Inside a16z crypto’s Playbook

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For this week’s Tuesday episode, I interviewed Arianna Simpson, General Partner at a16z crypto.

Arianna shares her journey from Facebook to founding her own venture fund, and eventually joining a16z. They discuss how the firm approaches early-stage web3 investments, what they look for in founders, and the sectors she’s most excited about, including stablecoins and decentralized AI infrastructure. She also talks about global adoption trends, navigating regulation, and why the next wave of blockchain innovation will be more user-focused than ever.

Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: Who is Arianna Simpson?

01:20 - From Facebook to founding a crypto venture fund

04:10 - Joining a16z crypto and early-stage investment focus

07:15 - How a16z chooses which founders to back

10:05 - Key sectors on a16z’s radar: stablecoins, DeFi, infrastructure

13:00 - Why user experience will drive the next wave of adoption

15:45 - Global adoption trends and emerging markets

18:40 - Navigating regulation and policy changes

21:20 - Advice for founders entering the space now

24:15 - The role of storytelling in raising capital

27:10 - How founders can stand out to top investors

30:25 - Building resilience through market cycles

33:45 - Common mistakes early-stage founders make

36:40 - Final thoughts: stay adaptable, mission-driven, and bold

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Money and people moves

1. Offchain Labs acquired ZeroDev to expand its backend infra for smart accounts

2. Shan Aggarwal is now the chief business officer at Coinbase, after formerly leading its venture arm

3. Adi Seredinschi joins Circle with a focus on shipping Arc, its new layer-1 blockchain

Talking points for the road

Crypto-focused headlines or research that caught my eye…and should catch yours, too.

1. Bitcoin Rises to New Record High as Corporate Interest Expands (Bloomberg)

2. Shares of Bullish more than double in NYSE debut after crypto exchange prices IPO above expected range (CNBC)

3. Ethereum Wallet MetaMask Will Likely Unveil Its Own Stablecoin this Week (CoinDesk)

4. How Binance’s Yi He became ‘the most powerful woman in crypto’—and steered the company past its biggest ordeal (Fortune)

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Please note that this content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Any views shared should not be considered financial advice, nor should it be used to make investment decisions. Cryptocurrencies are high risk and you should consult a financial professional before making any financial decisions. Make sure you do your own research. We may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this newsletter.