a16z crypto show

a16z
  • 4.6 (57)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The a16z crypto show explores how decentralized networks are reshaping money, ownership, and the architecture of the internet. We go beyond the hype to look at what’s actually working, what isn’t, and what comes next as crypto continues to go mainstream and blockchains become core infrastructure. Each episode features conversations with founders, engineers, economists, policymakers, and researchers building at the frontier of finance, payments, AI, and distributed systems. We cover stablecoins and global payments, the tokenization of "real-world" assets, decentralized physical infrastructure, network design and governance, and the practical tradeoffs behind decentralization — along with lessons from past technology shifts. Produced and hosted by the a16z crypto team, the show combines reporting, analysis, and first-principles thinking to explain how crypto intersects with the economy and society — and why it matters now. Learn more at a16zcrypto.com. *** Posts should not be considered investment advice or an advertisement for investment services. Reposts of third-party content are not attributable to a16z; see disclosures for more information: https://a16z.com/disclosures/.

  1. 6D AGO

    Bridge CEO Zach Abrams: Stablecoins Are The Next Platform for Money

    with @zcabrams @rhackett What happens when money moves 10x — or 100x — faster than it does today? In this episode, Zach Abrams, cofounder and CEO of Bridge (now part of Stripe), lays out a bold vision for the future of money: a world where stablecoins become the dominant payment rail, most transactions happen between non-human agents, and entirely new financial infrastructure is required to keep up. Zach explains why stablecoins are the next evolution of fintech, much like credit cards were decades ago — and why we’re still in the very early innings. We dig into agentic payments, AI-to-AI commerce, micro-transactions on the open internet, and what Stripe is building by assembling stablecoin infrastructure across the stack. Along the way, we cover: Why cards succeeded — and what stablecoins must learn from themHow AI agents could drive the majority of future paymentsWhat breaks when the velocity of money increases 10xStripe’s long-term strategy behind Bridge, Privy, and TempoThe case for open, decentralized payment infrastructureZach’s unconventional views on management, productivity, and product-market fitIf you’re curious about the future of payments, fintech, crypto, AI agents, or the economic foundations of the next internet, this conversation offers a look several steps ahead. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Stablecoins: The next platform for money 01:38 Credit cards had a moral panic too 03:29 What stablecoin infrastructure still needs to be built 05:22 The use cases no one predicted 11:11 Why Stripe is building with crypto 13:08 Why payments infrastructure must stay open 15:12 Lightning round: Bad advice, great books, and deep work Follow a16z crypto for more... 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.

    20 min

  2. JAN 30

    Why Privacy Will Be the Biggest Moat in Crypto

    with @alive_eth @rhackett a16z crypto General Partner Ali Yahya explains why privacy — not performance — will determine the long-term winners in crypto, and how it creates powerful network effects.  In conversation with a16z crypto show host Robert Hackett, Ali lays out how privacy creates lock-in and winner-take-most dynamics — without sacrificing decentralization. They also dive into the technologies making privacy possible today, from zero-knowledge proofs to trusted execution environments, and why financial use cases will drive mainstream adoption first. They cover: Why blockspace is becoming a commodityWhy users tolerate surveillance in social media—but not in financeHow anonymity sets work and why secrets are hard to migrateThe real trade-offs between privacy, composability, and decentralizationThe four privacy technologies shaping the next generation of blockchainsHighlights: 00:00 — Introduction 01:41 — Blockspace is becoming commoditized 03:11 — Privacy as lock-in: why secrets are harder to move than assets 06:01 — Do people actually care about privacy? 08:51 — Beyond finance: social, gaming, and private onchain apps 11:55 — Privacy zones, anonymity sets, and network effects 18:46 — Winner-take-most dynamics, explained 20:22 — What it means for crypto’s decentralization ethos 23:06 — Is privacy lock-in different from web2 lock-in? 28:31 — The privacy tech stack: ZK, MPC, TEEs, and FHE 32:13 — What this means for builders and investors 33:18 — Future considerations: Quantum computing and AI Follow a16z crypto for more... 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.

