Today's episode is a special one. It's a round table on some of the most compelling ideas at the intersection of AI and crypto, sourced from members of the a16z crypto team. You're going to hear from builders, researchers, and deal makers who are all wrestling with the big question: How will these two powerful technologies collide, and what happens when they do?

First, Investment Partner Sam Broner makes the case for giving AI agents universal identities. Then Research Partner Scott Kominers presents how crypto can provide AI with levels and layers of rich context. You'll also hear from Investment Partners Liz Harkavy on AI monetization models; Carra Wu on the next evolution of web crawlers; Jay Drain on proving personhood online; and finally, Security Engineer Matt Gleason on how crypto turns internet advertising on its head.

This is a tour of big, fresh ideas that hint at what an internet of the near future could look like. For the full list of ideas, check out our recent AI x crypto crossovers package, which you can find at a16zcrypto.com.

Timestamps

(0:0) Introduction

(1:44) Universal Identity for AI Agents

(5:25) Why Crypto Makes a Difference

(10:07) Context in AI: Memory and Interoperability

(15:00) Vibe Coding Applications

(19:32) Registries with Global Context

(21:47) Honkaku Mystery Novels

(24:13) Monetization Models for AI x Crypto

(28:36) Overcoming Technical Challenges

(31:34) AI Agents and the Rise of Web Crawlers

(36:05) Collapse of the Social Contract

(39:21) AI Bots and Blockchain Solutions

(44:31) Proof of Personhood: Ensuring Human-ness

(50:41) Future of Personalized Advertising

(1:01:54) Final Thoughts

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As a reminder, none of the content 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.

with @rhhackett @smc90 @stephbzinn @tim_org

In a now-annual tradition, the a16z crypto editorial team discuss themes (and picks) from a16z crypto's latest reading list, as well as books we keep re-reading, childhood favorites, classics, adaptations on adaptations -- in book and movie form! -- and much more.

What genres are we reading now, how, and why? How is technology -- from AI and ChatGPT to the internet and audio -- changing reading? And why are certain themes in the zeitgeist right now? Is all non-fiction just fiction now, and should we lean in to this for education? Are the kids alright?

From irony, truth, and why context matters, to Machiavelli to Formula 1 to nautical non-fiction to memoirs, 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

with @DarenMatsuoka @rhhackett

Today we've got a midyear market update and news episode for you.

At the end of last year, our guest — and resident data weatherman — Daren Matsuoka put out a post on "5 metrics to watch in 2025." Most of the metrics that Daren picked measure how crypto's adoption: from mobile wallet usage and onchain transaction fees to volume across stablecoins, decentralized exchanges (or DEXs), and exchange traded-products. Now that we're about midway through 2025, it's a great time for an update.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:27) Chart 1: Monthly Mobile Wallet Users

(6:16) Chart 2: Adjusted Stablecoin Transaction Volume

(10:01) Chart 3: ETF Net Flows for Bitcoin and Ethereum

(13:30) Chart 4: Decentralized vs Centralized Exchange Volume

(15:50) Chart 5: Total Transaction Fees

(21:46) Emerging Metrics and Industry Insights

(25:07) Recent Industry News and Developments

(27:13) Conclusion

Relevant news:

• Circle, issuer of the USDC stablecoin, went public on the New York Stock Exchange exchange on June 5 and there was extremely strong demand for the company's offering.
• Stripe announced on June 11 that it would be acquiring a crypto company, Privy, which helps companies create crypto wallets — adding to Stripe's earlier acquisition of Bridge, which helps companies work with stablecoins.
• Shopify partnered with Stripe and Coinbase to enable merchants to accept USDC payments.
• Coinbase has a new credit card in partnership with American Express, which gives you Bitcoin rewards.
• The French bank Société Générale announced plans for a dollar-backed stablecoin that will run on Ethereum and Solana with BNY Mellon acting as custodian for the reserves.
• JPMorgan Chase plans to launch a U.S. dollar “deposit token” called JPMD on Coinbase's Base network.

If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned for our annual big State of Crypto Report, which we'll drop in the fall. If you want more from Daren, you can follow him @DarenMatsuoka on X or visit a16zcrypto.com to read his posts, including the one we talked about today.

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As a reminder, none of the content 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.