Robert Hackett
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intercomputer realist @a16zfrontier / editor readwriteown.com/ / cofounder @FortuneCrypto / writing a book with @Tim_Org
Articles by Robert Hackett
Prediction markets’ biggest month yet, in 3 charts
Prediction markets just had their biggest month ever. Notional trading volume hit $123.6B. That’s 1.5x all of 2024 and 2025 combined ($82B). Even if you use a much more conservative measure and look at the cash that buyers paid for contracts (counting parlays at the cents paid for them, not the $1 they pay out), October still topped all of 2025. October ‘26: $22.7B All 2025: $20.9B Almost every prediction market measure hit an all-time high in October (up from Sept. records).
3 charts on the tokenized stocks boom
Tokenized equities — or tokenized stocks, as they’re more commonly known — show the inroads crypto is making into Wall Street. These are blockchain-based tokens that represent traditional equities such as corporate shares, ETFs, and index products. Unlike traditional equities, tokenized stocks can be self-custodied in digital wallets, moved permissionlessly, traded at any time, and used seamlessly as collateral across onchain finance.
From corporation to crowd: How organizations evolved through time and technology
For centuries, the central challenge of commerce has been the same: How do you get people with different roles, different information, and different incentives to work together toward a common purpose? The answer has almost always involved some form of organizational innovation: new structures that allocate risk, reward, and responsibility in ways the previous generation couldn’t. The history of commerce is also a history of coordination.
5 charts: How crypto cards are driving stablecoin spend
Stablecoins are increasingly being spent by card swipe. Crypto payment cards have gone from a novelty to more than $750 million in monthly spend. These cards let people pay with crypto anywhere traditional card networks are accepted. Behind the scenes, the crypto — stablecoins, overwhelmingly — gets converted to local currency at the point of sale, so the payments look like any other card transactions to merchants. Crypto cardholders don’t require a traditional bank account.
5 Charts to Understand Crypto Payment Cards: Stablecoins Transition from Blockchain to Real-World Spending
Monthly spending reached $759 million, with USD stablecoins holding a dominant position. Written by: Robert Hackett, Ryan Holloway, a16z Compiled by: Luffy, Foresight News Stablecoins are increasingly being used for everyday spending through card transactions. Crypto payment cards are no longer a novelty; the total monthly spending in this sector has surpassed $750 million.
a16z Briefing: Prediction Markets Break Records for Third Consecutive Week, Weekly Trading Volume Surpasses $14.4 Billion for First Time
2026.06.30 Share Share to X (Twitter) Share to WeChat Share to Weibo Share by Image TechFlow Selected TechFlow Selected a16z Briefing: Prediction Markets Break Records for Third Consecutive Week, Weekly Trading Volume Surpasses $14.4 Billion for First Time The World Cup boosted the hype, but growth has long gone beyond sports. 2026.06.30 - 09:26:08 预测市场 The World Cup boosted the hype, but growth has long gone beyond sports.
Climate Crossroads: Why does science denial remain widespread?
The scientific consensus is overwhelming: climate change is real and human activity–especially burning fossil fuels–is driving it. So why does climate science denial remain widespread? How can misinformation that delays adequate climate action be challenged? Those questions anchored a March 21 public presentation sponsored by qathet Climate Alliance. Two guest speakers offered complementary perspectives on the roots of climate denialism and how to counteract it.
a16z: 7 Charts to Understand the Tokenization Boom
Multiple institutions forecast that the tokenized asset market size will grow more than 100-fold by around 2030, with the highest projection exceeding $30 trillion. By Robert Hackett, a16z Translated by Saoirse, Foresight News The tokenized assets market—often referred to as the real-world assets (RWA) market—surpassed $30 billion last month and has since stabilized around $34 billion, excluding stablecoins.
a16z: Beyond Payments—Stablecoins Reshape the Global Financial Landscape
By Noah Levine, Guy Wuollet, and Robert Hackett Translated by Luffy, Foresight News The global financial system is being rebuilt atop new infrastructure—and this transformation is advancing far faster than most outside the crypto industry realize. Stablecoins sit at the heart of this shift. Once niche trading tools, they have evolved into foundational financial infrastructure and are now becoming the bedrock for next-generation global financial products.
