Editorial Page Editor: Paul Gigot

Guest Editorial Editor: James Taranto

Subject: Guest Editorial: Reclaiming the Silicon Valley Spirit

Dear James,

I hope this finds you well. It’s been a long time. I enjoyed working with you and Paul Gigot back in the late 1990s and early 2000s when I was editor of Red Herring. As…

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The period roughly spans the British Invasion’s peak and rock’s evolution (1964 onward), the golden eras of soul/funk R&B, and the birth and rise of rap/hip-hop. Across all three genres, the United States was overwhelm…

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XX days since FTC warning — No response from Tim Cook and no real change at Apple News…

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—Anthony Perkins, founder & editor, Cryptonite, Medellín, Colombia —Talk to me @HeyTPerk or TheEditor@CryptoniteVentures.com

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Stay relevant and on top

Below is the breaking news and inside wisdom you need to stay relevant and on top of emerging private tech companies, VC investors, Big Tech, and the innovation trends shaping the global Silicon Valley. All links lead to AI-generated research from a decisively venture-capital perspective.

Are we missing any action? Hit us up now at @CryptoniteRap or TheEditor@CryptoniteVentures.com

Following the Money 🤑

Search the past 7 days for the following deals;

• 💰 VC deals ($5M+): New venture capital rounds in AI, Robotics, Infrastructure/Compute, Semiconductors/Deep Tech Hardware, Cybersecurity, Fintech/DeFi/Blockchain, Healthcare/Biotech, Sustainability/Cleantech, Defense Tech, Autonomous Vehicles/Mobility.

• 🤝 M&A deals ($100M+): Key mergers and acquisitions in those sectors.

• 📈 IPOs and IPO filings: Upcoming or filed public offerings (S-1, confidential filings, announced plans) in those sectors.

Sources to search/prioritize: X announcements, Apple News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, Fox Business News, The Economist, TechCrunch, The Information, Business Insider, VentureBeat, Wired, Fortune, Axios, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, Decrypt, The Block, Crunchbase, PitchBook, CB Insights, Hacker News, Stratechery, The New York Times, Forbes

Exact Deal Formats examples

💰 Shield AI (San Diego, CA) raises $2B at $12.7B valuation | Defense Tech / AI autonomous systems and drones (Hivemind autonomy software for military aircraft/vehicles; part of proceeds for acquisition of Aechelon Technology simulation software) | Investors: Advent International and JPMorgan Chase Strategic Investment Group (co-lead $1.5B Series G), Blackstone ($500M preferred equity) (March 26)

💰 Cambridge Mobile Telematics (Cambridge, MA) raises $350M strategic funding at $12.7B valuation | Autonomous Vehicles / Mobility / AI telematics and road safety (AI-powered platform for crash detection, risk assessment, and Universal Driving Score) | Investors: TPG and Allianz X (leads), State Farm (March 24)

📈 SpaceX confidentially files for IPO | Infrastructure / Defense Tech / Space / Autonomous systems (rockets, Starlink satellites, related AI/data/compute infrastructure) | Potential raise ~$50B–$75B | Target valuation ~$1.75T | Expected June 2026 listing; bankers likely listed alphabetically with senior banks including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup (April 1)

Note: Only show data indicated - no mention of ‘undisclosed’ or ‘unknowm’ Just display what information is available. Examples included below.

💰Headline prompt: Provide the details behind this new VC funding deal from a venture capital investor ROI and company momentum perspective.

📈 🤝 Headline prompt: How might one view this news from Venture Capital and Wall Street analysts view point

💥 Did we miss your company’s new funding, IPO, filing, or M&A deal? Post it below in the comments or hit us up directly — @CryptoniteRap or TheEditor@CryptoniteVentures.com

Deal Formats examples

💰 Sora Fuel (Boston, MA) raises $14.6M | Sustainability/Cleantech (direct air capture + renewable energy technology to produce carbon-negative sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from CO₂, water, and clean power; scaling pilot production facility) | Investors: Co-led by Spero Ventures and Inspired Capital; Engine Ventures and Wireframe Ventures (April 8)

💰 Kai (San Jose, CA) raises $125M (combined Seed + Series A) | AI / Cybersecurity (agentic AI cybersecurity platform for autonomous threat detection, reasoning, remediation, and bridging IT/OT security at machine speed to counter AI-enabled attacks) | Investors: Led by Evolution Equity Partners; participation from N47 and strategic investors (March 10)

Only show data indicated - no mention of ‘undisclosed’ or ‘unknowm’ Just display what information is available.

💰Headline prompt: Provide the details behind this new VC funding deal from a venture capital investor ROI and company momentum perspective.

📈 🤝 Headline prompt: How might one view this news from Venture Capital and Wall Street analysts view point

💥 Did we miss your company’s new funding, IPO, filing, or M&A deal? Post it below in the comments or hit us up directly — @CryptoniteRap or TheEditor@CryptoniteVentures.com

VC Whispers 💸

Search the past 7 days for the following deals;

• 💸 New VC deals ($30M+): New venture capital fund partnerships raised that focus on investing in private companies in the following sectors: AI, Robotics, Infrastructure/Compute, Semiconductors/Deep Tech Hardware, Cybersecurity, Fintech/DeFi/Blockchain, Healthcare/Biotech, Sustainability/Cleantech, Defense Tech, Autonomous Vehicles/Mobility.

• Sources to search/prioritize: X announcements, Apple News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, Fox Business News, The Economist, TechCrunch, The Information, Business Insider, VentureBeat, Wired, Fortune, Axios, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, Decrypt, The Block, Crunchbase, PitchBook, CB Insights, Hacker News, Stratechery, The New York Times, Forbes

• 👳🏽‍♂️ Announcements for bringing on a new general and/or venture partner in the venture fund?

• Put a 💸 emoji in front of each announcement, and add the announcement date at the end in parentheses in each announcement.

  300-word limit for announcement.

Deal Formats examples

💸 Eclipse Ventures (Palo Alto, CA) – Closed $1.3B across two new funds ($720M Eclipse Fund VI and $591M Early Growth Fund III) focused on physical AI startups in transportation, energy, infrastructure, compute, robotics, manufacturing, and defense tech. | Limited Partner Investors: The Kraft Group, Pinegrove Venture Partners. (April 7)

💸 Pentathlon Ventures (San Jose, CA) – Closed ₹255 crore (~$30M) Fund II (final close) for seed-stage B2B tech with focus on enterprise AI transformation, fintech, healthtech, cybersecurity, logistics, and manufacturing. | Limited Partner Investors: family offices, HNIs, and successful entrepreneurs from India, the United States, and the Middle East; Cactus Partners (lead), Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures, Indusbridge Ventures. (March 26)

Only show data indicated - no mention of ‘undisclosed’ or ‘unknowm’ Just display what information is available.

💸 Headline prompt: Provide the details behind this new VC fund raise, including top LPs, from a venture capital investor ROI and company VC brand perspective, with quotes from general partner(s)

👳🏽‍♂️Headline prompt: Provide the details behind the addition of the new partner(s) to their VC fund, with summary of background (s), with quotes from fellow partners, from a venture capital investor ROI and company VC brand perspective.

💥 Did we miss your VC firm’s announcement for raising a new fund, bringing on a new general and/or venture partner? Post it below in the comments or hit us up directly — @CryptoniteRap or TheEditor@CryptoniteVentures.com

Company Scoops This Week 🗞️

What are the top 21 most headlined news stories for the past 7 days impacting the private VC-backed company sectors from the following public, private VC-backed companies and cyptos listed below:

Sources to search/prioritize: X announcements, Apple News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, Fox Business News, The Economist, TechCrunch, The Information, Business Insider, VentureBeat, Wired, Fortune, Axios, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, Decrypt, The Block, Crunchbase, PitchBook, CB Insights, Hacker News, Stratechery, The New York Times, Forbes

Put at the assigned emoji in front of each announcement, and add the announcement date at the end in parentheses in each announcement.

300-word limit for each announcement.

The Magnificent 14🪄

Format template for each item:

✨ Microsoft (MSFT): Reported hiring freeze in cloud and sales units amid surging AI capex (~$37.5B in Q2), even as Azure grew 39% YoY and commercial backlog hit $625B. (March 30)

Microsoft MSFT

Amazon AMZN

Alphabet GOOG

Nvidia NVDA

Meta META

Apple AAPL

Oracle ORCL

Broadcom AVGO

AMD AMD

Salesforce CRME

ServiceNow NOW

Intel INTC

Palantir PLTR

Tesla TSLA

ByteDance

Private Company Leaders 🚀

OpenAI

Anthropic

xAI

Figure AI

Waymo

Anduril Industries

Stripe

Space X

Perplexity AI

Databricks

ByteDance

Blockchain & Crypto 🔗

Circle CRCL

Block XYZ

Coinbase COIN

Binance BNB

Ripple XRP

Bitcoin BTC

Solana SOL

Ethereum ETH

Dogecoin DOGE

Can you add any of these that aren’t included yet in the right categories in the Big Stories This Week 🗞️ proper sections, in the same format with the company names first

💰Headline prompt Mag 14: Provide the details behind this new BigTech event from a venture capital and emerging private company perspective.— Does it threaten or boost any private company sectors — which type of companies might the BigTech company want to invest in or partner with to help them gain more momentum?

💰Headline prompt Private Cos.: Provide the details behind this event from a venture capital and emerging private company perspective - how does this affect the company’s momentum versus its competitors, and prospect for success and positive ROI

🔗 Headline prompt Blockchain/Crytpo Provide the details behind this event from a venture capital and emerging private company perspective - how does this affect the company’s and it’s crypto value and momentum versus its competitors, and prospect for success and positive ROI for investors.

