web3 with a16z crypto

with @BChillman @jay_drainjr @rhackettCrypto wallets are no longer just wallets. They’re the front door to a decentralized internet.In this episode, Phantom CEO Brandon Millman joins a16z crypto Investment Partner Jay Drain and host Robert Hackett to unpack how crypto wallets are evolving into full-blown consumer finance platforms — and why they may be the most credible candidates to become the internet's next super apps.We explore Phantom’s journey from a Solana-first wallet to a multi-chain platform, why wallets are uniquely positioned to win trust around money, and how features like onchain trading, perps, social feeds, prediction markets, and payments are reshaping what people expect from a consumer finance app.The conversation also dives into:Why starting with finance may be a better path to a super app than starting with socialHow Phantom thinks about UX, trust, and security in cryptoThe rise of perpetual futures (perps) and prediction marketsWhat the FTX collapse meant for Solana — and the counterintuitive silver liningWhether AI agents could one day replace apps and browsersIf you’re curious about where crypto, fintech, and consumer apps are headed next — and why wallets may become the most important interface on the internet — this episode is for you.Highlights01:32 – The evolution and role of crypto wallets2:42 – Wallets vs. browsers: the right mental model12:03 – Phantom’s origin story and the Solana bet19:05 – Perps, trading, and product-market fit26:08 – UX, trust, and consumer finance30:52 – Social feeds, discovery, and network effects35:21 – Crypto as "black hole" absorbing finance37:09 – AI agents and the future of walletsFollow a16z crypto on...XLinkedInSpotifyApple PodcastsYoutube📩 Subscribe for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: 🎙️ Like, subscribe, comment, share the show.***As always, none of the following 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

with @zcabrams @psneville @rhackettIn this episode, Robert Hackett sits down with Sean Neville, cofounder of Circle and co-creator of the USDC stablecoin, and Zach Abrams, founder of Bridge (now part of Stripe), for a deep dive into the real story behind stablecoins, finding product-market fit, and the future of payments infrastructure.They explore the earliest days of USDC — when stablecoins were far from obvious and regulatory frameworks didn’t exist. Sean shares how his conviction in “money running at internet speed” helped shape a multibillion-dollar asset. Zach recounts Bridge’s pivot from NFTs to stablecoin infrastructure — and how his business has changed since joining Stripe.Together, they break down:Why stablecoins are having their moment nowWhat counts as product-market fit (and why founders rarely “feel” it)The challenges of building crypto and AI products within heavily regulated environmentsWhy new base-layer chains like Arc, Tempo, and others may be neededHow decentralization, liquidity moats, and interoperability will define the next decade of blockchain adoptionWhat the future of programmable money and AI-driven financial workflows looks likeWhether you’re a founder, a crypto-curious builder, or someone trying to understand where global payments are headed, this conversation — originally recorded live at our recent a16z crypto Founders Summit — offers insights from two operators at the center of an industry-defining transformation.Guests:• Sean Neville — Cofounder, Circle; CEO and cofounder, Catena• Zach Abrams — Founder and CEO, Bridge (acquired by Stripe)Highlights:01:26 — Origins of USDC02:44 — Why stablecoins are having their moment now04:14 — Circle’s early product experiments06:19— Surviving crypto cycles07:35 — Bridge: From NFT payments to stablecoins08:58 — What product-market fit actually feels like20:02 — Inevitability and the founder vs. employer mindset20:58 — Why Bridge joined Stripe26:18 — How AI changes company building29:38 — What students should study now30:27 — Why new payment chains (Tempo & Arc)?35:55 — Decentralization as imperativeFollow a16z crypto on...X: https://x.com/a16zcryptoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/a16zcrypto/posts/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pMZvsNXEnb0CYcPiDQywEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/web3-with-a16z-crypto/id1622312549Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@a16zcrypto📩 Subscribe for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/ 🎙️ Like, subscribe, comment, share the show: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/ ***As always, none of the following 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every traditional financial institution faces the same dilemma: evolve or fall behind, build or buy. But when safety, predictability, and trust is paramount, how do traditional finance companies innovate? How do they place their innovation bets, and decide what to explore and not to explore? Fidelity Chairman and CEO Abigail P. Johnson shares an inside look into Fidelity’s decade of crypto experimentation -- from early Bitcoin mining to building foundational custody infrastructure to stablecoins and much more. Johnson shares how Fidelity explored dozens of crypto use cases; why only one initially mattered, and how a single foothold shaped a long-term institutional strategy. This episode is for anyone interested in exploring how innovation happens inside companies, how startups can partner with big institutions, how TradFi is approaching crypto in this "Year of Institutional Adoption"... and what the next decade of financial infrastructure might look like.We originally recorded it at our Founders Summit event in October 2025, in conversation with a16z crypto COO Anthony Albanese, who was the Chief Regulatory Officer of the New York Stock Exchange before joining a16z; and was previously acting superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), where he signed and issued New York’s first-ever BitLicense.As a reminder, none of the following is investment, business, or tax advice; please see a16z.com/disclosures for more information.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