a16z: 9 Charts That Explain the Future Evolution of Stablecoins
2026.04.27 Share Share to X (Twitter) Share to WeChat Share to Weibo Share by Image TechFlow Selected TechFlow Selected a16z: 9 Charts That Explain the Future Evolution of Stablecoins It was widely believed that the core value of stablecoins lies in cross-border remittances. In reality, the opposite is true: stablecoins are undergoing deep localization. It was widely believed that the core value of stablecoins lies in cross-border remittances.
What the world can learn from Cuba’s climate fight
A cuban farmer stands in his tobacco field. Photo by Guillaume Baviere/Flickr. It would be tragic if the Trump administration’s economic assault on Cuba not only reimposed exploitative colonialism, but also erased the island nation’s little-known but world-leading efforts to address climate change.
Climate Crossroads: Counteracting climate disinformation
One of qathet International Film Festival’s most remarkable films was Orwell: 2+2=5. In 1948, George Orwell wrote his classic dystopian novel 1984, envisaging a totalitarian regime based not only on brute force, but on debasing language and compelling people to accept absurdities as truth. Totalitarianism tries to abolish the very idea of objective truth, the film explains.
How Foundation Models Evolved: A PhD Journey Through AI's Breakthrough Era
The Stanford PhD who built DSPy thought he was just creating better prompts—until he realized he'd accidentally invented a new paradigm that makes LLMs actually programmable. While everyone obsesses over whether LLMs will get us to AGI, Omar Khattab is solving a more urgent problem: the gap between what you want AI to do and your ability to tell it, the absence of a real programming language for intent.
Ben & Marc: Why Everything Is About to Get 10x Bigger
a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz join a16z general partner Erik Torenberg and Not Boring founder Packy McCormick for a conversation on how the media and information ecosystem has changed over the past decade. The discussion breaks down the shift toward a more open and decentralized speech environment, the rise of writer- and creator-led platforms like Substack, and the erosion of centralized media gatekeepers.
Climate Crossroads: Better public transit is a matter of fairness
Options presented to City of Powell River Council, during its unenviable task of reconciling the city’s budget with the loss of the paper mill’s tax revenues, unfortunately emphasize cuts more than new revenues. But one option should be ruled out: cutbacks to current and potentially improved bus service. As a frequent driver and walker, occasional cyclist, but only rarely a bus passenger, I’m nevertheless willing to pay taxes for better public transit.
The obsession that destroys startups (with LayerZero CEO)
This episode covers a destructive mental trap founders can fall into — and how to avoid it. We also explore why crypto went multichain, how it is competing with legacy financial systems, and an important lesson from Elon Musk. with @PrimordialAA @rhackett In this episode, host Robert Hackett sits down with Bryan Pellegrino, cofounder and CEO of LayerZero, one of the core infrastructure projects that enables blockchains to talk to one another.
How elite athletes perform under extreme pressure
with @LairdLife @GabbyReece @AriannaSimpson Today’s episode features two people who’ve spent their careers performing at the highest levels in sport and business: big-wave surfing pioneer Laird Hamilton and former pro volleyball star Gabby Reece. They join a16z crypto General Partner Arianna Simpson for a conversation that explores what it takes to endure and excel over decades — how to get back up after setbacks, when to push versus change course, and how to build resilience and adaptability.
From wallets to super apps: The internet's new interface (with Phantom CEO)
Brandon Millman, Jay Drain, and Robert Hackett 12.19.25 with @BChillman @jay_drainjr @rhackett Crypto wallets are no longer just wallets. They’re the front door to a decentralized internet. In this episode, Phantom CEO Brandon Millman joins a16z crypto Investment Partner Jay Drain and host Robert Hackett to unpack how crypto wallets are evolving into full-blown consumer finance platforms — and why they may be the most credible candidates to become the internet’s next super apps.