    36 min

  3. JAN 23

    From Oculus to Anduril: Palmer Luckey on Power, Technology, and the Future

    with @PalmerLuckey @cdixon In this special episode — our 100th on the a16z crypto show! — Chris Dixon interviews Palmer Luckey (founder of Anduril; founder of Oculus VR and designer of the Oculus Rift) to talk about the future of technology, belief, and building. What does it take to build hardware at scale? Where are many of today’s tech bottlenecks? And what's the case for optimism about the future despite growing geopolitical turmoil, regulatory constraints, and other blockers to innovation? The candid, wide-ranging conversation covers crypto, banking, and stablecoins, as well as modern warfare, the U.S.–China technology race, AI and manufacturing, and much more.  Dixon also digs into company building in good times and bad with Luckey; the conversation was recorded live at our Founders Summit.  Highlights: 0:00 — Introduction 2:08 — Early Oculus: Why VR was hard 8:02 — Bitcoin & early crypto days 9:49 — The Facebook acquisition 13:36 — How successful was VR, really? 18:59 — Starting Anduril 20:01 — Hiring for mission ("Don't Work at Anduril") 23:59 — How Anduril works (product dev, org design) 27:47 — How Palmer stays ahead of the curve 33:00 — The US-China technology race 34:40 — What Putin understood early about AI 39:45 — Stablecoins & banking risk 45:00 — Politics as bottleneck 47:00 — Future of technology: AI, fusion, quantum 50:23 — Automation, abundance, and optimism 53:23 — Ukraine, drones, and the reality of war Follow a16z crypto for more... 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.

    1h 2m

  4. JAN 14

    Nobody's Gonna Trust Your Corp Chain

    with @ccatalini @rhackett Today we’re talking about who — if anyone — should own the rails of global money. Our guest is Christian Catalini, cofounder and chief strategy officer of the global payments startup Lightspark, and a former architect of Meta’s shuttered Libra project — one of the most ambitious attempts to create a corporate-backed digital currency. In this episode, we talk about… why Bitcoin is more than “digital gold,” what Christian learned from his time at Facebook, and why he believes openness — not corporate control — will ultimately winChristian also wrote a feature for us expanding on his argument, which you can read by subscribing to a16z crypto on Substack. Check it out and let us know what you think. This episode is part of a special series of interviews we recorded live at our Founders Summit in October.  Follow a16z crypto for more... 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.

    17 min

  5. JAN 7

    The Obsession That Destroys Startups (with LayerZero CEO)

    with @PrimordialAA @rhackett In this episode, host Robert Hackett sits down with Bryan Pellegrino, cofounder and CEO of LayerZero, one of the core infrastructure projects that enables blockchains to talk to one another. We talk about why crypto went multichain, what it means for crypto to compete with legacy financial systems, and a lesson Bryan took firsthand from Elon Musk. We also get into Bryan’s background as a professional poker player, and how that has shaped his views on competition, conviction, and focus. We go deep on founder psychology: – When founders must replace early leadership — and why no one talks about it – Why conviction matters more than advice – And why the hardest decisions are the ones no playbook prepares you for Highlights 0:00 – Introduction 0:47 – The need for interoperability 1:04 – How crypto went multichain 2:51 – The institutional adoption of crypto 6:56 – Focus and conviction 13:19 – The nature of competition 14:43 – Elon Musk's game-changing advice 18:48 – The importance of self-disruption 20:08 – Lightning round 22:56 – Challenges in scaling a company 26:46 – Book recommendations and productivity hacks 28:19 – Core principles and company culture This episode is part of a special series of interviews we recorded live at our Founders Summit in October.  Follow a16z crypto for more... 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.

    30 min

  6. 12/29/2025

    How Elite Athletes Perform Under Extreme Pressure

    with @LairdLife @GabbyReece @AriannaSimpson Today's episode features two people who’ve spent their careers performing at the highest levels in sport and business: big-wave surfing pioneer Laird Hamilton and former pro volleyball star Gabby Reece.  They join a16z crypto General Partner Arianna Simpson for a conversation that explores what it takes to endure and excel over decades — how to get back up after setbacks, when to push versus change course, and how to build resilience and adaptability. They also get into stress, burnout, intuition, and why experience and self-care matter as much as data. It’s a fitting conversation as we head into the New Year: a moment to reflect on habits, goals, and the kind of people we wish to become. They cover: – How extreme environments teach resilience – When to keep pushing forward (and when to walk away) – Why adaptability matters more than strength or intelligence – How data confirms intuition – What it takes to sustain performance across decades Highlights: (0:00) Opening on ambition, discomfort, and pushing beyond limits (0:55) A near-fatal big-wave wipeout and the decision to return (2:57) Learning how to recover after fear, injury, and loss (3:55) When to keep going and when to stop (6:10) Are you attracting the right people? (6:39) Adaptability as the core skill for uncertain environments (8:22) Sustaining energy over decades (10:42) Approaching work with a beginner’s mindset (11:58) Working together under pressure (15:00) Taking a company public (16:37) Breaking bad habits and forming good ones (18:20) Science & data confirming instinct (20:58) Daily practices that matter (24:06) Personal scars and the early experiences that shape resilience (26:32) Choosing the right people (28:30) Practical ways to de-stress and regain focus Follow 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.