with @cdixon @illscienceWelcome to web3 with a16z crypto. Today’s episode digs into the forces shaping the next generation of consumer software — from AI-driven tools to the new economics of apps.Joining is Chris Dixon, a16z crypto founder and managing partner and one of the firm’s original consumer investors. He sits down with a16z General Partner Anish Acharya to explore how exponential forces — like Moore’s Law, composability, and network effects — help determine which products ultimately win.They talk about what it takes to build enduring consumer apps, how tools evolve into networks, and why niche communities like early crypto and open source movements can trigger massive technological shifts.Topics covered:- What exponential forces define tech progress- Moore’s Law, composability, and network effects- How tools evolve into networks- The new economics of paid consumer software- Investing in “movements” — from 3D printing to crypto- What makes niche communities powerful- AI as a platform shift and the “idea maze”- Native vs skeuomorphic tech — and what’s next for AI interfaces- The future of open-source AI and decentralizationFollow a16z crypto on...X: https://x.com/a16zcryptoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/a16zcrypto/posts/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pMZvsNXEnb0CYcPiDQywEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/web3-with-a16z-crypto/id1622312549Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@a16zcrypto📩 Subscribe for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/ 🎙️ Like, subscribe, comment, share the show: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/ ***As always, none of the following 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

with @mansourtarek_ @rhackettIn this episode of web3 with a16z crypto, host Robert Hackett talks with Kalshi Cofounder and CEO Tarek Mansour about how prediction markets are enabling people to trade directly on real-world events — from elections to inflation — and what this means for the future of finance and forecasting.Tarek explains why prediction markets aren’t gambling, how regulation has been central to Kalshi’s success, and why the company is embracing crypto and stablecoins as key components of its international strategy. He also discusses lessons learned about policy, product design, and staying compliant while innovating at the frontier.Topics include:How prediction markets make society "smarter"The role of regulation in fintech innovationWhy Kalshi started with crypto paymentsLessons from FTX and the importance of complianceBuilding consumer trust and network effectsTarek’s take on productivity, leadership, and even… kombuchaThis episode kicks off a special series of interviews recorded live at our recent Founders Summit. Subscribe to web3 with a16z crypto for more conversations with founders and builders shaping the decentralized future.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: What are prediction markets, and why now?01:04 – Kalshi’s mission: making forecasting tradable01:52 – Why crypto fits into Kalshi’s long-term strategy03:19 – Going global with stablecoins05:55 – The long road to regulation and why it mattered7:51 – Coinbase and Robinhood as role models08:17 – The Trump trade: direct vs. indirect exposure to events10:51 – Lessons from FTX and why compliance is a moat12:06 – How Kalshi monitors markets and prevents manipulation 15:00 – Momentum after the presidential election16:48 – How policy in DC really works17:56 – The hidden advantage of being regulated18:52 – Lightning round: worst advice, productivity habits, and more21:00 – The importance of process and patience (“The Score Takes Care of Itself”)22:30 – The smallest hill Tarek will die onFollow a16z crypto on...X: https://x.com/a16zcryptoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/a16zcrypto/posts/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pMZvsNXEnb0CYcPiDQywEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/web3-with-a16z-crypto/id1622312549Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@a16zcrypto📩 Subscribe for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/ 🎙️ Like, subscribe, comment, share the show: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/podcast/ ***As always, none of the following 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.