Mental Models for Navigating Crypto Markets & Cycles

Blockchains / Crypto / web3: with @cdixon @alive_eth @tim_roughgarden @smc90 We set some context, quickly, into the connection between blockchains, crypto, and web3 – and offer some useful analogies, and more mental models, for thinking about a blossoming area of computer science in both theory and practice. by web3 with a16z crypto

36 min listen

web3 with a16z, a show about the next internet: "web3 with a16z" is a show about the next generation of the internet, and about how builders and users -- whether artists, coders, creators, developers, companies, organizations, or communities -- now have the ability to not just "read" (web1) + "write" (web2) but "own" (web3) pieces of the internet, unlocking a new wave of creativity and entrepreneurship. Brought to you by a16z crypto, this show is the definitive resource for understanding and going deeper on all things crypto and web3. From discussing the latest and leading trends to sharing research, data readouts, and insights from top scientists and makers in the space, this is a variety show with a variety of formats and topics listeners can pick and choose from. It is hosted by the longtime showrunner of (and original team behind) the popular a16z Podcast. Learn more at a16zcrypto.com. by web3 with a16z crypto

2 min listen

Puzzles (& Crypto): with @enigmida @skominers @smc90 A special bonus holiday episode based on a hallway-style riff linking two seemingly unrelated things: puzzle design, and crypto -- covering types of puzzles, from mediums to mindsets; experience design and incentive design principles; NFTs, games, and much more. by web3 with a16z crypto

67 min listen

Decentralized Creativity & Collaboration: with @RMcElhenney @cdixon @smc90 Based on a live conversation that took place earlier this week at NFT NYC between special guest Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mythic Quest; Adim); Chris Dixon, and Sonal Chokshi, this episode is all about the theme of decentralized media/ decentralized content creation. We cover creative collaboration and community; creator access; IP and evolution of the internet; and where NFTs and web3 specifically comes in -- do we really need web3 for this? The conversation also touches on topics such as the metaverse, storytelling across mediums, managing writer’s rooms, favorite TV shows, nostalgia, and much more. by web3 with a16z crypto

56 min listen

Mental Models for Navigating Crypto Markets & Cycles: A (rerun but perhaps more relevant than ever) hallway-style conversation about market conditions, cycles of innovation, and mental models for navigating crypto and web3. by web3 with a16z crypto

65 min listen

PoS Blockchains - Designs, Consensus, Attacks: with @lera_banda @tim_roughgarden @smc90 An overview of proof-of-stake blockchains -- from quick background on how blockchains work, difference between PoS & PoW, and approaches to improving both; to digging deeper into Sybill attacks and Sybill resistance; and much more on the design (and some debates) of PoS blockchains overall. by web3 with a16z crypto

50 min listen

Age of Wonders: NFTs, Art, AI, and Cycles of Computing: with @kevinrose @cdixon A tour through tech trends and hot topics both within and beyond crypto – including art, AI, the evolution of mediums including blockchains; a deep dive on NFTs, artists, communities; debates around cc0, modding and copying in the digital age, royalties; plus role of brands, DAOs, creation by crowds; and much more... including building in web2 to web3, from two veterans of both movements. by web3 with a16z crypto

66 min listen

Securing and Evolving NFTs: with @x0rart / @blauyourmind, @nassyweazy, @smc90 We cover the security and evolution of NFTs across applications and mediums -- including dynamic NFTs for art to identity to experiences; address common myths and misconceptions along the way (artist royalties in smart contracts? immutability?); and discuss experiments, trends, and applications of interest now and ahead. by web3 with a16z crypto

68 min listen

Ethereum, Merge and Beyond: with @timbeiko @tim_roughgarden @alive_eth @smc90 A deep dive on all things Ethereum, which this week makes the big move to proof of stake in The Merge. But our conversation, which certainly goes into The Merge and shares lots of in-depth and behind-scene details and bottomline on what changes, what doesn’t -- also goes well beyond the Merge, into an overview of what comes next, what’s top of mind, and more. by web3 with a16z crypto

100 min listen

Methods to the Madness: with @cdixon @eddylazzarin @smc90 A conversation about the markets and how recent events affect crypto and web3; mental models for thinking about crypto and web3, and the longer arc and evolution of technology history, open source, etc.; and methods & metrics for measuring price-innovation cycle ebbs and flows, creators in web2 vs web3, and much more -- as well as key trends that are top of mind. by web3 with a16z crypto

65 min listen

Auction Design for web3: with @skominers @tim_roughgarden @smc90 All things auctions -- which applies in web3 contexts to everything from NFT mints to blockchains themselves. We provide an overview of auction types and incentive design, and how it works in both theory and practice -- including the nuances of market-clearing prices, gas wars, and more… sharing tradeoffs, choices, and principles for builders designing these systems throughout. by web3 with a16z crypto

