Weekly Update #2 :Beyond Bitcoin: DC, AI, & the Future of Tech
Crypto-Takeover in DC. Brian from a16z crypto to lead CFTC. MoonPay enters AI. OpenAI's GPT-5 announced. Zegna enters blockchain. OpenSea and Doodles to launch token.
Hey, it's Akash. 👋
Let's dive right in with a hot take
"AI will boost productivity, not replace humans." – JD Vance, Vice President
Mostly true, sure.
But here's the real deal:
AI is already replacing tasks, jobs, entire industries.
The question isn't if AI replaces humans, but which humans will wield AI to displace others. (Food for thought? 😉)
Case in point:
MoonPay just partnered with Gaia to handle payments for AI agents.
Human-free crypto transactions are closer than you think.
Let’s Start!
Top Reads:
Unbundling the BPO: How AI Will Disrupt Outsourced Work. A16Z. Link
Family Ties: The Internet and Crypto [2025]. Architect Partners. Link
On Building a Crypto Capital. a16z Crypto. Link
OpenAI Simplifies Product Roadmap. Michael Parekh. Link
Headwinds Becoming Tailwinds. Pantera Capital. Link
Monetizing Open Source AI. Chain of Thought. Link
The Evolution of Social Media and The Future of Digital Finance [Podcast]. Link
👉Work with us: Scale your corporate adoption. Reach corporate decision-makers, build investor confidence, elevate your brand, and capture market & mindshare.
Crypto Industry Leader Up for Top Regulator Job
Brian Quintenz, a16z Crypto policy head, is nominated to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), signaling closer ties between crypto and Washington regulation.
The venture capital industry, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and NVCA President Bobby Franklin, has publicly supported his nomination.
This nomination comes amidst CFTC internal issues.
The CFTC regulates crypto derivatives, making Quintenz's leadership significant for the industry.
Former CFTC Acting Chairman Caroline Pham endorses Quintenz, citing his past success.
Quintenz's background includes being a former CFTC commissioner, investment firm founder, and now a16z policy lead, highlighting the crypto-policy career path.
Crypto’s Influence on Trump’s Administration:
David Sachs (limited partner at Multicoin Capital) → AI and crypto czar
Sriram Krishnan (ex-a16z) → White House policy advisor
Scott Kupor (a16z) → Head of Office of Personnel Management
Jamie Sullivan (a16z) → Rumored DOGE policy advisor
Jonathan Gould (ex-Bitfury) → Nominated to lead OCC
Luke Pettit (Sen. Hagerty aide) → Nominated for Treasury role
Also: The Senate advanced Howard Lutnick for Commerce secretary. He has demonstrated a notably pro-crypto stance, particularly in relation to Bitcoin and Tether.
MoonPay: "Agentic Finance" is Go!
MoonPay is teaming up with Gaia, a group building stuff for AI agents.
Basically, they want to make it super easy for AI agents to pay and get paid.
What you need to know:
Payments for AI agents: MoonPay will power how you buy crypto tokens and how AI agents get paid on "Mother," Gaia's new platform (built on Ethereum).
Blockchain Payments: They'll use "Helio" for payments that happen directly on the blockchain – something MoonPay just bought.
The AI agent market is predicted to be worth $47 billion by 2030! This move puts MoonPay right in the middle of AI, crypto, and payments – a space that's about to get huge.
Quick thought:
Get ready – soon, most crypto payments might be between AI agents, not people!
Zegna Takes Luxury Transparency to the Blockchain
Luxury fashion house ZEGNA, is stepping up its game with a new "Product Passport" for its SS25 Vellus Aureum Collection.
They're using blockchain tech to make sure you know exactly where your high-end clothes come from.
Quick Look:
Digital Passport: Each garment in the Vellus Aureum Collection will have a digital certificate you can access with your phone.
NFC Tag: Just tap the tag on the garment with your phone to see the product's journey, from materials to you.
Full History: The passport shows the complete story of the item – where it's from, how it was made, all the details.
Easy Registration: Register your garment and get an Ownership Certificate.
How to Get Your Digital Passport:
Scan the Tag: Find the NFC tag inside your Zegna garment and scan it with your phone.
Activate Passport: Log in or quickly create a free account.
Get Certificate: Download your Ownership Certificate with all the details about your new Zegna piece.
Why This is a Big Deal:
Basically, people want to know if their luxury items are legit and made ethically. Zegna's using these digital passports to be totally transparent.
It's a high-tech way to prove their quality and show they care about things like fair sourcing and authentic products. It makes them accountable to you, the customer.
Worth Considering:
Some people are still asking if these digital passports really make a difference for brands and shoppers.
But Zegna is betting that being open and using new tech is the way forward for luxury in the modern world.
OpenAI's Game Changer: GPT-5 is Unifying Everything
Big news from OpenAI!
They're shaking things up by merging all their different AI models into one powerful system: GPT-5.
What you should know:
GPT-5 will combine all of OpenAI's models into one unified system, handling tasks like chat, analysis, creativity, image generation, and reasoning.
Users won't need to choose models—GPT-5 will automatically handle tasks requiring deep thought or creativity.
GPT-4.5 (Orion) will be the last traditional GPT model.
GPT-5 will offer unlimited access in the free tier, while paid tiers provide enhanced versions for complex tasks and Pro users get the most powerful features.
Other Highlights You Can’t Miss
Givaudan launched Guardians of Memories, an interactive Roblox game. Link
Polymarket recorded $1.1B in trading volume during Super Bowl LIX. Link
Robinhood's crypto revenue soars by 700%, reaching $358M. Link
OpenSea and Doodles will launch their native tokens. Link
$1.3T AUM Franklin Templeton launches its tokenized money market fund (F0BXX) on Solana. Link
Investments
The Game Company: AI gaming company raised $10M led by BullPerks and SingularityDAO. Link
That’s all for now, folks.
Talk soon,
– Akash
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