Surviving Market Cycles & Startup Lessons for Founders
with @AriannaSimpson @jacqmelinekCrypto is known for its high and low market cycles: What must founders know — and what can they do — to survive the swings?In this episode, we unpack the lessons of past crypto cycles and how they shape the current wave of building — from stablecoins to AI x crypto. We also dive into the founder journey: from raising money and staying committed in 2025, to handling copycat competitors, cofounder disputes, growing too fast (or slowly), and more.You'll hear from a16z crypto General Partner Arianna Simpson, who has spent over a decade investing in crypto. She joins Jacquelyn Melinek, cofounder & CEO of Token Relations and host of the Talking Tokens podcast, where this conversation first aired, and which we’re excited to share with you here. Timestamps0:00 Introduction1:19 Arianna Simpson's Crypto Origin Story3:23 Market Cycles & Investing Priorities5:52 Interrogating the Stablecoin Trend13:25 Intersection of AI x Crypto17:49 The Role of Blockchains for Authenticity and Verification23:07 Future of AI Agents and Monetization Models27:23 Traits of Successful Crypto Founders30:05 Challenges and Changes in Fundraising33:57 Current State of the Market37:33 Advice for Founders: • Pivoting when PMF is missing • Raising capital after bootstrapping • Competing with copycats • Cofounder disputes and breakups • Growing too fast & scaling pains47:52 Conclusion***📩 Subscribe for more from a16z crypto: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/ 🎙️ Like, subscribe, comment, share the show: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/***As always, none of the content should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
--------
48:59
--------
48:59
After the Foundation Era: Tokens, Policy, and Startup Structures
with @eddylazzarin @milesjennings @JasonYanowitzWelcome to web3 with a16z crypto. Today’s episode is on a super timely topic: How to design, govern, and grow decentralized networks in today’s changing policy landscape. It covers:Why the “foundation era” of crypto is ending — and what comes next with DUNAs and BORGsHow U.S. policy shifts are creating real rules of the roadThe difference between network tokens vs. company tokens (and why it matters for investors, builders, and other participants)When protocols should flip the fee switch and start generating revenueCommon mistakes founders make when launching tokens and structuring projectsTo unpack it all, you’ll hear from Miles Jennings, head of policy and general counsel at a16z crypto, and Eddy Lazzarin, a16z crypto’s CTO, in conversation with Jason Yanowitz, cofounder of Blockworks and host of the Empire podcast (where this conversation first aired) ... and which we’re excited to bring to you here.Timestamps0:00 Introduction3:14 Regulatory Progress and Optimism in DC9:34 The Problem with Offshore Foundations13:58 The End of the Foundation Era27:29 DUNAs and BORGs: New Legal Structures38:42 Understanding Network Tokens43:42 Network Tokens: Beyond L1 and L248:37 Company Tokens: Evolution and Challenges51:09 The Legal Landscape of Token Offerings1:04:25 Turning on the Fee Switch: When and Why1:12:47 Balancing Portfolio Needs and Regulatory Clarity1:15:36 Common Questions from Founders1:20:17 Conclusion 📩 Subscribe for more from a16z crypto: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/ 🎙️ Like, subscribe, comment, share the show: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/ ***As always, none of the content should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
--------
1:20:59
--------
1:20:59
The antimemetics (and memetics) of making ideas happen -- in crypto and beyond
with @nayafia and @smc90 Ideas, memes, and vibes are some of the most important drivers of modern technology adoption, marketing, and much more -- and have been much-covered by everyone from Darwin to Dawkins to Girard to many others. Yet the topic of antimemetics -- self-censoring (vs. self-propagating) ideas -- whether something fringe, forgotten, or forbidden -- haven't been studied as much, especially in the context of modern networks. So in this special book-launch episode, we cover the important concept of antimemetics (and memetics) -- focusing on: where and how ideas take off in groups, whether in online chats or other high-shared context communities; how ideas not just spread but are contained, or mutate in strange ways; why packaging ideas matters; and what we can all do to move ideas to action. Where do bureacracy, institutions, and protocols come in? What about tacit knowledge that lies in these communities, how (or do) we make it explicit? What roles -- from truth tellers to champions to individual nodes in networks -- can and do people play in making something go from mere commentary to reality? After all, ideas -- or ideas as viruses -- are how movements happen, how innovation happens, how things change... or don't ever change despite being discussed all the time. Our expert guest in this special book episode (following in our long tradition of sharing what we're reading) is Nadia Asparouhova, the author of the new book, Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading; she is also the author of the book Working in Public: The Making and Maintenance of Open Source Software. a16z crypto's Sonal Chokshi -- who previously hosted Nadia's book-launch episode for the a16z Podcast and almost a decade before that on the changing culture of open source -- interviews Nadia on these themes, how they connect, and why they matter for the crypto industry and beyond. We also dig into some critiques -- and opportunities for builders -- too, including what happens to the public commons; network propagation including across networks; reality distortion fields; hidden knowledge; and cultural stagnation vs. cultural abundance. All this and more in this episode of web3 with a16z!
