# Сопутствующие статьи по теме VC

Crypto VCs Pivot to AI: A 'Coming of Age' Ceremony Beginning with a Collapse of Belief

In a personal reflection, the author expresses sadness over Kyle Samani, a partner at crypto VC firm Multicoin Capital, publicly announcing his departure from the crypto industry to focus on AI, longevity tech, and robotics. Kyle was known for his thesis-driven, opinionated, and often controversial investment style—publicly criticizing Ethereum’s scaling roadmap, backing Solana early, and supporting DePIN projects like Helium. Despite mistakes (EOS, FTX exposure), he was transparent about losses and decisions. His exit feels symbolic: an honest, sharp voice leaving crypto. Before deleting the tweet, Kyle stated that crypto is primarily an asset ledger with limited use beyond finance, marking a shift from evangelist to realist—a “loss of faith” rather than just market loss. The author contrasts crypto’s current state—filled with memecoins, gambling, and technical debates—with AI’s rapid, tangible progress. Yet, they choose to stay, seeing crypto as a permissionless, open field for upward mobility and financial infrastructure innovation (e.g., stablecoins, DeFi, RWA), while remaining open to future possibilities.

比推02/05 13:37

When Crypto Is No Longer Fun, When Multicoin Capital Loses Its Soul

Kyle Samani, co-founder and managing partner of Multicoin Capital, has announced his departure from the firm’s daily operations and investment decisions, shifting his focus to other technology sectors such as AI and life sciences. Samani, widely regarded as one of crypto’s most influential and contrarian investors, played a key role in the firm’s early bet on Solana, which yielded massive returns. In a since-deleted social media post, Samani expressed that crypto is “not as fun as it used to be,” and no longer believes in the broader Web3 vision. He now sees blockchain primarily as a financial ledger with limited applications beyond finance, though he remains optimistic about privacy and DePIN sectors. Multicoin Capital’s investment activity has slowed significantly since late 2024, with only 10 deals since October 2024, far fewer than other top VCs. The firm’s major investments, such as Wormhole and Pyth Network, have also underperformed. Samani’s exit reflects a broader trend of key figures leaving crypto during a prolonged market downturn, citing disillusionment with the industry’s direction, unsustainable models, and weakened narratives. Despite this, firms like a16z and Pantera Capital remain active, suggesting the industry’s reassessment hasn’t yet turned into a full-scale exodus.

marsbit02/05 10:38

Using Claude to Scrape 260,000 Records, I Uncovered Epstein's Crypto Connections

The article investigates connections between Jeffrey Epstein and the cryptocurrency industry by analyzing 266,000 structured records from the Epstein Doc Explorer database, processed with Claude AI. Key findings include: - **Brock Pierce**, Tether co-founder and Bitcoin Foundation chairman, demonstrated Bitcoin to Epstein and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion. Their relationship, which included discussions on crypto volatility and potential investments, extended from 2011 to 2019. - **Blockchain Capital**'s fundraising documents were found in Epstein’s files, suggesting he was approached as a potential investor. Later reports confirmed Epstein invested in Coinbase and Blockstream, facilitated by Pierce. - **Jeremy Rubin**, a Bitcoin Core developer, communicated with Epstein in 2017 about Bitcoin regulation and funding for his research. Epstein offered structured financial support options. - **Joi Ito**, former MIT Media Lab director, used Epstein’s funds to finance the MIT Digital Currency Initiative, linking Epstein to core Bitcoin infrastructure research. Epstein himself showed sustained interest in crypto from 2008 until his arrest in 2019, analyzing Libra just days before. The evidence suggests he acted as an information broker, connecting crypto entrepreneurs, policymakers, and researchers, rather than being a direct investor or technologist. No direct links were found to major figures like CZ or Vitalik Buterin in the available data.

marsbit02/05 04:36

The Man Who Best Promoted SOL Exits the Crypto World

Kyle Samani, co-founder and managing partner of Multicoin Capital, has stepped down from his daily operational and management roles at the crypto-focused venture firm and transitioned to an advisory position. Known as one of the most vocal proponents of Solana, Samani was instrumental in Multicoin’s early and heavy investments in the blockchain, famously declaring “Solana is always the answer” and publicly criticizing Bitcoin and Ethereum. Under his leadership, Multicoin achieved extraordinary returns from Solana, though the fund also faced significant losses during market downturns. Despite his exit from Multicoin, Samani remains committed to the crypto space, particularly Solana, and will continue personal investments in the ecosystem. He will retain his role as chairman of Forward Industries, a digital asset treasury company heavily invested in SOL. Samani plans to redeem his Multicoin stake not in cash but in shares and warrants of Forward Industries to increase his exposure. His departure is driven by a growing interest in emerging technologies such as AI, longevity science, and robotics. Samani has indicated he will take time to explore these areas but remains a firm believer in crypto’s potential to reshape global finance.

marsbit02/05 03:10

AI narrative lifts ChainOpera AI 24% – But can COAI hold THIS?

