a16z crypto

Our Head of Security, Carl, shares practical lessons that can help keep you — crypto founders, operators, and investors — safe in an increasingly dangerous world. Find the post here: https://lnkd.in/gFHDs6aZ

11 lessons from Tarek Mansour on building Kalshi 1. Prediction isn’t gambling. 2. Adapt and adopt, or die.   3. Go global with stablecoins. 4. Don’t try to win debates. 5. Compliance is a moat. 6. The curse of scale. 7. It’s not about money. 8. Focus on process. 9. Liquidity begets liquidity. 10. Reasoning by analogy is a trap. 11. No kombucha in the office. ...from our conversation on the a16z crypto podcast

Thanksgiving is here in the U.S., which means it’s the perfect time to scour seasonal sales and kickstart your holiday shopping. Whether you’re looking for something unexpected for the person in your life who has everything or reward yourself with something special, our annual gift guide offers 70+ ideas handpicked by the a16z crypto team, from our favorite tech to self-care staples. There’s a lot here, ranging in price and with options for all ages. We’ve included gifts everyone will appreciate (AirPods), aesthetic picks for the hard to please (wooden puzzles), and gadgets we didn’t know we needed (a peanut butter stirrer, anyone?). Find the full list here: https://lnkd.in/diDaMfkE

What is the smallest hill that you would die on?

6 myths about privacy on blockchains: Myth #1: The internet is responsible for modernity’s “privacy problems” Myth #2: The internet works fine without privacy Myth #3: Public blockchain transactions are anonymous Myth #4: Due to blockchain privacy, criminality abounds Myth #5: You can choose between combating illicit finance or protecting user privacy — but not both Find myth #6 here: https://lnkd.in/gGrX2bmE

DePIN is reimagining physical infrastructure, including telecom and transportation networks, energy grids, and more. The opportunity is huge: The World Economic Forum projects the DePIN category will grow to $3.5 trillion by 2028. The Helium network is the best-known example. The grassroots wireless network now provides 5G cellular coverage to 1.4 million daily active users across more than 111,000 user-operated hotspots.

Thanksgiving is approaching here in the U.S., which means it’s the perfect time to scour seasonal sales and kickstart your holiday shopping. Whether you’re looking for something unexpected for the person in your life who has everything or reward yourself with something special, our annual gift guide offers 70+ ideas handpicked by the a16z crypto team, from our favorite tech to self-care staples. There’s a lot here, ranging in price and with options for all ages. We’ve included gifts everyone will appreciate (AirPods), aesthetic picks for the hard to please (wooden puzzles), and gadgets we didn’t know we needed (a peanut butter stirrer, anyone?). Here’s what else the members of our team are recommending: https://lnkd.in/diDaMfkE

New podcast episode with Kalshi Cofounder and CEO Tarek Mansour is live. In this special episode, our host Robert Hackett chats with Tarek 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 innovation → Why Kalshi started with crypto payments → Lessons from FTX and the importance of compliance → Building consumer trust and network effects → Tarek’s take on productivity, leadership, and even… kombucha https://lnkd.in/gEi5UDnp

Tarek Mansour on prediction markets and what he's building with Kalshi.

Real-world assets (RWAs) — traditional assets such as U.S. Treasuries, money-market funds, private credit, and real estate that are represented onchain (“tokenized”) — bridge crypto and traditional finance. The total market for tokenized RWAs sits at $30 billion, up nearly 4x in the last two years.