Is Technology Still the Driving Force in Crypto? | a16z Crypto CTO Eddy Lazzarin

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It feels like crypto adoption is moving at lightning speed, but is anyone still "in it for the tech"?

Eddy Lazzarin, CTO of a16z crypto, joins Amanda Cassatt on Endgame to explore the growing influence of capital markets, and government and regulatory access, in the current landscape, as well as the specific breakthroughs he anticipates in AI and privacy that would make technology once again the driver of progress.

Touching on Tornado Cash, they discuss whether privacy technology has a future in an environment where governments are active players in the industry, the impact of the coming massive wave of asset tokenization, and how Eddy expects AI and crypto will actually converge and find product-market fit.

From his vantage point at the intersection of new technology and venture investing, Eddy reflects on what real innovation looks like when the narrative is shaped as much by capital as it is by code.

This conversation offers a window into how one of crypto’s most influential firms evaluates technology, risk, and opportunity.

➡️Talking Points: 

00:00 Understanding the Role of CTO at A16Z

02:56 A16Z's Evolving Perspective on Venture Capital

05:56 The Impact of Regulation on Technology Innovation

08:46 Navigating the Intersection of Traditional Finance and Crypto

11:46 The Future of Corporate Integration with Blockchain

14:43 The Coexistence of Legacy Systems and New Technologies

17:43 The Role of AI in Bridging Old and New Systems

29:27 Trusting AI: Expanding Boundaries

32:31 The Privacy Paradigm: Current Challenges and Future Solutions

42:49 Navigating the Future: Privacy, Compliance, and User Experience

55:31 Envisioning the Future: A Non-Custodial Financial Ecosystem

➡️Show Links: 

Follow Eddy: https://x.com/eddylazzarin

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Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  

Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  

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Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  

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