, understanding edge cases (whether human, legal, or technical), and embracing unconventional thinking. Check it out here: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/books-were-reading-summer-2025/

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Today, we've got a midyear market update and news episode for you. At the end of last year, our guest — and resident data weatherman — @darenmatsuoka put out a post on "5 metrics to watch in 2025." Most of the metrics that Daren picked measure how crypto's adoption: from mobile wallet usage and onchain transaction fees to volume across stablecoins, decentralized exchanges (or DEXs), and exchange traded-products. Now that we're about midway through 2025, it's a great time for an update. Check out the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3JlylTcgUTQspfpW4yrFjt?si=yWYMl3wfTvWf1tA8WXQIkA&nd=1&dlsi=b6323f2446b6446b

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Wait — the bank froze your life savings? Debanking exposed... Imagine waking up one day to find your bank account frozen. No warning. No explanation. No recourse. This is not a thought experiment. It’s a real situation. And it’s happened not just to crypto companies and their founders, but to ordinary people who are just trying to live their lives. That includes our guest today, who learned firsthand what it means to be “debanked.” In this episode, we talk about the unseen algorithms that monitor people’s accounts, the ramifications of the Bank Secrecy Act, and how crypto and decentralized finance may offer a much-needed check — and safety net — against the opaque systems of traditional finance. Full episode: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/debanking-exposed/

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Who will control AI in the future — big, centralized companies, or communities of users? Blockchains can counterbalance many of the centralizing forces we’re already seeing in AI. Together these trends enable useful applications. Here are 11 crypto x AI use cases, from decentralized physical infrastructure to IP registries for creators. → https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/ai-crypto-crossovers/ @skominers @sambroner @boogie @guy @lizh @carra

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In this episode, we tease apart the hype from the reality of prediction markets, but also go more deeply into the how, why, and where these markets work. We also dig into the design challenges and opportunities (including implications for builders) of these and other information aggregation mechanisms; and more. Where do (and don’t) blockchain and crypto technologies come in? What are some of the most interesting applications, both immediate — like for corporate decisions or scientific replication — and in the near to distant future, across trends like AI, DeSci, futarchy/ governance, and more? Check it out: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/prediction-markets-information-aggregation-mechanisms/ w/ @skominers @smc90

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New podcast episode just dropped! Solana cofounder @toly shares the origin and evolution of Solana; what sets the chain’s culture, values, and tech apart; how it has gotten to where it is today (despite several near-death brushes); and much more in conversation with a16z General Partner @alive. Tune in: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/solana-inside-story-anatoly-yakovenko/

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To empower entrepreneurs to better understand the market — and ensure fair andsustainable deal structures — below we share the foundational principles that inform how we define the scope of token rights and restrictions. We then highlight some of the predatory behaviors we’ve seen from some investors, and discuss how that behavior hurts projects. We also provide an explanation of provisions we use. Check out the full post here: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/token-rights-in-term-sheets-how-to-avoid-predatory-deals/ @milesjennings

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CSX SF Demo Day 🫡

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AI vs. ID: How do we prove who's human and who's AI in a world of agents, bots, deep fakes, and more? The answer may be a privacy-preserving ID that proves you're human -- and enables new applications, too: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/proof-of-human-privacy-ai-agents-bots-deepfakes-world-orb/

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Full-stack security resources from our team. ⤵️ Personal and physical security for founders, operators, and investors: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/personal-physical-security/ Crypto exchange ByBit got hacked for $1.5 billion — making it potentially the biggest heist of all time. Security expert Matt Gleason discusses how the attack went down, the state of crypto security, and what you can do to help protect yourself: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/bybit-hack-security/ Security audit secrets to success: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/security-audit-best-practices/ How to protect yourself after a personal data breach: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/how-to-protect-after-data-breach/ Apple iCloud: Doing this 1 thing can help stop hacks: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/apple-icloud-account-hack-recovery/

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