The real story of stablecoins with Bridge’s founder & USDC’s creator
Sean Neville, Zach Abrams, and Robert Hackett 12.10.25 with @zcabrams @psneville @rhackett In this episode, Robert Hackett sits down with Sean Neville, cofounder of Circle and co-creator of the USDC stablecoin, and Zach Abrams, founder of Bridge (now part of Stripe), for a deep dive into the real story behind stablecoins, finding product-market fit, and the future of payments infrastructure.
Our favorite gear and gadget picks for holiday 2025
Thanksgiving is approaching here in the U.S., which means it’s the perfect time to scour seasonal sales and kickstart your holiday shopping. Whether you’re looking for something unexpected for the person in your life who has everything or reward yourself with something special, our annual gift guide offers 70+ ideas handpicked by the a16z crypto team, from our favorite tech to self-care staples. There’s a lot here, ranging in price and with options for all ages.
Pricing the future (with Kalshi CEO)
VIDEO In this episode of web3 with a16z crypto, host Robert Hackett talks with Kalshi Cofounder and CEO Tarek Mansour about how prediction markets are enabling people to trade directly on real-world events — from elections to inflation — and what this means for the future of finance and forecasting.
Building the Real-World Infrastructure for AI, with Google, Cisco & a16z
AI isn’t just changing software, it’s causing the biggest buildout of physical infrastructure in modern history. In this episode, Raghu Raghuram (a16z) speaks with Amin Vahdat, VP and GM of AI and Infrastructure at Google, and Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, about the unprecedented scale of what’s being built — from chips to power grids to global data centers.
Marc Andreessen: How Movies Explain America
In this episode of Monitoring the Situation, Marc Andreessen, Katherine Boyle, and Erik Torenberg dive into the movies that best explain America, from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to Tropic Thunder to Fight Club.
State of Crypto 2025: Stablecoins go mainstream, institutions embrace blockchains, and what’s next
Each year, the State of Crypto report from a16z crypto cuts through the noise and tracks crypto’s evolution across markets, technology, policy, and culture. VIDEO Now in its fourth edition, the 2025 State of Crypto report reveals how crypto has gone mainstream: from stablecoins and tokenized assets to institutional adoption by major financial players.
State of Crypto 2025: The year crypto went mainstream
This is the year the world came onchain. When we launched our first State of Crypto report, the industry was still in its adolescence. The total crypto market was worth about half what it is today. Blockchains were much slower, more expensive, and less reliable. In the last three years, crypto builders weathered a major market drawdown and political uncertainty — but continued to make significant infrastructure improvements and other advancements.
State of Crypto 2025: The year crypto went mainstream
Daren Matsuoka, Robert Hackett, Jeremy Zhang, Stephanie Zinn, and Eddy Lazzarin 10.22.25 This is the year the world came onchain. When we launched our first State of Crypto report, the industry was still in its adolescence. The total crypto market was worth about half what it is today. Blockchains were much slower, more expensive, and less reliable.
How Kong Was Born: APIs, Hustle, and the Future of AI Infrastructure
Augusto Marietti, CEO and cofounder of Kong, has one of the most remarkable founder stories in Silicon Valley history. In this conversation with Martin Casado, Aghi shares how he went from a garage in Milan to building one of the world’s leading API infrastructure companies, surviving years of rejection, living in the U.S. on $1,000 a month, and raising his first $50K while sleeping on Travis Kalanick’s couch.
Reid Hoffman on AI, Consciousness, and the Future of Humanity
Reid Hoffman has been at the center of every major tech shift, from co-founding LinkedIn and helping build PayPal to investing early in OpenAI. In this conversation, he looks ahead to the next transformation: how artificial intelligence will reshape work, science, and what it means to be human.
Marc Andreessen on the State of Film and Hollywood
Hollywood is going through a major cultural and creative reset, and Marc Andreessen thinks it’s long overdue. In this episode of Monitoring the Situation, Marc joins Erik Torenberg and Katherine Boyle to dissect the past decade of filmmaking, from the rise of “the message” in every movie to the return of genuine comedy and art.
