Ethan LockshinSales at NVIDIA focused on AI adoption

CEO of a16z Backed Startup Gives #1 Piece Of Advice For Engaging Crypto

Name: CEO of a16z Backed Startup Gives #1 Piece Of Advice For Engaging Crypto
Uploaded: 2025-12-20T13:32:26+00:00
Duration: 1 min 15 s
Channel: Ethan Lockshin
Description: In an interview, the CEO of an a16z‑backed crypto startup answers a question aimed at newcomers and skeptics. He acknowledges legitimate skepticism but…

20 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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1:15

In an interview, the CEO of an a16z‑backed crypto startup answers a question aimed at newcomers and skeptics. He acknowledges legitimate skepticism but argues that the most effective way to form an opinion about crypto is to actually use the existing products rather than focus on token price or asset returns. He points out that sending money via crypto can settle almost instantly with very low fees, which feels fundamentally different from traditional finance. He recommends concrete first‑step actions: sending USDC on Ethereum or Solana, trying a lending market, and swapping assets on a decentralized exchange like Uniswap. The underlying message is that the technology and user experience of these products, not the speculative assets, will ultimately determine crypto’s long‑term success.

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For listeners and viewers who are new to crypto or skeptical, what's one straightforward piece of advice or caution that you would give about engaging with crypto today?
Yep. So I think a lot of reasons for skepticism, many of which are valid. I would say that the single piece of advice I would give people is just to use the actual products. And so I think that, you know, most of the conversation has been dominated around Visa's tokens and assets and the return profile. What I think is much more interesting is the technology underpinning all of this. And so I think, you know, my biggest piece of advice is just to use some of that and form your own opinions. So I think, you know, very basic examples of this. You know, me sending you money, you know, I could do that right now. It could settle almost instantly with very low fees. I think that's one example where once people use it and feel it, it just feels fundamentally different. And so I tend to think that the best thing that you can do is actually just use the products. No, send USDC over Ethereum or Solana, use a lending market, use something like a Uniswap to swap assets and kind of have a different exchange experience. So I'd say that that's probably my number one piece of advice is to form your own opinions on the basis of the actual products that are out there. And I think oftentimes most of the conversation is dominated by the assets themselves, but I think it's the products that, in the fullness of time, win the day.