67 min listen

Bridge Hack, Wallet Hack: with @mg_486662 @riyazdf @nassyweazy and @smc90 We cover two of the most recent, high-profile hacks in the crypto space -- the Nomad bridge hack, and the Slope wallet hack (which affected several users on Solana) -- including a technical breakdown of the what, the how, and how we know. But we also discuss the broader categories, issues related (and not related) to web3 security, as well as open source solutions and advice for builders. Throughout, we try to tease apart what’s hype/ what’s real, and what's signal vs. noise, in the narratives out there. by web3 with a16z crypto

52 min listen

Policy Principles: @jakeauch @cdixon @milesjennings A quick overview of principles for thinking about policy, briefly covering topics and recent moves that are top of mind in U.S. crypto regulation -- from stablecoins to NFTs to DAOs more. by web3 with a16z crypto

26 min listen

Top Tech Topics, Explained: @tim_roughgarden @josephbonneau @skominers with @alive_eth @cdixon A tour though top-of-mind blockchain & crypto tech topics, explained by several a16z crypto researchers, including VDFs (verifiable delay functions); zk-rollups, SNARKs, and zero knowledge in general; and others. We quickly zip up and down the stack, and across themes -- such as scalability; data availability; reputation and the creator economy, also discussing applications for NFTs and more. Be sure to also subscribe to our YouTube channel -- search for 'a16z crypto research' -- as well as our newsletter at a16z crypto Substack for more content, and videos from researchers, with overviews of the topics discussed in this episode and beyond. by web3 with a16z crypto

45 min listen

Programming Languages & Crypto: with @b1ackd0g @noahcitron @eddylazzarin @smc90 A wide-ranging conversation all about programming languages and crypto -- for both existing blockchain & smart contract programmers, other non-web3 developers seeking to enter the space, and anyone interested in how programming languages evolve and come into existence (as well as in the intersection of language, code, and expression). The discussion covers differences (and similarities) in conventional programming languages vs. smart contract programming; debates the unique constraints (and opportunities) of blockchains; and also touches on topics such as formal verification, governance & community, tooling, cross-platform adaptation, and much much more... but also the history, ebbs, and flows of traditional programming to today. by web3 with a16z crypto

78 min listen

Crypto Regulations, Illicit Finance, Privacy and Beyond: with @michelekorver @jai_ramaswamy @smc90 We tease apart the facts vs buzz around recent news -- Tornado Cash sanctions, and arrest of a suspected developer -- including what's novel and what's not, as well as broader backdrop. But we also share an evergreen explainer that goes well beyond recent events, to help crypto founders and others navigate various regulatory and compliance requirements... while ensuring innovation. by web3 with a16z crypto

74 min listen

Mainstreaming NFTs: Use Cases, Art, More (with Punk6529): with @punk6529 @cdixon @smc90 Chris Dixon and Sonal Chokshi chat with Punk6529 about NFT use cases; NFT art (and generative art!); VR, AR, metaverse; more. As well as about regulatory mindsets, moves, and news -- such as Apple's in-app purchasing guidelines for NFTs, and Reddit NFTs. by web3 with a16z crypto

91 min listen

Network Effects, Moats, & the Business of web3: with @skominers @smc90 A deep dive and tour through key business concepts -- from competitive advantage and Porter's Five Forces, to network effects and moats -- as builders of all kinds navigate business strategy in open source, and especially web3. How does one compete when you're building (and competing) in the open? by web3 with a16z crypto

76 min listen

Crypto Policy & Regulation: What's Going On?: with @milesjennings @brianquintenz @colinmccune @smc90 We provide an overview of policy and regulation in the crypto industry right now -- from a lay of the land to pulse checks on sentiment; share frameworks for policymakers, and quick guidance on how things work (and how to navigate and participate) for builders; and dig into the mindsets, myths, debates, nuances around the topic. We also quickly discuss what to expect for regulation in a few specific domains -- from DeFi to DAOs, to briefly touching on: CEX vs DEX, stablecoins, banks custodying crypto, unhosted wallets, more. by web3 with a16z crypto

75 min listen

The Metaverse, Crypto, and Virtual Society: with @hermannarula @virtualelena @smc90 A deep dive on all things metaverse -- what it is, what it isn’t; how VR, videogames, sports, fashion, communities play here; where crypto comes in, including trends in DAOs, on-chain gaming, etc. We also go well beyond technology, into science fiction, the arts, narratives, and more in this wide-ranging conversation. by web3 with a16z crypto

82 min listen

Building and Overcoming the Hard Things: with @brian_armstrong @bhorowitz A conversation on management, company culture, and much more on building and overcoming the hard things… beginning with what’s top of mind for so many in the crypto industry and in the news right now (FTX etc.). by web3 with a16z crypto

