BEFORE WE START…

Could you do us a solid and click this link — we just started sending from a new domain, and clicking that link tells email providers “these guys are alright.”

(Oh, but — whatever you do, do not click  this link ).

Ok, now — where were we…

Sup, nerds!

Here’s what you’re getting in today’s edition:

• 💅 This is cool: "Meh" surely we can do better…

• 🔎 This seems important: AI: the new path to crypto mass adoption

• 🤝 Partner: Unlock your startup's potential with Raze 🚀​

• 🔪 Let's dissect this: Rejoice! Crypto projects are getting funded again

Terms used in this edition (click for an explanation, or ​ask Web(GPT)3!​):
Protocol, Web3.

💅 This is cool:

“Meh” Surely We Can Do Better…

In one sentence: Our new favorite crypto use case: set up renewable energy capture sites → install on-site crypto miners → use profits to fund infrastructure projects.

Help!

We’ve fallen [down a rabbit hole] and can’t get up!

We just read an article on how Paris Saint-Germain (the soccer team) is about to start mining crypto → use the profits to buy up its own crypto token (helping stabilize its price) → then give the token out to fans.

And it all felt so…meh.

Mining crypto to fund a fan loyalty program? That’s cool and all — but what does it do in the grand scheme of things?

(Isn’t cryptocurrency supposed to be a ‘world changing technology’?)

So we tweaked the question to “what if crypto mining was used to fund local infrastructure projects?”

Which sounds like a weird rabbit hole to jump from - but hear us out!

Let’s say your country has massive geothermal reserves…

But building out the physical infrastructure required to take all of that captured energy, and deliver it to every home in the country/state/locale is going to cost a lot.

(Like, a lot a lot).

So your government representatives have never seriously considered it (at best, only ever seeing it as ‘neat, but way too hard/expensive to implement’).

Adding crypto mining to the equation would allow the project to:

1. Set up geothermal generators, with mining rigs on site.

2. Convert that energy into money (without first having to set up export infrastructure → find a buyer → export the energy).

3. Use that money to fund wider infrastructure projects.

All with no/low additional government deficit spending.

Awesome right??

🥇 Want the news before anyone else?

🔎 This seems important:

AI: The New Path to Crypto Mass Adoption

In one sentence: AI agents will need to make payments that are fast, publicly verifiable, and dirt cheap (i.e. crypto payments) — opening a new path to crypto mass adoption.

Boring-ish news: On Wednesday one of the largest AI hardware producers, Nvidia, released its earnings report.

Not-so-boring news: Market analysts were convinced the stock would tank (there was no way in their minds that it could beat earnings expectations).

Definitely-not-boring news: Against all odds — Nvidia beat expectations and saw its stock surge 8% after hours.

Q: That’s cool — but what does this have to do with crypto?
A: Nothing. At least, not directly…

We love discovering new possible paths to crypto mass adoption (gaming and social are two of our past favorites) — and we think we might have a new one for the list:

Automated payments for AI agents.

ICYMI: AI ‘agents’ are AI programs that bundle a bunch of services together to perform a broader task on your behalf.

For example, you might prompt: “Write and launch a new Facebook ad campaign for me.”

…in response the AI agent might use ChatGPT to write the ad, Midjourney to create the ad imagery, and Zapier to load it onto Facebook.

Right now, these AI agents are super clunky/unreliable…but eventually, they’re going to be able to do all of the digital grunt work that we all hate doing.

And part of that will involve paying for things.

Payments that will need to be near instant, publicly/permissionlessly verifiable, and dirt cheap.

Cryptocurrency = the prime candidate.

🤝 Partner:

Unlock Your Startup's Potential with Raze 🚀

We get it. Raising funding for your startup is hard!

You have a killer idea for an epic new product…all you need is a bit of funding to build out the team and market the damn thing!

Problem is, you're probably stuck in a maze of paperwork, investor meetings, and legal complexities.

That’s where Raze comes in.

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned Web3 innovator, Raze is designed with you in mind. They understand the struggles of finding the right investors and navigating the intricate web of regulations, especially in the U.S.

The Raze platform streamlines the entire capital-raising process and helps you put your investor networking on autopilot - connecting you with the perfect investors and providing expert guidance every step of the way.

(It’s basically a cheat code for raising funding).

So, if you have no lawyer, no investors, or you’re stuck trying to raise capital without gaining much traction, check out Raze – the ultimate solution for seamless capital raising!

Click the big red button below to learn more 👇

🔪 Let's dissect this:

Rejoice! Crypto Projects Are Getting Funded Again

In one sentence: EigenLabs (the team behind ‘restaking’ on ETH) just copped a $100M check from a16z Crypto, signaling that the market has turned.

A short n’ sweet story to cap off the week?

Say. no. more.

In the (self proclaimed) wise words of Seb Lindner:

“Nothing says ‘the market has turned,’ like seeing significant funding for Web3 projects again.“

Exhibit A:

EigenLabs (the big brains behind ‘restaking’ on Ethereum) just copped a $100M check from a16z Crypto.

Why? Our guess is it’s because:

1. They asked nicely.

2. EigenLabs’ “EigenLayer” restaking protocol has already seen nearly $8B worth of investment from users.

   
   (☝️ Impressive for a project that only popped onto the scene a few months back).

We love to see it!

Restaking Explained (feat. EigenLayer).