Keith Rabois: Israel, OpenAI, Opendoor, and DOGE
From politics to technology to real estate, Keith Rabois has bold predictions for America’s next decade. In this conversation with Erik Torenberg, Keith breaks down why he believes the U.S. is entering a new economic expansion driven by AI, productivity, and sovereign technology. They discuss how AI could lift GDP growth to 5%, why sovereign AI projects are inevitable, and why America can “grow its way out” of debt.
Can the US Beat China’s Engineering State?
From high-speed rail to electric cars to batteries to AI, it’s clear that China can operate with incredible speed at massive scale. Can the US still compete? We sat down with Dan Wang, a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author of “Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future” to discuss. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction 1:36 Lawyers vs.
Software is Eating Labor
Software has fundamentally changed the way we record, store, and share information. Its next act is to fundamentally change the nature of our economy, capturing trillions of dollars of value in the process. In this talk from the 2025 a16z LP Summit, a16z General Partner Alex Rampell discusses the history of filing cabinets and databases, how SaaS pricing moved from seats to outcomes, and how AI agents will accelerate the trend of the last 70 years of software progress.
The Ben & Marc Show: China Has Scale. Can America Catch Up?
Ben, Marc, and Erik Torenberg are joined by Brian Schimpf, Co-Founder & CEO of Anduril, and Chris Power, Founder & CEO of Hadrian. Together, they dig into America’s defense production gap: why the U.S. can out-innovate but not out-produce—and what it will take to turn that around.
3965 Station Way, Suwanee, GA 30024, US
Operating Expenses Recurring costs required to maintain and manage a rental property, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, utilities (if paid by the owner), property management fees, and other day-to-day expenses. Calculation: Insurance + Property Taxes + Property Management + Repairs & Maintenance + Capital Expenditures + HOA Fees
Mark Cuban on Sports, Healthcare, and Social Media
What happens when AI collides with salesmanship, streaming-era sports, and healthcare? In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Mark Cuban, entrepreneur, Dallas Mavericks co-owner, and founder of Cost Plus Drugs. Topics include fiery group chats and how dissent sharpens thinking, the sales playbook of modern politics, and concrete fixes for U.S. healthcare like ending PBM opacity, publishing real prices, and government-backed patient financing.
The Little Tech Agenda for AI
Who’s speaking up for startups in Washington, D.C.? In this episode, Matt Perault (Head of AI Policy, a16z) and Colin McCune (Head of Government Affairs, a16z) unpack the “Little Tech Agenda” for AI- why AI rules should regulate harmful use, not model development; how to keep open source open; the roles of the federal government vs states in regulating AI; and how the U.S. can compete globally without shutting out new founders.
What We're Reading & Technology Changing Reading
Robert HackettSonal ChokshiStephanie ZinnTim Sullivan history tech trends what we're reading In a now-annual tradition, the a16z crypto editorial team discuss themes (and picks) from a16z crypto’s latest reading list, as well as books we keep re-reading, childhood favorites, classics, adaptations on adaptations — in book and movie form! — and much more. What genres are we reading now, how, and why? How is technology — from AI and ChatGPT to the internet and audio — changing reading?
Everything stablecoins: Big picture, deep dive
Stablecoins are quietly transforming how money moves — faster, cheaper, and more globally than ever before. In this episode, we take a deep look at why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most promising applications in crypto today — and how they could reshape global payments. I’m joined by Chris Dixon, founder and managing partner of a16z crypto and author of the New York Times-bestselling book Read Write Own, and Sam Broner, a deal partner at a16z crypto who focuses on stablecoins.
All the stablecoin news: Stripe, Visa, Coinbase, Circle, more
There has been a flurry of stablecoin news lately, so we’re doing a special bonus episode to cover everything that’s been going on. Sonal and I are joined by a16z crypto’s Data Science lead Daren Matsuoka who shares the actual data behind the stablecoin trend. Then we have Sam Broner — who is a Deal Partner here and our frequent author on stablecoins — to analyze the news, and help highlight the signal versus the noise.