43 min listen

Creators, Creativity, and Technology with Bob Iger: with @robertiger @cdixon @smc90 A wide-ranging conversation with Bob Iger on the interplay between technology, content, and distribution; as well as Bob’s journey -- and that of various creators! -- especially as the industry evolved from TV and cable to the advent of the internet/ web 1.0 to 2.0 to briefly touching on web3 and other emerging technologies. As well as topics top of mind for all company and community builders: from build vs. buy and the innovator's dilemma, to managing creativity, decentralization, remote work, and much more. by web3 with a16z crypto

80 min listen

Of Data Availability & Danksharding: with @lera_banda @danboneh @rhhackett A chat with some of our researchers on the topic of Data Availability Sampling and Danksharding – which is relevant to blockchain scaling, as well as paving the way for more advanced blockchain networks & user applications. While much of the discussion is especially relevant to Ethereum, some of the concepts we cover are also applicable to advances in computing and networking generally. by web3 with a16z crypto

40 min listen

Marketing web3: Audience, Community, More: with @amandacassatt @kimbatronic @smc90 All about marketing, and web3 -- not just for marketers already in or seeking to enter web3, but also anyone doing community marketing/ community management, devrel (developer relations); or simply doing marketing in web2 or classic growth marketing, seeking to understand the latest trends and tactics. by web3 with a16z crypto

74 min listen

Web3 Gaming & On-chain Games: with @ariannasimpson @eddylazzarin @smc90 An overview of web3 gaming as enabled by crypto & blockchains -- including pulse-checks on what’s working so far, what's more or less ready, and where the most exciting design spaces are for all kinds of builders. The discussion also covers play-to-earn, metaverse, autonomous worlds, and other worldbuilding, as well as design, user onboarding, open source, and frameworks for technology innovation. by web3 with a16z crypto

68 min listen

AI & Crypto: with @alive_eth @danboneh @smc90 The convergence of two important, very top-of-mind trends: artificial intelligence & blockchains/ crypto. The conversation covers everything from deep fakes and bots and proof-of-humanity in a world of AI, to big data, LLMs like ChatGPT, user control, governance, privacy and security, zero-knowledge machine learning, MEV, media and generative art, and and much, much more. by web3 with a16z crypto

63 min listen

Financial Freedom, Company Building, More: with @davidmarcus @smc90 A wide-ranging conversation on company building, big to small (including what cadence and when is the right "time" to ship); the relationship between centralization, decentralization, platforms, and financial freedom; moving from web2 to web3 in both crypto AND payments; why bitcoin, views on remote work, and much much more. Our guest is David Marcus, CEO and co-founder of Lightspark; Marcus was also a co-creator of Diem (aka Libra and Novi, the cryptocurrency project initiated by Facebook). Before that, he was vice president of messaging products there, where he ran the Facebook Messenger unit; and prior to joining Facebook, Marcus was the former president of PayPal (which had acquired his previous startup). This episode begins with an interview just to help kick things off and then features a rich set of questions from the audience -- as this originally took place live on stage at our Crypto Startup School 2023 by web3 with a16z crypto

46 min listen

Chain Choices: Or, How to Decide What Blockchain to Build On: with @guywuolletjr @eddylazzarin @smc90 "Which blockchain should I build in?" Is a very top of mind question for builders in web3, but also relevant to anyone interested in tech innovation and the evolution of infrastructure. So how does one decide among all the chain choices out there, particularly given how fast-moving the crypto and web3 space is? We sketch out the landscape, why it matters, tradeoffs; and then address common questions, a framework for deciding, different technical specs, and other factors such as community, marketing & ecosystem support, security, custody, programming languages, and more. by web3 with a16z crypto

61 min listen

Communicating in Crypto, and Beyond: How does one *communicate* well -- especially in crypto, but also in other technical industries, open source communities; or in distributed, decentralized organizations, where you may have participants that are both remote and in person, or a mix of regulars and newcomers/ strangers? This episode covers specific templates, tactics, and tools that anyone can use (whether leader of individual contributor, technical or other role) especially for informal vs. formal communication. by web3 with a16z crypto

59 min listen

Strategy & Operations for web3: with @mclader @smc90 On how to think about business strategy (& competition) in a world of open source and decentralized finance; product vs. protocol innovation; talent from hiring to organizational structure & collaboration; metrics, community engagement, app store policies, and much much more with Uniswap Labs COO MC Lader. by web3 with a16z crypto

57 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Mental Models for Navigating Crypto Markets & Cycles

Mental Models for Navigating Crypto Markets & Cycles

Description

Titles in the series (42)

More Episodes from web3 with a16z crypto

Related podcast episodes