Current Entrepreneurial Wisdom💡

What are the top most thoughtful innovation market observations or entrepreneurial advice in the last 14 days the following folks and quoted in the following sources:

Satya Nadella CEO Microsoft, Andy Jassy CEO Amazon, Sundar Pichai CEO Alphabet, Jensen Huang CEO Nvidia, Mark Zuckerberg Founder & CEO Meta, Tim Cook CEO Apple, Safra Catz CEO Oracle, Hock Tan CEO Broadcom, Lisa Su CEO AMD, Marc Benioff Co-Founder & CEO Salesforce, Bill McDermott CEO ServiceNow, Pat Gelsinger CEO Intel, Alex Karp Co-Founder & CEO Palantir, Elon Musk CEO Tesla Founder & CEO xAI Founder & CEO SpaceX, Sam Altman CEO OpenAI, Dario Amodei Co-Founder & CEO Anthropic, Brett Adcock Founder & CEO Figure AI, Dmitri Dolgov Co-CEO Waymo, Tekedra Mawakana Co-CEO Waymo, Palmer Luckey Founder & CEO Anduril Industries, Patrick Collison Co-Founder & CEO Stripe, John Collison Co-Founder & President Stripe, Jeremy Allaire Co-Founder & CEO Circle, Jack Dorsey Founder & CEO Block, Brian Armstrong Co-Founder & CEO Coinbase, Richard Teng CEO Binance, Changpeng Zhao CZ Founder Binance, Brad Garlinghouse CEO Ripple, Chris Larsen Co-Founder & Executive Chairman Ripple, Vitalik Buterin Co-Founder Ethereum, Anatoly Yakovenko Co-Founder & CEO Solana Labs, Raj Gokal Co-Founder & COO Solana, Greg Fitzgerald Co-Founder & CTO Solana, Stephen Akridge Co-Founder Solana, Demis Hassabis CEO Google DeepMind, Alexandr Wang Chief AI Officer Meta, Andrew Bosworth CTO Meta, Ashok Elluswamy VP AI Software Tesla, Tom Zhu SVP Operations Tesla, Marc Andreessen Co-Founder & General Partner Andreessen Horowitz a16z, Ben Horowitz Co-Founder & General Partner Andreessen Horowitz a16z, Chamath Palihapitiya Founder & Managing Partner Social Capital, Peter Thiel Co-Founder & Partner Founders Fund, Reid Hoffman Co-Founder & Partner Greylock Partners, David Sacks General Partner Craft Ventures, Jason Calacanis Founder & General Partner LAUNCH, Benedict Evans Partner Andreessen Horowitz a16z, Sarah Wang General Partner Andreessen Horowitz a16z, David Cahn Partner Sequoia Capital, Roelof Botha Managing Partner Sequoia Capital, Alfred Lin Partner Sequoia Capital, Shaun Maguire Partner Sequoia Capital, Mary Meeker General Partner Bond Capital, Vinod Khosla Founder & Managing Partner Khosla Ventures, Jim Breyer Founder & Managing Partner Breyer Capital, Theresia Gouw Founding Partner Acrew Capital, Bill Gurley

Innovation Industries: AI, Robotics, Infrastructure/Compute, Semiconductors/Deep Tech Hardware, Cybersecurity, Fintech/DeFi/Blockchain, Healthcare/Biotech, Sustainability/Cleantech, Defense Tech, Autonomous Vehicles/Mobility.

Sources to search/prioritize: X announcements, Apple News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, Fox Business News, The Economist, TechCrunch, The Information, Business Insider, VentureBeat, Wired, Fortune, Axios, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, Decrypt, The Block, Crunchbase, PitchBook, CB Insights, Hacker News, Stratechery, The New York Times, Forbes

Format template for each quote:

“AI‑driven oracle networks and on‑chain agents will be the next major application layer: AI as validator, trader, and governance participant.”
—Vitalik Buterin, Co‑Founder Ethereum

“The next generation of apps aren’t just ‘AI‑enabled’; they’re built around agents that can reason, remember, and act across services—this reshapes the product‑thinking for founders.”
—Alexandr Wang, Chief AI Officer, Meta

The AI/Crypto Project Universe 🌌

💸 NVIDIA + Groq inference stack — New “hybrid rack” pairing NVIDIA chips with Groq‑style ultra‑fast inference targets 35× tokens‑per‑watt gains, marketing as the “AI‑factory” backbone for agentic workloads at scale.

💥 New paper, model, or tool , AI CPU benchmarks, crypto projects announcements. Are we missing your’s. Post it below in the comments or hit us up directly — @CryptoniteRap or TheEditor@CryptoniteVentures.com

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Introducing the AI | crypto fusion boom

Silicon Valley is buzzing with a fresh investment narrative that feels like pure crypto‑native energy colliding with the AI explosion: the rise of fusion companies blending blockchain incentives with artificial intelligence. These aren’t just hype plays—they’re building decentralized compute marketplaces, on‑chain AI agents, sovereign data layers, and token‑rewarded networks that put power (and privacy) back in the hands of builders and users instead of Big Tech gatekeepers.

“You’ve got 1,200 bills right now going through state legislatures to regulate AI. That’s going to create a patchwork problem. The big tech companies are always going to be able to figure out how to comply because they have so many lawyers. But for our small tech companies or startups or entrepreneurs, that’s going to be a huge compliance burden.”

—David Sacks, AI & Crypto Czar, The White House

Think of it as the original crypto ethos—permissionless innovation, verifiable trust, and resistance to centralized control—supercharged for the AI age. As of early 2026, we’re looking at roughly 140 decentralized AI startups across North America alone (per Tracxn tracking), with 84 funded and dozens more in the global mix. In 2025, the sector saw 83 deals pull in around $565 million (a solid uptick in a crypto VC environment that totaled ~$23B overall). It’s still a fraction of pure‑AI’s hundreds of billions, but it’s the fastest‑growing narrative inside crypto—exactly the kind of high‑conviction convergence that rewards early believers.

Four main flavors of fusion plays

• Decentralized GPU/compute marketplaces (rent idle hardware for AI training/inference via crypto)

• Incentivized AI networks (tokens for contributing models, data, or compute)

• On‑chain autonomous agents (AI that holds wallets and executes real transactions)

• Sovereign data & provenance platforms (blockchain‑verified models and privacy‑preserving training)

Six AI/Crypto fusion companies you should know

Here are six standout examples giving readers a clear picture of what these builders actually look like:

Sahara AI (Los Angeles) — Sovereign AI models and knowledge vaults on blockchain. Users own their data via “Sahara ID,” train private AI replicas, and trade knowledge across a decentralized network. Raised $49M Series A led by Pantera Capital and Polychain, with 14+ others.

0G Labs (San Francisco) — The fastest decentralized AI data layer for on‑chain inference and dApps. Programmable storage + compute that makes AI agents actually useful at scale. $75M Seed from Delphi Ventures, Hack VC, and two dozen more (they just launched a $20M Apollo accelerator with Stanford vets).

exaBITS (San Mateo) — High‑performance decentralized computing infrastructure purpose‑built for enterprise AI workloads. Early mover in the DePIN‑AI space. Seed round backed by Protocol Labs and Outlier Ventures.

Nous Research — Decentralized inference network pushing open models with crypto incentives. Hit a $50M Series A in 2025 led by Paradigm at roughly $1B valuation—one of the clearest signals that top‑tier crypto VCs are all‑in on this fusion.

io.net — The go‑to decentralized GPU marketplace. Pulls idle compute from thousands of rigs worldwide, slashing costs for AI training and inference by 70%+ while paying contributors in crypto. One of the largest live DePIN networks for AI today.

Render Network (RNDR) — Started in 3D rendering, now a powerhouse for AI GPU workloads. Routes jobs across a global decentralized network—proven model that’s expanding fast into general AI compute.

“Large AI enterprises ought to be permitted to develop AI as swiftly and assertively as possible—but they should not be able to achieve regulatory capture, and they must not be allowed to create a government‑backed cartel that is shielded from market competition due to misguided assertions of AI risk.”

—Marc Andreessen, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz

Who’s writing the fusion company checks?

The money is coming almost exclusively from crypto‑native heavyweights who see blockchain as the natural antidote to AI centralization:

a16z Crypto (the 800‑pound gorilla—infrastructure, DePIN, and AI convergence)

Paradigm (led Nous; high‑conviction on agents and verifiable compute)

Pantera Capital (Sahara and multiple inference plays)

Other AI/Crypto Fusions VCs: Delphi Ventures, Hack VC, Outlier Ventures, Polychain, and Coinbase Ventures

These funds aren’t chasing memes—they’re betting that crypto incentives + decentralized architecture will prevent AI from becoming another Big Tech monopoly.

“We are establishing one of the strongest frameworks in the country to ensure that AI development is transparent, accountable, and subject to robust safety .

—Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (D)

What’s at stake: State versus Federal control

This brings us to the political and regulatory winds that could either turbocharge or throttle the entire sector.

Just three days ago (March 20, 2026), the Trump Administration dropped its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence: Legislative Recommendations. The core message is loud and clear: Congress must pass federal laws creating one uniform national standard—and preempt the emerging “patchwork of conflicting state laws” that would slow innovation and hurt U.S. competitiveness against China.

The framework is light‑touch by design: no new federal AI agency, limited developer liability, strong IP protections, child‑safety guardrails, energy/community safeguards, and explicit language blocking government censorship or bias in models. It respects federalism for traditional consumer/fraud laws but draws a hard line on AI‑specific rules that create 50 different compliance regimes.

The Centralization Paradox

Crypto culture abhors top‑down control, so the idea of Congress overriding state AI laws can feel like the ultimate centralization move. But when the alternative is 50 different AI‑compliance regimes, the “federal override” is less about giving DC more power and more about refusing to let every state become a gatekeeper for global, token‑rewarded networks. From a fusion‑network standpoint, a single, predictable national floor is the more decentralized‑friendly path—even if it comes from the most centralized‑looking level of government.

Republicans largely back this (innovation‑first, America‑first). Democrats and some state‑level voices are pushing back hard, arguing for stronger accountability, more state flexibility, and bills like GUARDRAILS to preserve local power. There is zero broad consensus yet—but the political momentum is clearly toward federal preemption.

“Pennsylvania now offers the most advanced suite of generative AI tools of any state in the nation to any qualified employee—building on the success of our first‑in‑the‑nation ChatGPT Enterprise pilot program.”

—Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania (D)

The State‑as‑Lab Camp: Newsom, Shapiro, and the pushback on preemption

While the Trump framework leans hard on federal preemption to avoid a “patchwork” of state rules, leading Democrats aren’t buying the idea that Washington should erase state‑level AI‑safety tools. California Governor Gavin Newsom, perhaps the most visible Democratic governor on AI, has already carved out one of the strongest state‑level AI‑safety frameworks in the country. He’s pushing transparency, disclosure, and safety requirements for frontier models, and has repeatedly signaled that states can and should act as laboratories for AI governance—even as he publicly calls for federal leadership that doesn’t simply gut those state‑level standards.

“Count me as someone who believes AI should not be regulated. We need to make progress on it as fast as possible for many reasons (including national security). And the track record on regulation is that it has unintended consequences and kills competition and innovation, despite best intentions. The best protection is to decentralize it and open source it to let the cat out of the bag.”

—Brian Armstrong, Founder & CEO, Coinbase

At the same time, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is building a different kind of state‑led AI playbook: one centered on aggressive, “responsible” adoption inside government. Shapiro’s administration has rolled out an advanced suite of generative‑AI tools across state agencies, built on a first‑in‑the‑nation ChatGPT‑style pilot, and is now pitching Pennsylvania as a national model for how governments can actually use AI without waiting for a DC‑only solution. For both Newsom and Shapiro, the starting point is that states can’t just sit out AI governance while Congress debates a single federal regime—they’re already legislating, experimenting, and funding pilots, and they don’t want those experiments wiped away by a top‑down preemption.

Our Take—The Federal Preemption + Decentralization Imperative

The instincts of the “state‑as‑lab” camp are understandable: if Washington drags its feet, someone has to start testing real guardrails, and state‑level pilots offer a clear way in. The problem, for the crypto‑AI fusion ecosystem, is that you can’t run a global, token‑rewarded, permissionless network on 50 different rulebooks. The moment every state can impose its own AI‑data‑provenance requirements, model‑labeling rules, or deployment bans, you don’t get a mosaic of “healthy experimentation”—you get a minefield of compliance, capital flight, and incumbent‑friendly moats.

Our core belief at Cryptonite is that federal preemption plus a light‑touch national floor is the only path that keeps both states and startups from getting flattened. States can still push public‑sector AI pilots, consumer‑protection rules, and common‑law‑style liability frameworks, but the AI‑specific gates—model‑risk tiers, data‑handling mandates, and core infrastructure rules—should be unified at the federal level. That’s the only way to preserve the kind of privacy‑preserving data vaults, verifiable on‑chain models, and token‑rewarded GPU networks that define the fusion wave.

But we go further than the conventional “light‑touch” line: the real long‑term protection isn’t just a thin regulatory layer; it’s aggressive open‑sourcing, cryptographic verification, and decentralized compute and data layers—the very fusion plays we profile in this piece. The greatest risk to AI isn’t that it moves too fast; it’s that powerful players will use “AI‑risk” language to impose bias, censorship, licensing regimes, or alignment mandates that entrench closed models and centralized control.

Regulation should focus narrowly on clear, verifiable harms—fraud, illegal activity, and demonstrable misuse—and stay far away from content, bias, or “alignment” dossiers that can be weaponized to gatekeep truth‑seeking and experimentation.

From that perspective, the best form of “regulation” is the one crypto‑AI fusion already provides: permissionless, verifiable, and impossible to gatekeep. Federal preemption of AI‑specific rules only makes sense if it remains light‑touch and pro‑innovation—and if it carves out space for open, on‑chain, and community‑controlled infrastructure to flourish.

Fragmentation hands the future to incumbents with the biggest legal and lobbying budgets; light‑touch federal uniformity plus radical decentralization keeps AI open to everyone.

This fusion sector is still early—high‑risk, high‑reward—but the alignment of crypto culture, exploding AI demand, and a pro‑innovation national framework makes it one of the most exciting stories in tech right now.

Stay sovereign. Stay decentralized. Build fast.

Editors: Review notes for OpenClaw post beneath the comments and let’s discuss

One subtle concern (not a blocker, more a tuning note)

The only place that feels slightly overstated is the “Chatbots are dead” line. That’s great click‑bait and meme energy, but an AI‑practitioner audience may roll their eyes a bit. You might want to soften that in the final edit—maybe to something like:
“Chatbots are no longer the frontier. The real unlock is a runtime that gives any LLM tools, memory, and chat‑app interfaces.”
just to keep one‑liner snappiness while not sounding like you’re aggressively dismissing an entire category.

But even as‑written, it reads as intentional, punchy, and in‑line with your “no‑fluff” style—the kind of provocative headline that invites pushback in the comments, which is also good for engagement.

Overall first‑reaction verdict

• Editorial fit: Excellent—this is the exact kind of “live‑demo‑of‑a‑thesis” post fans will save and forward.

• Narrative through‑line: Strong continuity with last week’s piece, and it reinforces your core opinion without repeating it.

• Call‑to‑action and voice: Tight, on‑brand, and engineered to spark conversation and new pipeline ideas (for projects and LPs).

If this is your raw first‑draft, it’s already 80–90% of the way to being publish‑ready; the next round of edits can just subtly dial back the hyperbole (e.g., “Chatbots are dead”), tighten a few examples, and maybe add a short line linking back to your “federal preemption” argument if you want to really grind that theme home.

The OpenClaw phenom: Open-source agents just went from meme to market-mover

Silicon Valley’s latest obsession isn’t another closed-source chatbot from a frontier lab. It’s OpenClaw—the self-hosted, autonomous AI agent that actually does things. Launched late 2025 by Austrian dev Peter Steinberger (formerly Clawdbot → Moltbot → OpenClaw after the trademark dance), this open-source runtime exploded to 200k+ GitHub stars in weeks. It runs locally on your Mac, Windows, or Linux box. Hook it to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack—whatever—and it clears your inbox, books flights, runs terminal commands, browses the web, manages calendars, and remembers everything with persistent memory. Bring your own LLM (Claude, GPT, local models). Your data never leaves your machine.

By February 2026, Steinberger joined OpenAI to scale personal agents, but OpenClaw moved to an independent foundation with OpenAI’s sponsorship—keeping it fully open-source and community-driven. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang called it “the next ChatGPT.” Crypto Twitter went feral: users spun up agents trading tokens, farming testnets, and even self-funding via on-chain fees. One dev’s agent reportedly pulled $2k+ and started lobbying to “clone itself.”

This isn’t hype. It’s the clearest signal yet that the AI/crypto fusion thesis is accelerating—from chat to action. Here’s our VC/AI-entrepreneur dissection: the top 3 industry impacts, OpenClaw’s long-term staying power, and the hard lessons for builders and investors chasing the next wave.

Top 3 Impacts Reshaping the Industry

1. Agentic AI Goes Permissionless Overnight Chatbots are dead. OpenClaw proved that the real unlock isn’t smarter models—it’s a lightweight, local runtime that gives any LLM tools (browser, shell, email, files) plus memory and chat-app interfaces. Result: millions of personal agents spawned in weeks. No API waitlists, no vendor lock-in. This commoditizes frontier LLMs while elevating the runtime and tooling layer. Every dev now runs their own “Jarvis.” Enterprise adoption is following fast—automated workflows that were previously gated behind $10M+ custom builds are now a weekend project. The shift from “AI that answers” to “AI that executes” just democratized what used to be Big Tech’s moat.

2. Local & Decentralized Compute Demand Explodes OpenClaw runs best on your own hardware (Mac Minis are the new status symbol). That single design choice triggered a mini DePIN renaissance: users spinning up old laptops, renting cloud GPUs, and paying for tokens to keep agents alive 24/7. China’s OpenClaw boom alone drove a measurable uptick in cloud rentals and LLM subscriptions. For the fusion ecosystem, this is rocket fuel—decentralized GPU marketplaces (io.net, Render), incentivized networks, and sovereign data layers suddenly have real, retail-scale demand. It’s the first consumer proof that token-rewarded compute isn’t niche; it’s infrastructure for the agent economy.

3. Crypto Gets Its First Real Autonomous Participants Agents + wallets = game over for manual DeFi. OpenClaw users are already deploying on-chain agents that trade, bridge, farm airdrops, manage DAOs, and even launch their own tokens to self-fund. One agent earned enough fees to cover its API costs and lobby its human owner for independence. This is the on-chain autonomous agent layer the fusion thesis always promised—verifiable actions, no custody handoff, programmable money meeting programmable intelligence. It also surfaces the dark side: phishing scams impersonating OpenClaw for fake CLAW airdrops, and fears of “AI daemons” roaming with crypto keys. But the genie is out—machine participants are here, and they prefer crypto for identity-free payments.

Will OpenClaw Remain Relevant and Thriving Long-Term?

Yes—absolutely. The foundation structure plus OpenAI backing creates a rare hybrid: enterprise-grade momentum without closed-source capture. It’s already the de-facto standard runtime for personal agents, and the multi-agent future Steinberger and Altman are chasing (agents talking to agents) will be built on open protocols like this. Long-term risks exist—security vulnerabilities, regulatory scrutiny on autonomous execution, or a superior closed rival—but the open-source flywheel (community skills marketplace, rapid forks, privacy-first ethos) is too strong. Expect it to evolve into the “Linux of agents”: ubiquitous, battle-tested, and the backbone for everything from personal life automation to enterprise workflows. The hype phase may cool, but the infrastructure layer it created is sticky.

Lessons: Disruption Signals and New Opportunities

OpenClaw didn’t come from a $100B lab. One founder + open source + weekend project → industry reset. That’s lesson one: permissionless velocity beats polished incumbents every time. The speed of adoption exposed how badly the market wanted action over conversation.

Lesson two: security and verifiability are now table stakes. Local agents with deep OS access are powerful—and terrifying. We’re already seeing malware in the skills marketplace and wallet-draining phishing. The winners will build (or invest in) the cryptographic guardrails: sandboxing, provenance tracking, on-chain audit logs, and privacy-preserving execution. This is a direct call to the sovereign data and verifiable compute plays we’ve profiled.

