Visa said to target crypto custody firm Fireblocks at steep discount
a16z is dropping "crypto" from its biggest fund's name, betting the word itself has become baggage.
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Prices took a dive, but product roadmaps kept rolling.
Bitcoin dropped in tandem with macro markets, but deal flow didn't slow down.
Visa is apparently shopping for stablecoin infrastructure, though the rumored company balked.
Beyond dealmaking, a16z is reportedly planning to expand its crypto arm's focus, while Starknet is studying how to make its network resistant to future quantum threats.
Fireblocks to Visa rumors: "This is news to us"
Axios reported Visa was in late-stage talks to buy Fireblocks for $2.5B.
Fireblocks shut it down the same day, calling the report inaccurate.
The swift denial suggests the crypto infrastructure firm sees its valuation differently than potential acquirers do.
That gap matters because it signals how hard it still is to price private crypto companies.
Markets
Tech wreck drags crypto lower as investors flee to bonds
A broad selloff hit tech stocks and crypto alike on Thursday.
Semiconductor supply fears and weak earnings from Meta and Tesla rattled investors.
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Crypto-linked stocks fell even harder, with Strategy down 6% and Coinbase off 4%.
Meanwhile, Robinhood scored a Dubai license to offer crypto and stock trading in the Middle East.
BTC slipped below $82K, ETH traded near $2,400, SOL fell below $105, and XRP settled near $1.32.
Andreessen Horowitz plans to rebrand a16z crypto as a16z frontier
The most famous crypto VC fund wants to stop being called a crypto fund.
Andreessen Horowitz has told limited partners it plans to rename a16z crypto to a16z frontier.
The new name widens the unit's mandate beyond digital assets into adjacent tech bets.
When the money behind crypto starts rebranding away from the word, it tells you something about where institutional comfort lies.
Starknet votes to explore becoming a quantum-resistant layer 1 blockchain
Starknet's community voted overwhelmingly to research defenses against quantum computing attacks.
Over 3,200 wallets participated, with 94% supporting further exploration.
The non-binding poll recorded the highest turnout in Starknet governance history.
Quantum computers can't crack blockchains today, but building shields before the storm arrives is the whole point.
On Our Radar
Sui's infrastructure getting crowded: developers are comparing RPC providers to find the fastest lane.*
Dubai's crypto stamp of approval: Bybit became the latest exchange to snag VARA licensing for spot trading in the emirate.
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ICYMI
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Meme of the Day
That’s a wrap.
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