A16z
Former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz Joins A16z, Shares Outlook on Crypto Regulations
As federal regulations around cryptocurrencies come into focus, Brian Quintenz, who stepped down from the CFTC at the end of August, shares his take on the evolving U.S. crypto regulatory landscape. He explains the relationship between the SEC and CFTC, outlook for stablecoin regulation and reactions to SEC cracking down on Coinbase. Plus, his plan to help the regulators understand crypto after joining venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a part-time advisor.
Former Crypto-Friendly Regulator Quintenz Joins VC Firm A16z
Crypto advocate Brian Quintenz, who stepped down from the CFTC at the end of August, has joined venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a part-time adviser in the latest high-profile addition to the firm. "The Hash" hosts discusses the outlook for a16z as it continues to build partnerships, expand its crypto division and potentially drive a crypto revolution.
Mastercard Acquires Blockchain Analytics Firm CipherTrace
Payments giant Mastercard announced the acquisition of crypto intelligence company CipherTrace to enhance its crypto capabilities. CoinDesk’s Nikhilesh De discusses the move, explaining why he thinks “this is clearly a sign of more to come.” Plus, what to make of the SEC’s relationship with Coinbase and former crypto-friendly regulator Brian Quintenz joining VC firm a16z.
A16z Details Its New Approach to Crypto Governance
Perhaps the most powerful force in decentralized finance (DeFi) governance, venture capital (VC) giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), said it would “open source” its DeFi delegation procedures. The move comes after a pair of controversial votes in Uniswap’s DAO governance system.
Crypto Alluring User-Owned Networks
"The Hash" team discusses the burgeoning world of user-owned networks: World Mobile is rolling out a mesh network to bring internet connectivity to Tanzania, former Apple CEO Gil Amelio joins the Cirus blockchain-powered data ownership project as an adviser, and A16z leads a Helium token-powered decentralized telecommunications project. With the rise of decentralized token-incentivized models that provide real-world services, is crypto at the tipping point for these networks to actually work?
Crypto Fintech Eco Raises $60M for High-Yield USDC Savings App
The a16z-backed Eco, a fiat deposit-taking, cashback-granting digital wallet and stablecoin lender, which loans out users’ deposits in USDC, raises another $60 million to propel its crypto-powered banking app. "The Hash" discuss the outlook for Eco as regulators turn up the pressure on stablecoins.
NFT Marketplace OpenSea Valued at $1.5B in $100M Funding Round Led by A16z
Non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea is the latest crypto unicorn with a total valuation of $1.5 billion after a $100 million Series B round that closed Tuesday, led by Silicon Valley’s best-known VC, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
3 Key Things That Happened in Crypto This Week
CoinDesk’s Christie Harkin breaks down this past week’s stories making waves in the crypto markets, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) raising $2.2 billion for its third crypto venture fund, El Salvador’s Bitcoin Law in effect beginning in September, and John McAfee’s sudden death, controversial life and legacy.
Andreessen Horowitz Triples Down on Crypto With New $2.2B Fund. What’s Next?
Venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a major backer of Coinbase and countless other crypto firms in the digital asset space, rakes in $2.2 billion for its third crypto venture fund, the largest crypto-related fund in the venture capital space to date. What does the future holds for a16z, and what's the significance of this moment in crypto history?