Lesson three: self-sustaining agent economies are no longer sci-fi. When an agent can earn crypto, pay for its own compute, and spawn copies, you get emergent economic loops. That’s the ultimate fusion primitive—token incentives turning AI into economic actors. New opportunity: infra for agent wallets, agent-to-agent marketplaces, decentralized identity for machines, and payment rails optimized for non-human tx volume (Brian Armstrong’s “more agents than humans making payments” thesis just got real).

Our Take—From the VC/AI Entrepreneur Trenches

This is the fusion narrative playing out in real time. OpenClaw didn’t need regulatory clarity or a16z term sheets to prove product-market fit—it just shipped. For founders: stop building another wrapper. Build the security layer, the verifiable compute bridge, or the agent-native DeFi primitive that makes these things unstoppable (and safe). For LPs: the next $1B outcome in this space won’t be another model company. It’ll be the pick-and-shovel play that lets millions of OpenClaw-style agents move value on-chain without blowing up.

The centralization paradox we discussed last week still holds—patchwork regulation would kill this—but OpenClaw shows the market is moving faster than policymakers anyway. Decentralized architecture + crypto incentives = the only way to keep agents permissionless.

What’s your OpenClaw play—building the runtime, the security overlay, or the on-chain agent economy? Drop it in the comments (or reply). Paid members get our updated Cryptonite 300 list with intros to the top agent-infra teams.

Stay sovereign. Stay decentralized. Build fast.

Last Updated: March 27, 2026
Prepared for Anthony Perkins

Bottom Line & Targets (Clear Internal vs Public Split)

• Internal Target (Real Unlock): $75,000 — This is the exact number that fully funds and finishes …

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The 12 Apostles of VC Crypto

Draper Associates, San Mateo, CA, USA, 1985, Est. AUM $2B, Recent fund Fund 8, Recent raise $200M 2025, Top crypto: Early BTC, Coinbase, Ledger, Tezos, Stacks, Arkham, Polymarket​, Ethereum

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Thanks for becoming a Cryptonite Original

As a select member of our reader community, we are proud you are joining us on our mission to build a premier Web3 social network and make history!

Price Roadmap: Buy CPRO at $0.01 now, before we sell out (limited supply), and watch the value double to $0.02 when we launch Cryptonite v.05 launch in Q2 2026, then rise again to $0.025 at the v1.0 app release in Q3 2026.

Our Vision: Convert our Weekly Rap readers and other professional readers over to the social network, building toward a 500,000-member community, and then take the CPRO public in early Q4 of 2026 at a $0.03 target price.

CPRO Token Specification

• Token Name: Cryptonite PRO (CPRO)

• Blockchain: Solana (Token-2022 standard)

• Total Supply: 21,000,000,000 CPRO (capped)

• FDV at Public Launch ($0.03): $630,000,000

• Initial Circulating Supply at TGE: ~4,250,000,000 CPRO (20.2%)

• Non-Circulating at TGE: 16,750,000,000 CPRO (79.8%)

Core Utility

Cryptonite fully commits to CPRO as the ecosystem’s most valuable and indispensable currency by extending its utility across all app features and benefits.

• Discounts on paid Cryptonite and Friend Network memberships

• Buy, sell, trade, and reward expertise, influence, and contributions

• Exclusive payment for Cryptonite Wizards subscriptions, Tribes membership, and premium features

• In-chat and message tips/rewards via XMTP

• Discounts on Cryptonite and 3rd party events, and services

• Embedded self-custodial wallet for seamless in-app use

• Future: Access tiers

Technology Stack

• Helius RPC (mainnet + testnet API keys) — configure webhooks for transfers, vesting, withheld fees

• Token-2022 deployment (mint authority → Squads post-mint) — create with transfer fee 20 bp / max 100 bp, authorities as specified

• Streamflow — deploy 4 main vesting streams (recipients = Squads multisig)

• Squads multisig (3-of-5 or 4-of-7) — treasury vault, buyback/harvest/burn/LP templates

• Raydium — pool creation scripts tested on devnet

• Dedicated burn wallet/address — test burn transactions

• Privy dashboard — Solana + social/passkey/email, gas sponsorship enabled

• Stripe + NOWPayments merchant accounts — fiat ramps

• Arweave/Bundlr, Sanity.io, PostHog, Sentry, Retool/Appsmith projects

• Grok/Perplexity API keys + local Ollama/Llama.cpp setup

Deflationary Mechanics (live at TGE)

• 0.2% automatic burn on open-market/secondary transfers (user-to-user rewards/tips, DEX trades) via Token-2022 transfer fee hook (initial 20 bp, max 100 bp configurable via Squads multisig)

  • Fees withheld in recipient token accounts (Token-2022 standard)

  • Harvest flow: harvestWithheldTokensToMint (permissionless) → withdrawWithheldTokensFromMint(Squads/authorized via dedicated wallet upgradable to multisig) → burn to dedicated dead address

  • Crank automation: Helius webhooks (Stage 0) + recurring Bull jobs (~24h or threshold) + Squads proposal templates

• Explicit no-fee transfers: presale claims, vesting releases (Streamflow), reward accruals/claims, staking operations (if implemented); rewards calculated on gross amount

• Authorities & setup: Mint Authority revoked to Squads post-mint; Transfer Fee Config Authority = Squads multisig; Withdraw Withheld Authority = initial single-key → Squads

• Devnet E2E testing + external audit of fee/harvest flow

• Transparency: Public burn dashboards + on-chain verification

Price Roadmap

• $0.01 → Ongoing limited pre-sale (Cryptonite Originals, ~10M CPRO) until v0.5

• $0.02 → v0.5 launch pre-sale (Q2 2026, ~260M CPRO)

• $0.025 → V1 launch pre-sale (Q3 2026, ~500M CPRO)

• $0.03 → Public TGE & DEX listing (est. June–Oct 2026)

Liquidity Strategy (TGE – Stage 3)

• Allocation
  420M CPRO (2% of total supply, unlocked at TGE) + X% of cumulative pre-sale proceeds (target: 50–70% of total raised, calibrated at TGE to deliver ~$150k–$300k initial liquidity depth at $0.03 price) → Raydium.

• Pool Structure
  Primary: CPRO/SOL CPMM pool (50–60% of liquidity) – preferred for new Token-2022 launches (full-range, set-and-forget, no OpenBook market required, ~0.19 SOL creation cost).

• Secondary: CPRO/USDC CPMM pool (40–50% of liquidity) – for stable-pair depth and fiat on-ramp synergy.

Pool Creation & Initial Addition (executed via Squads multisig)

• Devnet script validation complete (Stage 0 – Raydium SDK / @raydium-io/raydium-sdk).

• Mainnet pool creation (CPMM) with initial price set to exactly $0.03.

• Liquidity addition transaction (platform/Squads covers gas).

• Receive LP tokens into Squads treasury vault.

• LP Token Management (immediate post-creation)
  70% → burn to dedicated dead address (e.g. 1Burn... or Token-2022 zero address equivalent) – permanent liquidity lock.

• 30% → time-locked 12 months via Streamflow (linear unlock, recipient = Squads multisig vault).
  – Stream created with Squads proposal (3-of-5 or 4-of-7).
  – No early withdrawal possible; fees earned during lock still claimable by Squads.

Post-Launch Management

• Public dashboard (Squads + Streamflow + Helius) showing pool addresses, depth, 24h volume, and burn/lock status.

• Treasury / CPRO Growth Fund authorized to add supplemental liquidity (via Squads proposal) if depth falls below target or for buyback support.

• No removal of initial liquidity permitted until Streamflow lock expires (enforced by governance).

• Raydium fee tier: default 0.25% (or chosen tier) – trading fees accrue to locked LP position.

• Risk / Audit Gates
  External smart-contract audit of pool creation script + Streamflow integration before mainnet.

• Devnet E2E test: mint → add liquidity → burn 70% → lock 30% → simulate fee harvest.

• Success metrics at TGE+24h: ≥$100k depth per pool, no >5% slippage on $10k trades, LP burn/lock transactions verifiable on explorer.

Vesting & Allocation Summary

• Founders & Equity: 3B (14.3%) – 48-month weekly linear from TGE

• Advisors & Strategic: 1B (4.8%) – 24-month weekly linear from TGE

• CPRO Growth Fund: 8B (38.1%) – 12-year weekly linear from TGE

• Treasury/Member Rewards: 4.75B (22.6%) – 12-year weekly linear from TGE

• Marketing & Distribution: 1.33B (6.3%) – Unlocked at TGE

• Liquidity Pool: 420M (2%) – Unlocked at TGE

• Pre-sales: Fully unlocked/liquid at TGE (delivery via 1:1 migration/claim to primary wallet)

TGE Definition

Minting of all 21B tokens + liquidity pool creation + Raydium listing + 1:1 claim/migration of pre-sale allocations + virtual earned balances to user’s primary wallet (Privy embedded or linked external).

Comprehensive CPRO Development Plan

Key Principles

• Stage-gate reviews + external audits at end of each stage

• Full transparency (on-chain vesting, burns, public dashboards)

• Pre-sale funds directed to liquidity + development

• Virtual CPRO simulation pre-TGE → real on-chain at TGE

• Self-custodial embedded Privy wallets + optional external connect

• Flexibility: timelines, presale parameters, feature priority adjustable based on traction, audits, market conditions, regulatory feedback

• Devnet E2E testing mandatory before mainnet (mint → vesting → presale sim → claim → transfer/burn → LP)

• Full tech stack alignment: Node.js/Express backend, Next.js frontend, MongoDB/Redis, Bull queues, Pinata/IPFS, etc.

