📝114: No Humans Needed
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 Marc.
Let’s start with a hot take:
“AI will make people more productive. It will never replace human beings.”
— JD Vance, Vice President of the United States
I’d argue that’s mostly right. But let’s be real—AI is already replacing tasks, jobs, and entire industries. The question isn’t whether AI will replace humans, but which humans will use AI to replace others. (Spicy, right? 😏)
MoonPay just partnered with Gaia to power payments for AI agents. Soon, most crypto transactions won’t involve humans at all.
This week’s question:
👉 Keep up with all our signals for Web3 execs on our Telegram channel.
📚 Our Top Reads This Week
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.
The Crypto-Policy Crossover
Brian Quintenz, Head of Policy at a16z Crypto, has been nominated to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). [Announcement]
The venture capital industry, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and NVCA President Bobby Franklin, has publicly supported his nomination.
His appointment follows internal CFTC turmoil, including the HR chief’s removal and an ongoing probe.
Why it matters: The CFTC regulates derivatives trading (futures, options, and swaps) and enforces regulations impacting parts of the crypto market.
What people are saying:
“ I worked with Brian on important initiatives that he led to success when he was a CFTC Commissioner. He will do the same for crypto and innovation.”
— Caroline D. Pham, Acting Chairman, CFTC
Stepping back: Quintenz previously served as a CFTC commissioner during the first Trump administration and founded the investment firm Saeculum Capital Management before joining Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) in 2021.
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 Unlocks “Agentic Finance”
MoonPay partners with Gaia, a decentralized developer network for AI agents. [Announcement]
The goal? To enable seamless payments and monetization for AI agents.
What you should know:
MoonPay will power token purchases and agent monetization on Mother, Gaia’s new Ethereum-based launchpad.
Plus: On-chain payments powered by Helio, MoonPay’s recent acquisition.
Why it matters: The AI agent market is set to hit $47B by 2030. This move cements MoonPay’s role at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and digital payments—a space set for massive growth.
Hot take: Soon, most crypto payments will be conduced between agents, not humans.
Zegna Enters Blockchain
ZEGNA, an Italian luxury fashion house, introduces its first Product Passport for the SS25 Vellus Aureum Collection in partnership with the Aura Blockchain Consortium.
The goal? To enhance luxury traceability.
What you should know: Customers can access a digital certificate by tapping an NFC tag attached to the garment. The certificate provides a detailed product history from sourcing to ownership. Registration is available for all Vellus Aureum products.
How to register:
Scan the NFC tag inside the garment using your smartphone.
Activate your passport by logging in or creating an account.
Download your Ownership Certificate with all garment details.
Why it matters: As consumers demand proof of origin and ethical sourcing, NFC tags and blockchain offer a seamless, tamper-proof method for verifying the full lifecycle of each piece. By integrating these technologies, Zegna is ensuring supply chain transparency and authenticity for its high-end garments, making its products accountable and aligned with values.
Devils advocate: It’s still unclear whether digital product passports actually move the needle for brands – and consumers.
OpenAI Unifies Models with GPT-5
OpenAI is merging its fragmented AI models into a single unified system with 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
👉 Keep up with all our signals for Web3 execs on our Telegram channel.
💰 Money Moves
The Game Company: AI gaming company raised $10M led by BullPerks and SingularityDAO. Link
That’s all for now, folks.
Talk soon,
– Marc & Team
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Marc and Sangam thanks,
your content is amazing!