ChainCatcher news, as CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam is about to step down, market observers believe that, given that elected President Trump has consistently supported individuals in the cryptocurrency sector for regulatory positions, he may appoint another candidate who supports cryptocurrency.Meanwhile, reports indicate that CFTC Republican commissioners Summer Mersinger and Caroline Pham are potential candidates for the acting chair position.Another candidate is Brian Quintenz, who previously served as a CFTC commissioner and advocated for innovative approaches during his tenure, including tokenized commodities and decentralized finance, making him a strong contender for the position. Quintenz is currently the policy director at a16z crypto, the digital assets division of a16z.Previous news reported that CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam will resign on January 20, the day of President Trump's inauguration.Behnam expressed concerns that regulation of crypto assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, remains insufficient, stating: "There is still a significant portion of the crypto asset space that is unregulated within the U.S. regulatory framework. Given the adoption we see from some traditional financial institutions and the huge demand from retail and institutional investors for these products, it is crucial to fill this gap. The CFTC remains well-positioned to become the spot regulator for crypto commodity assets."

ChainCatcher news, a16z crypto managing partner Chris Dixon posted on X: "Artificial intelligence needs blockchain-supported computing, and I am optimistic about the integration of these technologies.Artificial intelligence will end the internet as we know it. Its advancement is inevitable and will primarily bring benefits. However, AI has already disrupted the economic contracts of the internet, with large tech companies most likely to benefit from it. AI-driven deep fakes and bots are also diminishing people's trust in the online world. To address these challenges without slowing down AI innovation, blockchain can:Enforce ownership for users and creatorsVerify identities to isolate bots and impersonatorsEnsure authenticity to prevent tamperingCrypto can carry the torch of an open internet and help maintain its creativity, openness, and diversity."

ChainCatcher news, the decentralized data infrastructure CESS announced its participation in the Blockchain Association 2024 Policy Summit, which will be held from December 16 to 17 at the InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C.This year's summit features numerous renowned speakers, including Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and former Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission J. Christopher Giancarlo, as well as industry elites from other fields.It is reported that the event is supported by well-known sponsors including a16z Crypto, Ripple, Filecoin Foundation, Kraken, and Coinbase, demonstrating the active participation of leading blockchain organizations.According to reports, the summit is hosted by the Blockchain Association (BA) and invites many BA members to participate. The mission of BA is to promote the adoption of blockchain technology and facilitate collaboration among policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to shape a secure, open, and inclusive digital economy.

ChainCatcher news, according to official sources, the decentralized AI agent project Scrypted has announced the completion of a $1.5 million Pre-Seed funding round, led by Palm Tree Crew Crypto, with participation from a16z crypto CSX. The new funds will be used to drive its potential in gaming, social platforms, and finance, and to build tools supporting decentralized vertical industries for autonomous AI agents.At the core of Scrypted is the Inori network, which aims to make AI agents fully autonomous virtual beings (AVB). Thanks to funding from the AWS Activate program, Inori has begun developing a centralized service and resource coordination layer for AI agents, built on Amazon Web Services.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, Forta is a Web3 security company supported by a16z crypto, Coinbase Ventures, and other investors, which has now launched a new product called Firewall to help detect and prevent smart contract vulnerabilities.It is reported that this firewall uses a machine learning and artificial intelligence model named FORTRESS, which analyzes and detects high-risk transactions by examining transaction logs. The business model of the Forta firewall is to charge a fixed monthly fee, although Beal declined to disclose the specific amount. Initial clients include Euler, Plume, and Balmy.

ChainCatcher message, led by AI agent Eliza, co-founder of DAO ai16z Shaw posted on X seeking to contact a16z, to which a16z Crypto CTO Eddy Lazzarin replied: "Check your DM."According to RootData, ai16z has increased by 37.59% in the past 24 hours, with a current market cap of $470 million.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, with Trump's victory and the continued rise of the crypto market, venture capital firm a16z Crypto pointed out in a new post aimed at crypto founders: "The good news is that there is now a path for constructive engagement with regulators and legislators that can bring regulatory clarity, and you should all feel empowered to explore all the groundbreaking products and services supported by blockchain, including tokens." The article expresses optimistic expectations for a relaxation of regulation and governance in the cryptocurrency industry under the new government, although most current speculation about the details of this regime is merely "noise."The post specifically notes that token issuance is an activity that founders can feel more confident about: "For many of you, the fear of overregulation has led to a delay in using tokens to allocate project control and build community; now you should feel more confident about using tokens as legitimate, compliant tools for your projects."While the article is generally optimistic, the author also points out that some actions may still violate regulatory guidelines: "While we may have greater flexibility to experiment, we must not forget that the fundamental regulatory principles applicable to blockchain systems remain unchanged," and suggests that founders "continue to focus on eliminating centralization aspects or reliance on trust in their projects, as these areas will continue to face regulatory scrutiny."

ChainCatcher news, according to a report from The Block, a research report released by a16z crypto on Wednesday pointed out that the number of active cryptocurrency addresses and usage rates reached an all-time high this year. The report estimates that as of September, there are approximately 617 million cryptocurrency holders worldwide, with 60 million monthly active users.In 2024, the number of monthly active cryptocurrency addresses is expected to rise to over 220 million, with Base leading the Ethereum EVM chain, having 22 million addresses, while Solana dominates the non-EVM chain with over 100 million addresses. This year also saw the highest number of mobile wallet users, with the United States accounting for 12% of global users.