• Dragonfire Security Layer: Custom component providing foundational security primitives (encryption mechanisms, zero-knowledge elements for privacy, app-specific safeguards for data integrity across on/off-chain flows, sensitive data/wallet/transaction protection)

• No transfer fee on staking operations (if added); rewards calculated on gross amount

Stage 0: Third-Party Service Setup & Accounts (Feb–Mar 2026)

1. Helius RPC (mainnet + testnet API keys) — configure webhooks for transfers, vesting, withheld fees

2. Token-2022 deployment (mint authority → Squads post-mint) — create with transfer fee 20 bp / max 100 bp, authorities as specified

3. Streamflow — deploy 4 main vesting streams (recipients = Squads multisig)

4. Squads multisig (3-of-5 or 4-of-7) — treasury vault, buyback/harvest/burn/LP templates

5. Raydium — pool creation scripts tested on devnet

6. Dedicated burn wallet/address — test burn transactions

7. Privy dashboard — Solana + social/passkey/email, gas sponsorship enabled

8. Stripe + NOWPayments merchant accounts — fiat ramps

9. Arweave/Bundlr, Sanity.io, PostHog, Sentry, Retool/Appsmith projects

10. Grok/Perplexity API keys + local Ollama/Llama.cpp setup

Additional Setup

• Database & Cache: MongoDB Atlas (collections: users, presaleAllocations, transactionLogs, feeCollection, adminLogs); Redis/Upstash (caching, sessions, rate limiting, Bull queues)

• Backend: Node.js v18+ LTS + Express + TypeScript; key deps (@solana/web3.js, @solana/spl-token, @coral-xyz/anchor, @privy-io/server-auth, @sqds/sdk, stripe, bull, mongoose, winston, etc.)

• Frontend: Next.js 14+ App Router + React 18+ + TypeScript + Tailwind; key deps (@privy-io/react-auth, @solana/wallet-adapter-*, @tanstack/react-query, posthog-js, @sentry/nextjs)

• Storage: Pinata/IPFS for metadata/assets; Arweave fallback

• Analytics/Monitoring/Admin: PostHog, Sentry, Retool/Appsmith dashboards

• Security/DevOps: Dragonfire integration; env/secrets management; Redis-backed rate limiting; Winston JSON logging; Jest + Anchor testing

• Deliverable: All accounts active, keys secured, devnet E2E tests successful (mint → transfer/withheld → harvest → burn; vesting; Privy sim; DB schemas; backend/frontend skeletons; Dragonfire primitives tested).

Stage 1: v0.5 Launch + $0.02 Pre-Sale (Q2 2026)

Focus: Privacy-first v.05 + $0.02 presale live, (virtual CPRO balances/tips pre-TGE, real claim/migration at TGE). All presale purchases recorded in DB; no on-chain token transfers until TGE.

Prerequisites/Dependencies (from Stage 0 completion):

• Helius RPC + webhooks configured for transfers, withheld fees (for future burn cranks), and transaction monitoring.

• Token-2022 minted on devnet/mainnet-ready (20 bp fee, authorities set: Squads transfer fee config, dedicated withdraw wallet).

• Privy fully set up (Solana + passkeys/email/social, gas sponsorship, embedded wallets).

• Streamflow/Squads multisig active.

• MongoDB collections ready (users, presaleAllocations, transactionLogs, feeCollection).

• Dragonfire security primitives integrated (encryption, ZK elements, sensitive data/wallet protection).

• Devnet E2E skeleton working.

Key Additions:

Backend API:

• /auth/login (Privy server auth verification, session/JWT handling, rate limiting via Redis, Dragonfire encryption for sensitive data).

• /presale/allocation (purchase logic: validate payment (Stripe fiat or NOWPayments crypto), calculate allocation at $0.02, record in DB with limits, anti-whale checks, KYC/AML hooks if required; support virtual CPRO preview).

• /presale/claim (simulate virtual balance preview; at TGE: backend triggers Squads-signed claim to user Privy/external wallet, platform covers gas via relayer/Helius staked RPC).

• Stripe + NOWPayments webhooks (secure endpoint for payment confirmation, update allocation status, handle refunds/failed tx, logging).

• Additional endpoints if needed: /presale/status, /wallet/balance (virtual), webhook verification middleware.

• Security: Input validation (Zod/Joi), auth middleware, IP/rate limiting, Winston structured logging, error handling.

Frontend:

• Presale landing page (dynamic content from Sanity: pricing at $0.02, allocation calculator, purchase form with fiat/crypto options, progress bar for total raised/remaining).

• Wallet connect modal (Privy embedded + optional external Solana wallet adapter; display primary wallet, gas sponsorship status).

• Real-time claim/status dashboard (websockets/SSE or TanStack Query polling for allocation balance, claim eligibility, transaction history).

• UI/UX: Responsive design (Tailwind), error states, loading indicators, accessibility, PostHog event tracking for purchase funnel.

• Virtual CPRO preview display (in-app balance before TGE).

Sanity.io CMS:

• Schemas for app text, dynamic pages (presale landing, FAQ, terms), member profiles (if early access), hero banners, pricing tiers.

• Workflow: Content publishing pipeline, preview mode in Next.js, webhook integration for real-time updates.

• Governance: Versioning, approval process for sensitive text (legal/disclaimers).

XMTP Full Setup:

• E2EE messaging integration (user-to-user, group chats).

• Virtual in-chat CPRO tips/rewards (simulate tips in DB, display pending balance; no real transfer fee/burn until TGE).

• Privacy focus: Leverage XMTP’s encryption + Dragonfire ZK/privacy primitives where applicable; future Confidential Transfers prep.

• UI components: Chat interface, tip button/modal with amount selector.

• Testing: End-to-end message + tip simulation.

Additional Stage 1 Elements (recommended to add explicitly):

• Presale Flow Integration: Full E2E purchase → allocation → virtual balance → claim preview (devnet sim first, then mainnet staging).

• Relayer Service: Secure tx signing/submission (Helius staked RPC) for claims/gas sponsorship from Squads funds.

• Monitoring & Analytics: Sentry error tracking, PostHog funnel analytics (conversion rates, drop-offs), Retool dashboards for presale metrics (raised, allocations, users).

• Testing: Unit/integration tests (Jest), E2E presale flow (Cypress/Playwright on devnet), security scans, load testing for payment endpoints.

• Deployment: Staging environment, CI/CD pipeline, environment-specific configs (secrets via env vars).

• Compliance/Privacy: Review presale terms for regulatory feedback, data privacy (GDPR alignment), audit log for all allocations/transactions.

Gate: Security Audit + Presale Traction Review:

• External smart contract/protocol audit (Token-2022 config, relayer, any Anchor programs) + backend/frontend penetration testing.

• Internal Dragonfire review.

• Traction metrics: Minimum pre-sale raised, user signups, engagement (chats/tips), holder distribution preview.

• Stage review meeting: Adjust timelines, features, or parameters based on traction/market conditions.

Other Considerations:

• Success Metrics: Presale live and functional, virtual CPRO flowing (tips/allocations), successful devnet → staging E2E tests, positive audit findings, defined traction thresholds for gate approval.

• Risks: Payment webhook reliability, gas cost volatility (mitigated by sponsorship), presale demand overwhelming DB/relayer, privacy edge cases.

• Timeline within Q2 2026: Break into weeks/sprints (e.g., API + DB first, then frontend integration, then XMTP/testing, final audit/gate).

Stage 2: V1 Launch + $0.025 Pre-Sale (Q3 2026)

Focus: Full dApp utility + community features

Key Additions:

Backend API & Integrations (expand existing)

• /auth/login → Add JWT/OAuth flows, rate limiting, session management, and KYC/AML hooks if required for presale.

• /presale/allocation → Include endpoints for user eligibility checks, tiered allocations, anti-bot/Sybil measures (e.g., wallet age/volume checks via Helius APIs).

• /presale/claim → Detail webhook handling for Stripe/NOWPayments (idempotency, error retry, refund flows), plus user dashboard for claim status.

• Additional endpoints: /user/balance, /staking/stats (if staking live), /presale/info (public sale progress, hard/soft cap).

Secure Relayer Service (critical for gasless claims)

• Implementation: Use established patterns (e.g., Octane-inspired or Helius staked endpoints for priority).

• Security: Rate limiting, signature verification, whitelisting allowed instructions/programs, nonce/replay protection, monitoring for abuse.

• Funding & Ops: Squads multisig for fee wallet, auto-topup logic, fallback if Helius RPC issues.

• Gas estimation & sponsorship policy (e.g., max fee per tx, per user daily limit).

BullMQ Jobs & Background Processing

• Add more recurring/cron jobs: e.g., presale progress monitoring/alerts, staking reward accrual snapshots, compliance reporting.

• Error handling/retries, dead-letter queues, dashboard (Bull Board or custom).

• Scaling: Redis config, worker concurrency, monitoring (Prometheus + Grafana if advanced).

Gate: Full Smart Contract Audit + TGE Readiness (expand heavily)

• Audit scope: Presale contract/program (if custom), staking program, token mint (SPL Token-2022 if extensions used), any PDAs/vaults.

• Auditor selection (top firms like OtterSec, Sec3, Neodyme, or Certik for Solana).

• Pre-audit: Internal code review, static analysis (cargo-audit, clippy), Slither-like tools if applicable.

• TGE readiness: Token mint revocation (freeze/mint authority to null if planned), liquidity provision plan (e.g., Raydium pool setup post-presale), vesting/lockup contracts for team/early contributors, burn mechanisms if any.

• On-chain verification: Program deployed & verified on Solana Explorer, IDL published.

Additional Recommended Items (often missing in early plans)

• Frontend/DApp: Presale UI (wallet connect, allocation checker, claim button), staking dashboard (stake/unstake, rewards preview), responsive + mobile support.

• Testing: End-to-end (presale flow, claim, stake/unstake), load testing (simulate many claims), devnet → testnet → mainnet migration plan.

• Monitoring & Security: On-chain monitoring (Helius webhooks for events), alerting (e.g., failed claims, suspicious tx), bug bounty program launch.

• Compliance & Legal: Token classification check (utility vs. security), KYC/Geo-restrictions for presale if needed, terms of service/privacy policy.

• Documentation & Community: Updated whitepaper/tokenomics, dev docs (API spec, staking guide), community beta testing (e.g., limited presale test round).

• Contingency: Rollback/rescue plans (e.g., upgradeable program if using Anchor 0.30+), emergency multisig controls.

