Inside Alliance DAO: What Crypto Founders Are Focused On

Welcome back to Talking Tokens.

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The latest Talking Tokens podcast 🎙️

For this week’s Tuesday episode, I interviewed Qiao Wang, founding partner at Alliance, to explore the current state of crypto startups and the broader market landscape.

The conversation covers how early-stage builders are approaching stablecoins, payments, and AI-driven tools, and why the next wave of development is shifting toward real-world utility.

Qiao discusses its latest ALL15 demo day, the return of U.S. based crypto founders, developers building on Solana and Base, and how macro conditions are shaping startup funding and investor sentiment.

We also examine how AI is influencing both market behavior and product design, what past cycles reveal about founder discipline, and why long-term focus remains critical for builders navigating a volatile industry.

Sponsored by Fireblocks, the trusted stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com.

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Money and people moves

1. DoubleZero taps Eden Vander Zee as head of communications

2. Donut raised $22M for its “agentic crypto browser” for trading

3. Stablecoin Developer Standard Money Raises $8M to Support Mainnet Rollout (CoinDesk)

4. Hack Drains Over $100 Million From Crypto Protocol Balancer (Bloomberg)

Talking points for the road

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

1. Animoca Brands is planning to go public on Nasdaq through a reverse merger

2. November Could Be the New October for U.S. Crypto ETFs After Shutdown Delays SEC Decisions (CoinDesk)

3. Cipher Mining shares jump 33% on $5.5 billion AWS AI deal, new 1 GW Texas site (The Block)

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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.