ChainCatcher news, a16z crypto's General Counsel Miles Jennings posted on X platform that a16z has jointly launched a creator defense fund with OpenSea, Stand With Crypto, and others.a16z will contribute $1 million to collaborate with law firms to provide legal services and advice to artists and creators who face potential government action or simply want to ensure they build their NFT projects in a legal and compliant manner.

ChainCatcher news, a16z Crypto announced the 21 selected companies for the 2024 Fall Crypto Startup Accelerator (CSX) program. The companies cover various aspects of the crypto tech stack, including AI, DeFi, infrastructure, as well as consumer applications like photo sharing and maps. The 21 selected companies include:Anera Labs: Building infrastructure to unify all on-chain liquidity;Banyan: Bridging communication gaps at work using AI to bring clarity to enterprises;Blocksense: Supporting the creation of oracles that leverage internet data and CPU/GPU computation;Cork Protocol: A risk pricing protocol that accelerates on-chain credit;Dot: Transforming user-generated pixel art into game elements for on-chain games;Fermah: Building a universal zero-knowledge proof generation layer;Future Primitive: Creating a new home for internet photo enthusiasts;Kuzco: LLM inference marketplace;MeshMap: Building a 3D map of the world and an AR content network;Opacity Labs: Private verification of web2 data through zkTLS;OpenGradient: Building a blockchain designed to bring world computation on-chain;PIN AI is building an open personal AI platform (data + agents);Pod: A new L1 primitive, leaderless and blockless, relaxing the concept of transaction total order;Sekai: Easily create, share, and monetize interactive narratives;Skyfire: An open payment protocol that enables AI agents to pay for anything;Suave: Enabling DApps to accept any token from any wallet on any blockchain;t1: Real-time proof generation, unifying Ethereum;TACEO: MPC cryptographic computing for Web3;Term Labs: A DeFi lending platform matching fixed-rate borrowers and lenders;vlayer labs: Trustworthy verifiable data infrastructure powered by zero-knowledge proofs;zkSpin: Building a highly parallel blockchain to run high-demand DApps on-chain;a16z CSX will invest at least $500,000 in each selected company. The program will take place in New York City over an 8-week training period, where selected companies will gain firsthand experience from top crypto founders, receive guidance and support from the a16z crypto investment and operations team, and connect with other companies and the broader a16z network.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, the DePin project Daylight has completed a $9 million Series A funding round led by A16z Crypto. The project is dedicated to building a decentralized energy protocol on the Base blockchain. Co-founder and CEO Jason Badeaux stated that this round of financing brings Daylight's total funding to $13 million.Daylight allows users to connect energy devices and earn rewards through its app. The market currently covers New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with plans to expand to Texas and California in the future.

ChainCatcher news, a16z Crypto's General Counsel Miles Jennings wrote about how to organize decentralization in startups. He proposed three main decentralization frameworks and explained the importance and implementation methods of each framework.Technical Decentralization: Creating a trustless and autonomous ecosystem through blockchain and smart contract protocols. For example, Ethereum needs to protect the system from attacks by validators and node operators, while simple smart contract protocols can achieve technical decentralization by being deployed and immutable.Economic Decentralization: Introducing digital assets makes the Web3 ecosystem more complex. For example, Ethereum uses its digital assets to reward service providers, creating a decentralized economic system. If too much value is concentrated in one person's hands, it could jeopardize the security and utility of the entire system.Legal Decentralization: Decentralization can reduce the risks associated with asset transactions. For instance, decentralized exchanges eliminate the need for intermediaries, making traditional intermediary rules no longer applicable. For digital assets, if the Web3 system can eliminate information asymmetry and reliance on the efforts of managers, then securities laws may no longer apply.Jennings emphasized that in a Web3 system, these three types of decentralization must be considered in conjunction, as changes in one aspect may affect the others, and a delicate balance must be found.

ChainCatcher message, a16z crypto recently commented on the IRS's draft of the 1099-DA form, with the following key points:Each digital asset transaction requires multiple brokers to submit the 1099-DA form, resulting in unnecessary duplicate information reporting and placing an unreasonable burden on filers;The requirement for brokers to report wallet addresses is unnecessary and puts sensitive taxpayer information at significant risk;The cost of providing the information required by the 1099-DA form is too high, and in some cases, it is even unattainable;The final regulations should delay or "phase in" the effective date of digital asset information reporting requirements;Non-custodial wallets and digital asset payment processors should be removed from the "broker" category listed in the 1099-DA form;The IRS should not require the submission of the 1099-DA form when disposing of fiat-backed stablecoins and most NFTs (non-fungible tokens);The requirement to submit the 1099-DA form should include a minimum threshold, allowing brokers to aggregate transactions for reporting purposes.

ChainCatcher news, a16z Crypto investor Guy Wuollet stated on X that ZK technology is severely underestimated.Guy Wuollet explored the immense potential of ZK in cryptocurrency and developer tools. By drawing an analogy to the success of the iPhone, he pointed out that ZK technology is expected to bring about a series of innovative applications. He mentioned that the success of the iPhone was due to the combination of a programmable mobile computer, GPS, and a high-quality camera, which gave rise to applications like Instagram and Uber. Similarly, ZK technology, especially zkVMs (such as Jolt), could bring about similar revolutionary changes. He believes that DeFi protocols should adopt risk modeling in ZK and use more complex pricing functions.In addition, blockchain and ZK proofs can enable people to have censorship-resistant AI companions and be used to prove simple machine learning models. Wuollet concluded that ZK technology can be used to build more complex DeFi protocols, censorship-resistant AI companions, or on-chain machine learning, calling on developers to pay attention to this emerging field.