Your guide to tokens: Types, design, uses, more
Forget what you think you know about tokens. We present a new framework that could change the way you view crypto. with @eddylazzarin @skominers @milesjennings @rhhackett Today we’re diving deep into *the* defining concept in crypto: tokens. We’re moving beyond conventional categories — like “governance tokens” or “utility tokens” or even “memecoins” — to present a full taxonomy that details what tokens are, what they aren’t, and what they’re capable of becoming.
Who Benefits from Residential School Denialism?
Defending Indigenous land rights is not just a matter of justice, argues Naomi Klein in This Changes Everything. It may be “the last line of defence” against a juggernaut doubling down on a high-carbon economy regardless of the costs, including the possible collapse of organized human society. Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners Emily Carr University’s 2025 Grad Show Is Its Most Ambitious Yet Join us and celebrate the future of art and design. Show opens May 7.
AI and the end of apps (with NEAR)
Our guest Illia Polosukhin designed and implemented the first-ever “transformer” models that kicked off the current AI boom. He joins the show to share his vision for an internet overrun by trillions of “user-owned” AI agents, eventually replacing websites and apps. with @ilblackdragon @rhhackett In this episode, we’re diving deep into one of the most intriguing intersections in tech today: AI and crypto.
All about airdrops
with @eddylazzarin @DarenMatsuoka @ahall_research @rhhackett Welcome to web3 with a16z. I’m Robert Hackett. Today we’re talking about one of the most familiar — and most misunderstood — mechanics in crypto: the airdrop. We’ll explore the history of airdrops in and outside crypto, the challenges of incentive design, and learnings from airdrops to date. We’ll also answer questions like how do you avoid Sybil attacks and professional airdrop farming?
Congestion pricing: Economics, theory, reality
Everyone hates traffic. One way to reduce it is through congestion pricing, which New York City implemented at the start of the year — a first of its kind for the U.S. We spoke to two economists about the history of the approach, the challenges of putting it into practice, and the implications — which extend from city blocks to, yes, blockchains. with @mostrovs @skominers @rhhackett Welcome to web3 with a16z.
Inside the biggest heist
Crypto exchange ByBit got hacked for $1.5 billion — making it potentially the biggest heist of all time. a16z crypto security expert Matt Gleason joins web3 with a16z host Robert Hackett to discuss how the attack went down, the state of crypto security, and what you can do to help protect yourself from similar attacks. Welcome to web3 with a16z.
Freedom of screech? As the right howls, a Prof clarifies free speech debates
University of Winnipeg professor Peter Ives does us a favour in his new book Rethinking Free Speech, a feat of conceptual brush-clearing. It’s important and timely. Why? Consider these developments: Item: In the small city of Pickering, ON, the mayor recently announced the closure of city council meetings to the public, due to ongoing alt-right harassment.
Episode 317 - Fatal Distraction with Shealeigh Voitl
Control of information is a vital weapon of the ruling class in its war on the people. Critical media literacy is more important now than it has ever been. For the past year we’ve been drowning in imbalanced coverage of the war on Gaza. (How many times did mainstream news outlets use the word ‘genocide’?) It’s just one example – and it’s an outrage. Steve’s guest is Shealeigh Voitl, Project Censored’s digital and print editor.
Social media secrets: How to build your presence
Looking to level up your online presence? Here’s how to make social media work for you, rather than overwhelming you. Our guests are masters of the art of posting, and they have tips and tactics you can use to boost your profile, attract attention, and build a following of your own. with @0xgaut @ishverduzco @rhhackett Welcome to web3 with a16z. Today we’re talking about how to make social media work for you, rather than overwhelming you.
Talking trends 2025 (part 2): AI x crypto
Welcome to our special end-of-year episodes — which also look ahead to 2025 — covering our annual Big Ideas lists, where various a16z crypto team members share what they are personally excited about.
Return of the ‘F’ word: Fascism and remembrance
Every November 11th, when Canada honours its veterans and war dead, I think of my late parents. Dad served in the British Army’s Royal Engineers; Mum kept calm and carried on while London was blitzed. Their generation sacrificed enormously to defeat the aggressive fascist regimes of Germany, Italy and Japan. But World War II wasn’t just between countries—it was a global struggle for democracy’s very survival. This year’s commemoration was especially poignant.
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