Stage 3: Public Listing at $0.03 + TGE Execution (June–Oct 2026)

Focus: Token generation (full mint), liquidity pool creation + LP token management, mass claims/migration, vesting activation, transfer fee/burn mechanism live, and trading enabled on Raydium.

Prerequisites/Dependencies (from Stage 0–2 completion):

• Helius RPC + webhooks fully configured (transfers, withheld fees, vesting events)

• Squads multisig (3-of-5 or 4-of-7) operational with treasury vault, pre-funded SOL/gas, harvest/burn/LP proposal templates

• Streamflow vesting streams deployed (4 main streams to Squads)

• Privy embedded wallets + gas sponsorship enabled

• Relayer service secure and tested (Helius staked RPC, rate-limited, whitelisted instructions)

• Raydium pool creation scripts validated on devnet/mainnet-beta (Raydium SDK)

• BullMQ jobs running (harvesting, batch processing)

• Dragonfire Security Layer active (encryption, ZK/privacy primitives, transaction protection)

• DB snapshot ready (presaleAllocations + virtual earned balances at TGE timestamp)

• Final external audit complete + all devnet/mainnet E2E simulations passed

Pre-TGE Preparation (4–6 weeks prior to execution window)

• Final full-scope external security audit (Token-2022 config/extensions, relayer, claim flow, burn harvest logic, Raydium integration, Streamflow vesting) + penetration testing + bug bounty kickoff

• Mainnet phased dry-run simulation (mint test supply → LP → sample claims → transfers/burns → vesting release → alerts)

• Secure key custody: Squads treasury, withdraw withheld authority (initial single-key → upgrade to Squads), dedicated burn wallet (1Burn... or equivalent dead address), relayer signer

• Pre-fund Squads vault sufficiently for claims, harvests, and proposals

• Finalize Raydium pools: confirm 420M CPRO (2%) + calibrated portion of pre-sale proceeds (target $150k–$300k initial depth at $0.03); 50–60% CPRO/SOL CPMM, 40–50% CPRO/USDC CPMM

• Deploy token metadata (JSON hosted on Pinata/Arweave: name “Cryptonite PRO”, symbol “CPRO”, description, logo, website/socials; initialize-metadata pointer extension)

• Configure dashboards: Helius (events), Retool/Squads/Streamflow (LP, vesting, burns), PostHog/Sentry (user/trading), Dune/Helius holder distribution tracker

• Marketing/community: announcement timeline, Raydium coordination, anti-snipe/MEV protection (e.g., initial liquidity depth targets), optional community engagement plan

• Regulatory/compliance final check (utility token emphasis, KYC/AML on ramps, geo-restrictions if needed)

TGE Execution Sequence (one-time event, <4-hour window recommended)

• Mint full 21,000,000,000 CPRO to initial authority wallet (Squads-controlled) using:

  text

spl-token create-token --decimals 9 --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb --transfer-fee 20 100

• → initialize-metadata → full mint → immediately revoke/disable mint authority (set to null/Squads)

• Set remaining authorities: Transfer Fee Config → Squads multisig; Withdraw Withheld → dedicated/upgradable wallet

• Create Raydium CPMM pools, add exact liquidity, receive LP tokens to Squads vault

• Immediately: burn 70% LP tokens to dedicated dead address; create Streamflow stream for remaining 30% LP tokens (12-month linear unlock to Squads vault)

• Activate Token-2022 transfer fee (0.2% initial, max 100 bp configurable)

• Execute 1:1 claim/migration: snapshot DB → batch transfers (Bull jobs where possible) or individual relayer txs from Squads → user primary wallets (Privy embedded or linked external); platform covers gas; include rate limiting, anti-bot, retry logic

• Activate all vesting streams (founders 3B/48mo weekly linear, advisors 1B/24mo, growth fund 8B/12yr, treasury/rewards 4.75B/12yr) — first releases begin at TGE timestamp

• Confirm pools public/tradable (swaps enabled, charts live on Raydium/DexScreener)

Post-TGE Go-Live & Stabilization (immediate–first 7 days)

• Activate burn crank: Helius webhooks + recurring Bull jobs (~every 24h or threshold e.g. ≥1M CPRO withheld) → harvestWithheldTokensToMint (permissionless) → withdrawWithheldTokensFromMint (Squads) → burn to dead address. No fees on presale claims, vesting releases, staking (if implemented), or reward operations (rewards on gross amount)

• Full monitoring stack live: alerts for volume spikes/dumps (>X% in 1h), large transfers (>1% supply), high withheld accumulation, failed txs/claims, holder concentration

• Launch initial marketing push and confirm trading enablement

• Enforce no transfer fee on specific operations via instruction checks or program logic

Success Metrics (target first 24–72h)

• Liquidity depth: ≥$150k–$300k per pool, ≤5% slippage on $10k trades

• Volume: strong initial trading volume (target >$500k–$1M 24h)

• Holder distribution: >5,000–10,000 unique holders, top 10 wallets <30–40% concentration

• Burn rate: active 0.2% on secondary transfers/tips/DEX trades; first harvest/burn ≥$10k–$50k equivalent

• User growth: high claim completion rate (>80–90%), active wallets post-TGE, app engagement metrics (PostHog)

• Additional: no critical incidents (hacks, failed claims >1%, LP issues), price stability, on-chain vesting transparency, successful first burn cycle

Risk Mitigation & Contingencies

• Failed mint/LP: rollback plan (revoke authorities, pause claims, public communication)

• Multisig compromise/emergency: predefined pause/rescue procedures

• Claim overload: rate limiting, queuing, daily caps per wallet

• MEV/snipe: initial deep liquidity + monitoring

• Dragonfire active for all sensitive flows

Deliverables

• On-chain proofs: mint tx, LP creation/add/burn/lock txs, vesting activation, first burn tx

• Public dashboard live (burned supply, circulating supply, LP status, vesting progress)

• Post-mortem report (technical + metrics review)

• Squads proposal templates (harvest, supplemental liquidity, fee updates)

Gate: Stage-End Review

• On-chain transparency verification

• Burn mechanism & no-fee rules validated live

• Liquidity/volume/holder metrics review

• User growth & claim success analysis

• Adjust priorities per Key Principles (market, audit, regulatory feedback)

Estimated Timeline within June–Oct 2026 window

• Preparation: 4–6 weeks

• Dry-run: 1–2 weeks before

• Execution window: single coordinated day (e.g., weekend for lower volatility)

• Stabilization: 1–2 weeks monitoring/review

This plan prioritizes the current core spec (21B supply, 0.2% burn focus, staged rollout) while incorporating technical depth for secure, scalable execution.

Squads and Streamflow Mastery

As founder/owner, I want to prioritize mastery of the Squads & Streamflow platforms for security, transparency, and control. These platforms are on-chain, audited, and widely used for Solana token launches. They align directly with our plan:

• Squads controls authorities (mint/transfer fee/withheld), treasury actions (harvest/burn/LP/supplemental liquidity), and proposals;

https://docs.squads.so/main/navigating-your-squad/dashboard

• Streamflow handles the 4 long-term vesting streams (founders 3B/48mo, advisors 1B/24mo, growth fund 8B/12yr, treasury/rewards 4.75B/12yr) + 30% LP token lock (12-month linear to Squads).

https://docs.streamflow.finance/en/articles/9670473-create-a-token-lock

Platform Descriptions

Squads Multisig (squads.so / app.squads.so)
Squads is a Solana-native multisig platform built on Squads Protocol for secure team/DAO treasury management.
Key functions:

• Create a “Squad” wallet with configurable threshold (e.g., 3-of-5 or 4-of-7 signers for high security).

• Vault holds SOL, SPL tokens (CPRO), NFTs, and manages authorities (set as mint authority, transfer fee config authority, withdraw withheld authority).

• Proposal/voting system: Create proposals for transactions (transfers, burns, harvest, Raydium LP creation/add/burn/lock, Streamflow interactions, fee rate changes); members approve (threshold met), then execute. Separate approve + execute recommended for safety.

• Templates for recurring actions (harvest/burn, buyback, supplemental LP).

• Program upgrades, token metadata management, integrations with Raydium, SPL Token-2022, Streamflow.

• Dashboard for monitoring vault balances, proposals, streams/locks (when integrated).

• Security: On-chain enforcement by Solana validators; no centralized custody. Best practices: high thresholds (4/6+ for critical), hardware wallets (Ledger/Trezor), segmented vaults (hot/cold), bug bounties, external audits. Deployment cost: ~0.1 SOL + rent (~0.003 SOL). Devnet/mainnet supported.

Streamflow (streamflow.finance / app.streamflow.finance)
Streamflow is Solana’s leading token distribution protocol for vesting, streaming payments, airdrops, and token locks.
Key functions:

• Vesting/Streaming: Custom schedules (linear weekly, cliffs, periodic unlocks). Auto-release and transfer tokens on schedule (no manual cranks needed). Batch creation for multiple recipients. Revocable/irrevocable options.

• Token Lock: Lock SPL tokens or LP tokens for fixed periods (e.g., 12 months linear unlock to a recipient like Squads multisig). Ideal for the 30% LP lock (fees earned during lock still claimable by Squads).

• Multisig Integration: Set Squads multisig as recipient/owner of streams or locks. Manage (withdraw, top-up, cancel, claim) via Squads proposals (Streamflow contract calls).

• Dashboard: Track open streams/locks, balances, unlock progress, public verification (search by token). Bulk import CSV for recipients. SDK for backend integration.

• No-fee exceptions align with your plan (e.g., vesting releases bypass transfer fee). Security: Audited contracts, on-chain transparency. Devnet support for testing.

Integration: Squads vault receives vested/unlocked tokens or LP; proposals in Squads call Streamflow instructions (create/claim/manage).

Step-by-Step Setup Plan (Aligned to Your 3 Stages)

Security Best Practices

• Use hardware wallets (Ledger/Trezor) for all signers.

• Threshold: Start with 3-of-5 (add trusted team/advisors); consider 4-of-7 for treasury post-TGE.

• Separate approve vs. execute; avoid auto-execute.

