Burnt Finance is a crypto startup which, as a stunt, burnt a Banksy artwork and but then the NFT they’d minted for it for $400,000, double what it cost on the ‘normal’ open art market. Based on the idea that auctions for NFTs could be improved, it went on to raise $3 million for a […]
NFT volume, DAOs and the curious case of LooksRare
Let’s talk about incentives and governance tokens to parse out what’s up with LooksRare and the larger future of the financialization of everything.
A peek into Web3 power player Animoca Brands
If you haven’t heard of Animoca Brands over the last year or so, you haven’t been paying close attention. With a long and growing list of digital entertainment, blockchain, and gaming properties, the eight-year-old, 600-person Hong Kong-based outfit has quietly become one of the most active participants in a world that more and more stakeholders […]
Can you build centralized islands in a decentralized ocean?
Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. We’re getting back up to full speed this week, so Mary Ann and Alex along with Grace behind the scenes took on our Friday show. Next week Natasha and Chris are back, and […]
Report: GameStop Is Going Big Into Crypto And NFTs
It’s not only game companies like Square Enix and Ubisoft who are getting into NFTs. Game retailer GameStop is reportedly doing so, too. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Texas-based company is launching its own crypto division, with plans to c…
Katie Haun is splitting off from a16z to launch her own crypto fund
Katie Haun, who co-led Andreessen Horowitz’s $2.2 billion crypto fund, is splitting off from the firm and taking a number of colleagues with her — including operating partner Rachael Horwitz — to start a new crypto-centric fund, Axios reports. Haun joined the firm in 2018 after a career as a federal prosecutor for the Justice […]
Your local trucker is giving us creator economy vibes
Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Friends, we’re almost there: the end of the year that felt like a decade. This week, Mary Ann, Natasha and Alex put aside their 2021 fatigue and talked through a week full of news – and […]
Long-time Lyft CFO departs to become CFO at NFT marketplace OpenSea
Lyft’s long-time CFO Brian Roberts, who took the company public, announced Monday that he was departing the rideshare company that he joined in 2014 to take the same role at NFT marketplace OpenSea. Roberts confirmed earlier reports in a Twitter post. The departure is another signal of how executives and engineers are migrating from the […]
As crypto unicorns multiply, the US stands out as ground zero for blockchain winners
The market for crypto-focused investing is growing rapidly. News that Paradigm put together a $2.5 billion fund the other day is a reminder of the scale of funds now available to startups looking to build on the blockchain. Andreessen Horowitz has a mega-fund in the market as well, while Coinbase Ventures is setting a blistering […]
Co-founder titles aren’t a formality, they’re a morality
Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Good news, everyone: Mary Ann is back! Yes, after a short absence we have our third Friday host back where she belongs. Namely right in front of a microphone, talking to us. And […]