--------
1:35:10
--------
1:35:10
GENIUS Becomes Law: What It Took to Pass the First Rules for Stablecoins in the U.S.
with @rhhackett @milesjennings @BenNapier & Michael ReedToday we're talking about the passage of the GENIUS Act — that's the "Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act" — which provides clear rules of the road for stablecoins in the U.S. We cover the law's implications, the recent high-stakes vote in the House of Representatives, and the bipartisan efforts to pass this groundbreaking bill.We also touch on the CLARITY Act — a major new “market structure” bill that would establish a clear regulatory framework for digital asset markets — which the House also passed with bipartisan support and which is now headed to the Senate.Here to separate the signal from the noise are members of the a16z crypto team who had a front-row seat to the action. We've got Miles Jennings, a16z crypto's General Counsel and Head of Policy, plus a16z Government Affairs Partners Ben Napier and Michael Reed, who are responsible for liaising with House Republicans and House Democrats, respectively. They share the inside scoop.Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction(1:01) Understanding the GENIUS Act(3:56) News Summary: What Happened in the House(5:45) Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Contention(7:01) House Vote Drama: Republicans(9:31) House Vote Drama: Democrats(14:28) Winners and Losers(16:01) Decentralized Stablecoins and SEC Involvement(17:49) CLARITY Act and Future Legislation(21:47) Looking AheadResources:The GENIUS Act [full text]Clear rules for stablecoins and the road ahead by Chris Dixon (a16z crypto, July 2025)The CLARITY Act — Why it matters, what to know, and what to do by Miles Jennings and Aiden Slavin (a16z crypto, July 2025)***As a reminder, none of the content should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
--------
23:58
--------
23:58
11 Ideas for AI x Crypto
with @rhhackett @SamBroner @skominers @liz_harkavy @CarraWu @jay_drainjr @mg_486662Today'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?First, Investment Partner Sam Broner makes the case for giving AI agents universal identities. Then Research Partner Scott Kominers presents how crypto can provide AI with levels and layers of rich context. You'll also hear from Investment Partners Liz Harkavy on AI monetization models; Carra Wu on the next evolution of web crawlers; Jay Drain on proving personhood online; and finally, Security Engineer Matt Gleason on how crypto turns internet advertising on its head.This is a tour of big, fresh ideas that hint at what an internet of the near future could look like. For the full list of ideas, check out our recent AI x crypto crossovers package, which you can find at a16zcrypto.com.Timestamps(0:00) Introduction(1:44) Universal Identity for AI Agents(5:25) Why Crypto Makes a Difference(10:07) Context in AI: Memory and Interoperability(15:00) Vibe Coding Applications(19:32) Registries with Global Context(21:47) Honkaku Mystery Novels(24:13) Monetization Models for AI x Crypto(28:36) Overcoming Technical Challenges(31:34) AI Agents and the Rise of Web Crawlers(36:05) Collapse of the Social Contract(39:21) AI Bots and Blockchain Solutions(44:31) Proof of Personhood: Ensuring Human-ness(50:41) Future of Personalized Advertising(1:01:54) Final Thoughts***As a reminder, none of the content should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
"web3 with a16z" is a show about the next generation of the internet, and about how builders and users -- whether artists, coders, creators, developers, companies, organizations, or communities -- now have the ability to not just "read" (web1) + "write" (web2) but "own" (web3) pieces of the internet, unlocking a new wave of creativity and entrepreneurship. Brought to you by a16z crypto, this show is the definitive resource for understanding and going deeper on all things crypto and web3.
From discussing the latest and leading trends to sharing research, data readouts, and insights from top scientists and makers in the space, this is a variety show with a variety of formats and topics listeners can pick and choose from. It is hosted by the longtime showrunner of (and original team behind) the popular a16z Podcast. Learn more at a16zcrypto.com.
South Africa