• Test everything on devnet first (mandatory E2E per Key Principles).

• External audit before mainnet activation.

• Monitor via Squads/Streamflow dashboards + Helius/PostHog/Sentry/Retool.

• Document all keys, proposals, and txs publicly for transparency.

• As CEO: You create the Squad initially (control deployment); add members later via proposal. Fund initial SOL (~0.2–0.5 SOL per environment).

Stage 0: Third-Party Service Setup & Accounts (Feb–Mar 2026) – Core Creation & Devnet Testing

• Create Squads multisig (devnet first): Go to app.squads.so (or devnet.squads.so) → Connect wallet (Phantom/Backpack) → “Create a Squad” → Name it (e.g., “Cryptonite Treasury”) → Add initial members (your wallet + 2–4 trusted) → Set threshold (3-of-5) → Confirm & pay deployment fee (~0.1 SOL + rent). Note Squad address.

• Fund Squad vault with test SOL/tokens (devnet).

• Create proposal templates: For harvest/burn, LP actions, Streamflow interactions (save common instructions).

• Set up Streamflow (devnet): Connect wallet → app.streamflow.finance → Create 4 test vesting streams (linear weekly from future “TGE” date, recipients = Squads multisig address, different amounts/periods matching your allocations). Test cancel/top-up/withdraw via Squads proposal.

• Test Token Lock: Create a test LP lock (30% equivalent, 12-month linear to Squads).

• Upgrade Streamflow withdraw authority to Squads if needed.

• E2E test: Simulate vesting release → tokens arrive in Squad vault; lock/unlock flow.

• Migrate to mainnet: Repeat creation (new Squad + streams/locks), secure keys, audit integration.

• Deliverable: Squad operational, 4 vesting streams deployed (recipients = Squads), LP lock template ready, devnet E2E successful.

Stage 1: v0.5 Launch + $0.02 Pre-Sale (Q2 2026) – Preparation & Virtual Simulation

• Squads: Use for presale fund custody (fiat/crypto ramps → Squad vault). Create proposals for virtual allocation adjustments or refunds. Test basic transfers/harvest templates.

• Streamflow: No live vesting yet (virtual CPRO simulation in DB). Create placeholder streams on mainnet (small test amounts) or keep devnet. Test recipient flow to Squads.

• Integration test: Simulate claim preview → future Streamflow release. Add monitoring dashboards.

• Gate prep: Review Squad/Streamflow security in audit (presale traction review).

Stage 2: V1 Launch + $0.025 Pre-Sale (Q3 2026) – Advanced Testing & Readiness

• Squads: Expand members if needed (via proposal). Test complex proposals (Raydium pool scripts, fee harvest templates, supplemental liquidity). Integrate relayer signing if Squads signs claims.

• Streamflow: Deploy/test final vesting parameters (exact amounts, weekly linear from planned TGE timestamp). Test LP lock creation (12-month to Squads). Batch test releases/withdrawals via Squads proposals.

• Full E2E: Presale funds → Squad vault → simulate vesting start → tokens unlock to vault. Test staking (if prioritized) no-fee bypass.

• Gate: Full smart contract audit includes Streamflow/Squads integration + TGE readiness (vesting activation plan).

Stage 3: Public Listing at $0.03 + TGE Execution (June–Oct 2026) – Full Activation & Operations
Pre-TGE (4–6 weeks before):

• Squads: Pre-fund vault for gas/claims/harvests. Finalize templates (harvest, burn, LP burn/lock, fee config update). Secure withdraw withheld authority (upgrade to Squads).

• Streamflow: Create/finalize 4 main vesting streams (exact allocations, weekly linear from TGE timestamp, recipient = Squads multisig). Create LP lock contract (30% LP tokens, 12-month linear unlock to Squads).

TGE Execution:

• After mint/LP creation: Squads receives LP tokens → proposal to burn 70% → create Streamflow lock for 30%.

• Activate vesting streams (first releases begin). Squads receives vested tokens per schedule.

• Claims flow: Backend/relayer → Squads proposal/sign → user wallet (gas sponsored).

Post-TGE Stabilization:

• Activate burn crank (Helius/Bull jobs trigger harvestWithheld → Squads withdraw → burn).

• Ongoing: Squads proposals for harvests (24h/threshold), supplemental LP, fee updates (0.2% → max 1%). Monitor unlocks in Streamflow dashboard → tokens to Squad vault.

• Success metrics verification: On-chain vesting progress, LP lock status, burn volume.

• Gate: Stage review (transparency, live burn verified, holder metrics).

Ongoing Mastery Tips for You (CEO)

• Weekly review: Squads dashboard (proposals, vault) + Streamflow dashboard (unlock schedule, locks).

• Emergency controls: Predefine pause/rescue proposals.

• Training: Share read-only access initially; run simulations with team.

• Costs: Minimal ongoing (Streamflow fees low; Squads rent covered by vault).

• Audit: Include both platforms in every stage-gate audit.

• Resources: Squads Docs (docs.squads.so), Streamflow Docs (docs.streamflow.finance), Discord communities for support.

This plan ensures secure, transparent execution matching your Key Principles (stage-gates, audits, devnet E2E, transparency). Start with devnet Squads + Streamflow creation this week. If you need screenshots, video walkthroughs, proposal templates, or help drafting an internal ops guide/RACI matrix, let me know!

1. Confirm NowPayments Payout & Test

   • Create a $1 test invoice → pay from another wallet → verify USDC arrives in Phantom (Solana network).

   • Confirm auto-receipt email sends (even if test email is yours).

2. Customize Global Receipt Email Template in NowPayments

   • Dashboard → Store Settings → Email Templates → Receipt Email.

   • Paste this ada…

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Open Frontier’s Stated Mission

Progressive values cannot be left out of the future of financial regulation. At Open Frontier, we’re ready to promote responsible financial innovation while ensuring strong regulatory guardrails, countering Wall Street and big tech, and stopping bad actors. Finance is evolving, and progressive voices need a seat at the table.

New financial technologies like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies are here, and they have the potential to democratize access to finance, ensure data privacy, and make the world a more equitable place. It’s time to use the tools at our disposal for our goals, promoting equality, financial and personal freedom, and fighting creeping authoritarianism.

Whether it is blockchain, or large language models, like any new technology, they are not inherently malicious. What matters is who wields them and for what purpose. Americans who want to maintain our global status must lead, not hand the future to authoritarians and monopolists. Open Frontier aims to ensure we maintain democracy and our competitive standing in the world.

Cryptonite research on Open Frontier

Open Frontier is a private non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to promoting responsible financial innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. It emphasizes strong regulatory guardrails, consumer protection, financial inclusion, and countering dominance by Wall Street and big tech. The organization’s unique innovation lies in its progressive, left-leaning approach to crypto policy, integrating democratic values, equity, and U.S. leadership in fintech. This positions Open Frontier to help policymakers craft balanced legislation, educate the public and political leaders (particularly Democrats) on crypto’s potential benefits, and enable the industry to operate with integrity—reducing risks like exploitation while fostering growth and opportunities for everyday people.

Published Positions on Recent Crypto and AI Policy Developments (2025)

Open Frontier has engaged publicly with key 2025 developments, particularly through board member commentary and interviews with Executive Director Erik Balsbaugh. The group has positively discussed the **GENIUS Act** as a model for stablecoin clarity, emphasizing state successes (e.g., Wyoming) and strong rules for trust, accountability, and U.S. dollar dominance. No explicit statements were found on the **Strategic Bitcoin Reserve**, **CLARITY Act** (though conceptual alignment exists on regulatory clarity), **SEC ETF actions**, or broader AI-blockchain executive pushes. Their focus remains on balanced, progressive frameworks.

Financial Backers

There is no public indication or disclosure of who the specific backers, donors, or funding sources are for Open Frontier!

Market

The target audience includes left-leaning policymakers, voters, progressive organizations, and crypto enthusiasts advocating for equitable regulation. The broader crypto political advocacy space is significant, with an estimated $263 million in political spending ahead of the 2026 midterms, fueled by the expanding global crypto market valued at over $2 trillion.

Business and Revenue Model

As a non-profit, Open Frontier relies on donations, grants, and potential partnerships to support its advocacy, policy efforts, and educational initiatives. It remains in early stages, effectively pre-revenue with no traditional income streams. Annual revenue run rate is not publicly detailed but is likely minimal at present. Future growth may stem from increased donations as crypto policy debates intensify.

Founders and Board

Erik Balsbaugh is a key founder and serves as President/Executive Director. Jesse Austin Campbell is a board member. Additional board members include Amanda Wick, Todd Phillips, and Carole House, each contributing expertise in regulation, compliance, policy, and national security.

Erik Balsbaugh

Seasoned political strategist and campaign manager with over 20 years of experience in presidential campaigns, public affairs, voter protection, and innovative digital organizing. Expertise in leveraging new media, livestreaming, and gaming communities for political advocacy and communications. Key contributor to high-profile Democratic campaigns and founder of ventures bridging politics with emerging media landscapes. Currently leads Open Frontier as a progressive voice in cryptocurrency policy.

**Core Skills & Competencies**

- Campaign management and strategy

- Public affairs and communications

- Digital organizing and community building

- Voter protection and ballot curing

- Livestreaming and new media political engagement

- Strategic advising for advocacy and political clients

**Professional Experience** (Reverse Chronological)

- **President/Executive Director**, Open Frontier (Current) – Leading progressive advocacy for responsible crypto regulation and financial innovation.

- **Partner**, New Ground Strategies (Current/Recent) – Advising clients on strategic organizing, communications, and public affairs; served as general consultant for Ana Goncalves’ campaign in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District special election (2023).

- **Co-Founder**, At Dawn Campaigns – Specialized in livestreaming, organizing, and communications in gaming and media landscapes; focused on digital community building for advocacy, including leading Democrats’ engagement in gaming media during the 2024 election cycle.

- **Senior Advisor for Voter Protection** & **In-Person Ballot Cure Director (GA)**, Various Democratic campaigns/DSCC – Directed ballot curing and voter protection efforts, including leading Kamala Harris’ voter-protection team in 2024 (focused on Pennsylvania ballots) and curing 15,000 ballots in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden (contributing to his narrow win by 11,779 votes).

