What’s the difference between ETH, FTT, USDC, TRUMP and $APPL? And how do those differ from airline miles or a CryptoPunk? Why does it even matter?

Today, @eddy, @skominers, and I published two articles classifying tokens based on their source of value. 👇

CTO @a16zcrypto, lover of https://github.com/a16z/awesome-farcaster

@a16zcrypto • Harvard/HBS • 🧩 • QED

First, we break down tokens into 7 categories, discussing their critical attributes, best use cases, and regulatory status:

Trying to solve more problems than I cause @a16zcrypto

https://linktr.ee/milesjennings

Second, we compare network tokens to company-backed tokens:

🔹 Network tokens derive their value from systems that function absent human control.
🔹 Company-backed tokens derive their value from systems that can’t function absent human control.

Second, we compare network tokens to company-backed tokens:

🔹 Network tokens derive their value from systems that function absent human control.
🔹 Company-backed tokens derive their value from systems that can’t function absent human control.

https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/network-tokens-vs-company-backed-tokens/

First, we break down tokens into 7 categories, discussing their critical attributes, best use cases, and regulatory status:

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

I would redo the tree like this. Whether a token has intrinsic value or not and whether it is speculative or not is kindof in the eye of the beholder.

Ethereum enthusiast exploring frontier of layer 2s, gamefi, and decentralized apps.

Interesting. I’m don’t think all asset backed tokens are a claim on an issuer though. For instance, LP tokens have no issuer. 

And it looks like company backed tokens have fallen out?