Archive: crypto

Premium
Ethereum is a crucial network within the crypto ecosystem. It’s the backbone for much of the decentralized finance world. It’s by far the most popular network for decentralized apps. And most NFTs — which reached a trading volume of more than $17 billion last year — trade on the Ethereum network.  But Ethereum has faced delay after delay in making “the Merge” from proof of work to proof of stake. So…
Premium
Today we’re presenting Behind the Pick, a special edition of Crypto Monitor.  Last Friday, we recommended a new crypto to Crypto Asset Strategies subscribers: Stargate Finance. It’s an interoperability coin created by LayerZero, a startup backed by…
Premium
Most of you know that I’m an Ethereum bull. I believe that Ethereum is one of the most important networks in the crypto space. It’s the backbone for much of crypto’s decentralized finance (DeFi) system. Most NFTs trade on the Ethereum network. And trading volume for NFTs alone…

Washington Contemplates a Digital Dollar

By Vin Narayanan on April 22, 2022

Editor’s note: We’re trying a new format for our Friday crypto updates. We hope you enjoy the new look. And don’t forget that once a month, Vin will be writing about collectibles instead of crypto. Market Musings As of this writing, bitcoin is up around 2%…
Premium
I’ve always been a fan of pick-and-shovel plays — especially in emerging technologies. Picking winners as the dynamics of the industry are constantly shifting is incredibly difficult. But if investors can identify the technology that any new technology can’t be built without, they’ve found a way to de-risk…
Premium
Various crypto networks have made money transfers and transaction verification fast and efficient. But there are still limitations on how different networks can communicate with each other. Ethereum and Ripple, for example, can’t exchange data.  That’s where interoperability chains come in. Interoperability chains allow for data…

Instagram Embraces NFTs

By Vin Narayanan on April 15, 2022

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are having a moment.  These tokens typically represent some sort of collectible — often a digital collectible. But NFTs can also be used to represent wine, sneakers and other physical goods. Like bitcoin, NFTs are based on blockchain technology. Each NFT…
Premium
Last month Adam Sharp mentioned I would be taking over as your Crypto Asset Strategies guide. Adam has only been gone a few weeks. And he is sorely missed. But in the life of a crypto investor, the only…

Ethereum Merge Searches Give ETH a Boost

By Vin Narayanan on April 8, 2022

Google searches are an interesting signal in crypto investing. They’re not necessarily predictive. But they do often correlate with price. The correlation between Google searches for bitcoin and the price of bitcoin is fairly well established. The more searches…
Premium
Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, is worried about the future of crypto. In an interview with Time magazine, he said he was concerned about the dangers to overeager investors, high transaction fees and the exorbitant displays of wealth that have come to be synonymous…
Premium
Last week, Goldman Sachs made crypto history. The bank completed its first over-the-counter crypto trade with crypto firm Galaxy Digital.  Goldman executed the transaction in the form of a bitcoin non-deliverable option (NDO). Goldman and Galaxy – which have an ongoing partnership – seem pleased with…

Goldman Sachs Signals Crypto Is Here for the Long Haul

By Vin Narayanan on April 1, 2022

Goldman Sachs has made its first crypto trade. No, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke. The trade actually happened last week.  It was a bitcoin derivatives trade with Galaxy Digital. And Goldman is interested in participating in a full-fledged options market…
On Tuesday, I attended a founder event hosted by Wefunder and Brex in New York. It was a chance for founders and investors to meet and get to know each other. And it was hopping! I spent so much time speaking to founders and other investors that I…
Premium

Biden Pushes Government to Regulate Crypto

By Vin Narayanan on March 25, 2022

President Biden signed an executive order earlier this month that directs several federal agencies to develop policies and regulations for cryptocurrencies. Mainstream media reports — and some crypto analysts — linked this development to the U.S. trying to stop Russia from…
Premium

Crypto Insider: Microsoft Invests in Ethereum

By Early Investing on March 21, 2022

Microsoft is officially paying attention to the crypto space. The tech giant backed a recent $450 million funding round for ConsenSys, a blockchain startup founded by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin. ConsenSys develops software that runs on the Ethereum network. And its valuation jumped to $7 billion with this…
Premium

Crypto Monitor: The Vision and Venture Capital Behind Web3

By Early Investing on March 18, 2022

Andreessen Horowitz is a venture capital firm known for its focus on new technologies. The firm has $28 billion in assets under management across multiple funds — including $3 billion in crypto funds. And in January, a16z said it would raise $1 billion for Web3 seed investments.