In this episode, we’re talking about congestion pricing — an area of mechanism design that’s aimed at alleviating something everyone hates: traffic.

In the first part of today’s episode, we’ll trace the history of the economic ideas that got us here. In the middle, we’ll dig deeper into the details of putting congestion pricing into practice, plus technological alternatives. And in the final part, we’ll explore parallels to — and implications for — crypto networks.

Our guest is Michael Ostrovsky, a Stanford Economics Professor who specializes in this area and who has done research on congestion pricing in New York. We’re also joined by a16z crypto Research Partner @skominers, who is a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, where he teaches market design and entrepreneurship.

With our host @hackr 🎙️

https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/congestion-pricing-economics-new-york/

i spoke to two economists about congestion pricing — from city blocks to blockchains

great conversation with @skominers + Mike Ostrovsky (who has been researching the implementation in NYC)

@a16zcrypto • Harvard/HBS • 🧩 • QED

1/ I’m excited to announce the cohort for our fourth Crypto Startup Accelerator program (CSX 04), starting this week in San Francisco.   

CSX helps early-stage startups building on blockchain technologies to accelerate development and product-market fit. It is an intensive program that provides the expertise, mentorship, and support that startups need to build ambitious products across industries. 

Over the next two months, the founders of these companies will get firsthand guidance and support from a16z crypto’s investing and operating teams. We connect founders with capital, industry experts across the a16z network, and a cohort of leading web3 teams. a16z CSX also invests a minimum of $500,000 in each company that’s accepted. 

The founders in CSX 04 are coming to San Francisco from countries around the world: Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, and across the US.

OH: monster jam is just figure skating but antielitist

Wow.

I made more in Warpcast rewards in a MONTH than I’ve made in DECADES on other social media. 

🤯🤯🤯

What do people really mean when they talk about blockchain performance?

Aptos Labs’ Head of Research Sasha Spiegelman joins a16z crypto Head of Research Tim Roughgarden and show host @hackr to discuss ways technologists are trying to maximize throughput and minimize latency for blockchains. 

Tune in: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/blockchain-performance-aptos/

All about blockchain consensus and execution 👇

I'm a Builder-Pragmatist (-4.5, 3.0) on the Onchain Alignment Chart, seems about right.

The success of any regulatory approach for network tokens hinges on facilitating progressive decentralization—including via Airdrops and Incentive-Based Rewards.

Current rules are murky and entrepreneurs need clarity.

So, we submitted a safe harbor proposal to the SEC with a 5-part test:

Decentralization good. 
+
Airdrops enable decentralization.
=
Regulation should encourage airdrops.

Today, we submitted our response to the first 6 critical questions of the SEC's recent request for information.

Across 50 pages, we tackle the most significant and complex crypto issues with a simple, powerful principle that fits in a single sentence:

is there anything better in this world than that moment milk meets coffee? https://media.tenor.com/Ta_FqR-D1gwAAAAC/kapucsino

the next internet:

neutral
     x
neural
     x
nuclear

Go inside the world’s biggest heist — the $1.5 billion hack of Bybit — on the latest episode of web3 with a16z.

 w/ Matt Gleason & @hackr 

https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/bybit-hack-security/

The industry is mature enough that we can categorize tokens based on their legal, economic, and technical properties. It shouldn't be surprising that not all tokens have the same legal status or long term economic prospects!

https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/defining-tokens/

Name a wilder example of the next big thing starting out looking like a toy than Stan Ulam inventing Monte Carlo Method while stuck in bed playing Solitaire

It is my great honor to be nominated by President Trump as the next Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, where I had served as a Commissioner in his last administration. The CFTC plays a critical role in maintaining robust hedging and price discovery markets that are the envy of the globe. The agency is also well poised to ensure the USA leads the world in blockchain technology and innovation. I look forward to working with President Trump’s incredible financial regulatory team. 🇺🇸

Hugely positive news.

Go @brianquintenz! 🇺🇸🫡

Head of Policy, @a16zcrypto  I  Ex-CFTC Commissioner  I  Financial freedom advocate  I  Outdoor enthusiast  I  Proud Father and American  I  Personal account

Apps that have a daily streak tracker (🔥) really work for me. 

But offline activities don’t have apps — and streak data gets siloed by app anyway.

What if you want more control over your habits, your streaks, and your data?

So I created a personal daily streak/ habit tracking app with help from Replit’s AI coding agent. 

It’s not perfect and it’s nothing fancy. But I would not describe myself as a programmer…

And yet here I am with a deployed and functioning app that I built in a half hour.

Making the U.S. the crypto capital: What it would take

To foster the conversation between government officials and blockchain experts, we’ve gathered 11 views from industry experts on issues ranging from taxes and the freedom to stake, to broader issues like encouraging decentralization and reforming the U.S. regulatory regime. 

These views offer policymakers important considerations for how to approach crypto regulation, ensuring that the U.S. leads this critical shift toward the next generation of the internet.

Read them here: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/us-crypto-capital-policy/

“To express oneself badly is not only faulty as far as the language goes, but does some harm to the soul.”

Parenting

the wildest thing about parenthood is how your child hyperstitions themselves into language acquisition

Founders

Looking to level up your online presence?

Here’s a podcast episode on how to make social media work for you, rather than overwhelming you. 

Our guests are masters of the art of posting, and they have tips and tactics you can use to boost your profile, attract attention, and build a following of your own.

Whether you’re a startup founder, creator, avid doomscroller, or longtime lurker, this show has tips and tactics you can use to attract attention, build a following, and level up your online presence.

In this episode, we cover what to do and what not to do, how much of your authentic self to bring to the table vs. merely playing to the algorithms, turning your interests and obsessions into viral hits, and what standup comedy has to do with the art of posting.

w/ @gaut @ishverduzco @hackr 

tune in: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/social-media-how-to-build-your-presence/

👉 How to be good at social ft. @gaut + @ishverduzco 

Some tips:
- double down on personal interests, expertise, and obsessions 
- use stock prompts and scheduled content to keep up posting
- adopt the mindset of a standup comedian
…and lots more

building a distribution machine.

internetempires.com

builder Universal and @alongside (alongside.xyz) — Casts that won’t put you to sleep — come /donothing with us

Applications for CSX Spring 2025 are now open!

Our Crypto Startup Accelerator (CSX) program provides expert guidance, capital, and resources for founders of early-stage crypto startups.

More details about the program:

→ Will be held in San Francisco 🌁

→ Minimum of $500,000 investment 

→ The nine-week, in-person program will start in April and end with a Demo Day in June 📣

→ Participants receive hands-on guidance, mentorship, and inspiration from some of the best leaders and operators in crypto today 🫡

→ Application will remain open until February 7th 📜

Apply here: http://apply.a16zcrypto.com

--

None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; please see https://a16z.com/disclosures/ for more information.

Applications are open!

Join our next @a16zcrypto startup accelerator

CSX Spring 2025 wants YOU 🫵

We back bold entrepreneurs building the next internet. 
a16zcrypto.com/