ChainOpera AI's COAI token surged 24% in 24 hours, breaking out from a consolidation phase around $0.2714 and reaching a high of $0.3331. Technical indicators like the Stochastic RSI and MACD suggest continued buyer interest. On-chain data shows increased large transactions, with over 55 million COAI moved in two weeks, indicating potential accumulation and VC backing. The AI narrative in crypto is strong, with VC investment ratios favoring AI over crypto. However, liquidity remains a critical factor, with liquidation zones below $0.30 and above $0.33, COAI's price is at a juncture that could either accelerate the breakout or lead to a decline. The token's ability to hold above key levels will determine its next move.

ambcrypto02/04 19:10

Five Years Later, Vitalik Overturns the Future He Set for Ethereum

Five years after championing Layer 2 (L2) scaling as Ethereum's future, Vitalik Buterin has dramatically reversed his position, declaring that L2s have largely failed to fulfill their original vision of "branded sharding." In a pivotal post, he argued that most L2 solutions remain highly centralized, reliant on multi-signature bridges and sequencers, and thus are not truly extending Ethereum's security or decentralization. The initial push for L2s was a survival response to Ethereum's cripplingly high fees and congestion during the 2021 DeFi and NFT boom, when competitors like Solana gained traction. However, despite massive venture funding—with projects like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Starknet raising billions—progress toward full decentralization (Stage 2) has been slow. Many operate more like centralized databases, prioritizing control and regulatory compliance over Ethereum's core values. Meanwhile, Ethereum itself has scaled significantly. Through upgrades like EIP-4844 and increased gas limits, L1 transaction fees have plummeted by over 99%, often costing just cents. This reduces L2's cost advantage and exposes their drawbacks: bridge vulnerabilities, fragmented liquidity, and complex user experiences. Vitalik now urges L2s to pivot from mere scaling to providing unique functional value—like privacy, ultra-fast finality, or application-specific optimizations—that L1 cannot easily offer. He reframes L2s as a spectrum of specialized "plugins" rather than essential scaling layers. This shift signals a market consolidation where only L2s with genuine utility and decentralization will survive, ending an era of inflated valuations and "ghost chain" projects. Ethereum is reclaiming its sovereignty by becoming scalable on its own terms.

marsbit02/04 05:52

VC Data Hits Bottom, New Coin Narratives Peak: Crypto Trading Logic is Being Rewritten

VC funding for crypto projects has hit a multi-year low, with early-stage investments dropping over 60% since 2022. This signals a structural collapse in the primary market, leaving fewer new native crypto projects to trade. While meme coins initially seemed like an alternative, they’ve evolved into short-term speculative instruments rather than sustainable assets. In response, the industry is shifting toward tokenized real-world assets (like stocks and precious metals) and prediction markets. Platforms are increasingly offering gold, silver, and equity tokens, integrating traditional financial volatility into crypto. Prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket) are also growing, allowing users to bet on real-world events—offering a more accessible form of speculation based on event outcomes rather than asset prices. As native crypto innovation slows, the market is adapting by externalizing tradable content—leveraging macro events, political shifts, and financial instruments to sustain engagement. The future of crypto trading may rely less on new token narratives and more on global uncertainty and repackaged traditional assets.

比推02/03 09:28

A Year from Now, What Will the Crypto Market Be Trading?

marsbit02/02 09:58

Financing Weekly Report | 10 Public Financing Events, Crypto Payment Network Mesh Completes $75 Million Series C Funding Led by Dragonfly Capital

Last week (Jan 26-Feb.1) saw 10 blockchain funding rounds totaling over $197 million. Key deals include: - **DeFi**: 6 rounds, including Andre Cronje’s new project Flying Tulip raising $25.5M in Series A, bringing its total to $225.5M. - **Infrastructure**: Mesh, a crypto payment network, raised $75M in a Series C led by Dragonfly Capital, reaching a $1B valuation. - **CeFi**: Trading platform Talos raised $45M with participation from Robinhood and a16z. - **Web3 & AI**: AetheriumX secured $8M in strategic funding. Other notable deals include Doppler ($9M seed for token creation), Tenbin Labs ($7M for tokenized gold/forex), and Bleap ($6M seed for on-chain finance). Sony’s innovation fund invested $13M in Startale, co-developer of the Soneium blockchain. Venture firm Escape Velocity also closed a $62M fund focused on DePIN and crypto investments.

marsbit02/02 03:14

When AI Companies Are Frantically Hiring Asian Girls, Attention Is Winning the World

In the attention economy, AI startups are racing to hire "ABG" (Asian Baby Girl) marketers—young Asian women skilled at creating viral social media content—as Chief Marketing Officers. The trend highlights a shift where viral reach and engagement often trump traditional metrics. Venture capital increasingly chases "traffic signals" over financials, fueling a feedback loop: more attention brings more funding, raising marketing standards, and pushing talent toward content creation. The controversial startup Cluely exemplifies this. It mastered narrative (a founder’s “cheat everything” backstory), built a viral machine with 700+ performance-paid editors, and used a formulaic mix of provocative content, lifestyle flexes, and platform-specific strategies. Results included billions of views at low cost—but without a real product. Cluely became a symbol of marketing-first, product-last ventures. The core insight: attention is the new currency. The best product won’t win; the best story will. Founders must be their own CMOs, and the next wave of successful startups will be built by those who can both code and market.

marsbit01/31 09:36