    32 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    What, How & Why We're Reading

    with @smc90 @rhackett @stephbzinn @Tim_Org In a now-annual tradition, the a16z crypto editorial team discuss themes (and picks) from a16z crypto's latest reading lists, as well as books we keep re-reading, childhood favorites, classics, adaptations on adaptations — in book and movie form! — and much more. We cover: What genres are we reading now, how, and why?How is technology — from AI and ChatGPT to the internet and audio — changing reading?Why are certain themes in the zeitgeist right now?Is all non-fiction just fiction now (and should we lean into this for education)?Are the kids alright?From irony, truth, and why context matters, to Machiavelli, Formula 1, and nautical non-fiction this episode has it all... check out our "what we're reading" lists, podcasts, and more here: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/tags/what-were-reading Highlights (0:00) Overview of the summer reading list (0:33) The list goes beyond tech and business books (2:02) Formula One, optimization, and recurring reading themes (3:12) Favorite picks: ASML, semiconductors, and industrial history (4:50) Memoirs, grief, and reading for emotional understanding (6:40) Why nonfiction feels broken — and what replaces it (8:20) Adventure, boats, and narrative nonfiction (11:39) Letters, primary sources, and Renaissance writing (17:30) Antimimetics, ideas that resist spreading, and fresh nonfiction (19:00) Mark Twain, irony, influence, and unreliable narrators (24:16) Podcasts/the internet as book discovery engines (26:10) The internet replaces nonfiction? (27:31) Anne of Green Gables and its effects (30:21) The role of the author in fiction vs. nonfiction (32:00) Historical fiction, context, and why it still matters (38:12) Machiavelli and interpreting texts across time (45:43) Gothic fiction, Dracula, and modern adaptations (51:00) Film adaptations and creative ownership (55:16) Audiobooks, narration, and reading styles (1:00:54) Reading aloud, poetry, and rhythm (1:06:44) Childhood books that shape worldview (1:15:24) Young adult books worth revisiting (1:18:29) Closing reflections and where to find the full list *** Follow 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.

    1h 20m

  8. 12/19/2025

    From Wallets to Super Apps: The Internet's New Interface (with Phantom CEO)

    with @BChillman @jay_drainjr @rhackett Crypto 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. Highlights 01:32 – The evolution and role of crypto wallets 2:42 – Wallets vs. browsers: the right mental model 12:03 – Phantom’s origin story and the Solana bet 19:05 – Perps, trading, and product-market fit 26:08 – UX, trust, and consumer finance 30:52 – Social feeds, discovery, and network effects 35:21 – Crypto as "black hole" absorbing finance 37:09 – AI agents and the future of wallets Follow 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.

    41 min
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4.6
out of 5
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About

The a16z crypto show explores how decentralized networks are reshaping money, ownership, and the architecture of the internet. We go beyond the hype to look at what’s actually working, what isn’t, and what comes next as crypto continues to go mainstream and blockchains become core infrastructure. Each episode features conversations with founders, engineers, economists, policymakers, and researchers building at the frontier of finance, payments, AI, and distributed systems. We cover stablecoins and global payments, the tokenization of "real-world" assets, decentralized physical infrastructure, network design and governance, and the practical tradeoffs behind decentralization — along with lessons from past technology shifts. Produced and hosted by the a16z crypto team, the show combines reporting, analysis, and first-principles thinking to explain how crypto intersects with the economy and society — and why it matters now. Learn more at a16zcrypto.com. *** Posts should not be considered investment advice or an advertisement for investment services. Reposts of third-party content are not attributable to a16z; see disclosures for more information: https://a16z.com/disclosures/.

Information

  • Channel
    a16z
  • Creator
    a16z crypto, Robert Hackett, Sonal Chokshi
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © a16z crypto / Andreessen Horowitz
  • Show Website
    a16z crypto show

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