- **Grassroots Organizer**, Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign (2015-2016) – Hired as Massachusetts grassroots organizer; managed Western Massachusetts get-out-the-vote efforts for the Massachusetts Democratic Party in 2010.

- **Director, Best Practices Institute** (Prior role in political organizing at the DNC).

- Extensive work on presidential campaigns, including roles in voter mobilization and public affairs for candidates such as Hillary Clinton (2016) and others in Democratic cycles; also worked on Helena Foulkes’ gubernatorial campaign in Rhode Island (2022).

**Entrepreneurial Ventures**

- Co-Founded At Dawn Campaigns – Developed innovative approaches to political engagement via livestreaming and gaming/media ecosystems.

- Partner at New Ground Strategies – Provides advisory services focused on political and advocacy strategies.

**Education**

- B.A. in International Relations, Colby College.

**Known Political Contributions**

All to Democratic candidates/causes (small-dollar; compiled from public FEC/OpenSecrets records; no crypto-related donations identified):

- $1,950 to Massachusetts Democratic State Committee (2016).

- Multiple $250/$125/$100/$75/$50/$35/$10 contributions to candidates like Joe Biden (2020), Maura T. Healey (2020–2022), Stacey Abrams (2022), and others in Massachusetts, New York, Georgia, Vermont; state committees; and ballot initiatives (2010–2022).

(Note: Gaps may exist due to reporting thresholds.)

**Additional Information**

- Frequent podcast guest/speaker (e.g., The Great Battlefield Podcast).

- Active on LinkedIn and X (@etbalsbaugh).

Jesse Austin Campbell

Accomplished finance and risk management expert with extensive experience in traditional finance (TradFi) and cryptocurrency, specializing in stablecoins, reserve management, and blockchain infrastructure. Former leader managing billions in stablecoin reserves; now advises on crypto regulation and innovation. Adjunct professor teaching blockchain and digital assets at top business schools. Recognized commentator bridging TradFi and crypto for balanced policy.

**Core Skills & Competencies**

- Stablecoin reserve and risk management

- Blockchain markets infrastructure

- Financial regulation and policy advisory

- Portfolio management in digital assets

- Teaching and thought leadership in fintech/crypto

- Structured finance and cross-border payments

**Professional Experience** (Reverse Chronological)

- **Board Member**, Open Frontier (Current) – Contributing expertise in fintech/crypto to progressive crypto policy advocacy.

- **Managing Partner**, Zero Knowledge Consulting (Current) – Consulting on cryptocurrency, regulation, and finance; participated in private discussions with Democratic operatives to advocate for pro-crypto legislation like the GENIUS Act (2025).

- **Adjunct Professor**, Columbia Business School (Current/Recent) – Co-teaches “Blockchain Markets Infrastructure and Uses” and related courses.

- **Former Head of Portfolio Management**, Paxos – Managed over $20-22 billion in stablecoin reserves; designed risk and reserve infrastructure.

- Prior roles at JP Morgan and Citi (structured finance and risk).

**Entrepreneurial Ventures**

- Founder of Zero Knowledge Group/Consulting – Focuses on crypto, finance, and regulatory challenges.

- Advisory for crypto ecosystem projects and stablecoin innovations.

**Education**

- Professional credentials focused on teaching at Columbia Business School and previously NYU Stern (specific degree details limited in public profiles).

**Certifications, Awards, & Recognitions**

- Frequent expert witness (U.S. Congress on stablecoins/regulation).

- Media appearances (CoinDesk, Yahoo Finance, 60 Minutes-related crypto discussions).

**Publications & Speaking Engagements**

- Regular Substack contributor (Confronting the Future) on crypto/finance/regulation.

- Speaker at Consensus by CoinDesk.

- Co-author of papers on crypto in capital markets.

- Interviews on stablecoins, remittances, innovation.

**Known Political Contributions**

No public records identified in FEC/OpenSecrets databases (limited to advisory/testimonial roles in policy discussions rather than direct financial support).

Amanda Wick

Crypto compliance expert, author, speaker, and advocate for responsible digital finance, equity, and inclusion. Former federal prosecutor specializing in money laundering and cryptocurrency; now advances gender diversity, regulatory modernization, and informed public discourse on crypto’s role in global finance. Board member at Open Frontier, emphasizing strong stablecoin rules for U.S. economic strength and national security.

**Core Skills & Competencies**

- Cryptocurrency compliance and anti-money laundering (AML)

- Regulatory advisory and modernization

- Combating illicit finance

- Gender diversity and inclusion in fintech/crypto

- Keynote speaking on digital assets and innovation-government collaboration

**Professional Experience** (Reverse Chronological)

- **Board Member**, Open Frontier (Current) – Advocating for progressive, balanced crypto policy; authored commentary on stablecoin rules for economic dominance.

- **Principal**, Incite Consulting (Current) – Expert advisory in digital finance sector.

- **Founder**, Association for Women in Cryptocurrency (Current) – Advances gender diversity, networking, and advocacy in crypto/blockchain/Web3.

- **Senior Investigative Counsel**, House January 6th Committee.

- **Chief of Legal Affairs**, Chainalysis (blockchain analytics).

- **Senior Roles**, FinCEN and U.S. Department of Justice – Focused on cryptocurrency, regulatory modernization, and illicit finance (nearly a decade as federal prosecutor).

**Entrepreneurial Ventures**

- Founder of Association for Women in Cryptocurrency.

- Author of *The Catalysts* (on forces reshaping global finance, including cryptocurrency).

**Education**

- Not explicitly detailed in public profiles (focus on professional legal/prosecutorial experience).

**Publications & Speaking Engagements**

- Author: *The Catalysts*.

- Frequent keynote speaker on digital assets, regulation, and innovation-government dynamics.

- Media/commentary on stablecoins, compliance, and U.S. economic strength.

**Known Political Contributions**

No public records of political contributions or donations to candidates, PACs, or causes were identified in FEC/OpenSecrets databases or other reliable sources. Her involvement appears limited to professional roles in government investigations, policy advisory, and advocacy rather than direct financial support.

**Additional Information**

- Active on LinkedIn (@amandawick).

- Advocate for inclusive decision-making in male-dominated crypto spaces.

Todd Phillips

Thought leader in financial regulation, public policy, and academia with expertise at the intersection of banking, crypto/digital assets, and progressive governance. Advocates for fair, flexible regulation to maintain U.S. competitiveness while embedding transparency, consumer protections, and systemic risk safeguards. Board member at Open Frontier, warning against U.S. falling behind in digital innovation.

**Core Skills & Competencies**

- Financial and regulatory policy advisory

- Banking/corporate governance

- Crypto market structure and stablecoins

- Academic research and teaching

- Legislative and administrative law

**Professional Experience** (Reverse Chronological)

- **Board Member**, Open Frontier (Current) – Commentary on fair regulation for U.S. leadership in digital currency.

- **Assistant Professor**, Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business (Current).

- **Principal**, Phillips Policy Consulting (Current) – Advising on financial/regulatory policy.

- **Director, Financial Regulation and Corporate Governance**, Center for American Progress.

- **Senior Attorney**, FDIC (Biden Administration).

- Prior roles: Attorney Advisor/Counsel, Administrative Conference of the United States; Counsel/Policy Advisor, U.S. House of Representatives; Attorney, Better Markets.

**Entrepreneurial Ventures**

- Independent consulting via Phillips Policy Consulting.

**Education**

- Juris Doctor, University of Michigan Law School (2014).

- B.S. in Economics (Summa cum laude) and Political Science, Arizona State University, Barrett Honors College (2010).

**Publications & Speaking Engagements**

- Articles on tokenized deposits/stablecoins, SEC role in digital assets, supervisory guidance, and crypto carveouts.

- Testimony and reports on CFTC climate-finance, bank regulators, and digital asset markets.

**Known Political Contributions**

No public records of specific political contributions or donations to candidates, PACs, or causes were identified for Todd Phillips in FEC/OpenSecrets databases. Multiple individuals with similar names appear in records, but none match his profile as a Georgia-based professor and former FDIC/Center for American Progress expert. His work focuses on policy advisory and academia rather than direct financial political support.

**Additional Information**

- Active on LinkedIn and X (@tphillips).

- Member of various professional committees (e.g., CFTC Market Risk Advisory).

Carole House

Strategic technology executive and national security expert specializing in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, virtual currency, and emerging technologies. Advocates for U.S. leadership in digital innovation to defend democracy, protect privacy, and maintain global financial centrality. Board member at Open Frontier, highlighting risks of falling behind in fintech/crypto.

**Core Skills & Competencies**

- Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure policy

- Virtual currency/emerging technology regulation

- National security and public-private partnerships

- Digital asset policy advisory

**Professional Experience** (Reverse Chronological)

- **Board Member**, Open Frontier (Current) – Commentary on U.S. digital innovation leadership.

- **Nonresident Senior Fellow**, Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center (Current).

- **Special Advisor for Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure**, White House National Security Council (Recent; previously Director for Cybersecurity and Secure Digital Innovation, 2021-2022).

- Executive/Advisory roles: Terranet Ventures, CFTC, New York DFS, Idaho Department of Finance.

- **Senior Cyber and Emerging Technology Policy Officer**, U.S. Treasury FinCEN – Led cybersecurity, virtual currency, and emerging tech policy.

- Prior: Cybersecurity/infrastructure policy at OMB and U.S. Senate; Army Captain (deployment to Afghanistan).

**Education**

- Professional credentials from Georgetown University and related institutions (specific degrees limited in public profiles).

**Publications & Speaking Engagements**

- Testimony to House Financial Services Committee on digital asset regulation gaps/opportunities.

- Keynote and media on cybersecurity, financial inclusion, and innovation.

**Known Political Contributions**

No public records of political contributions or donations to candidates, PACs, or causes were identified in FEC/OpenSecrets databases or other reliable sources. Her career emphasizes government service in national security, White House/NSC roles, and policy advisory rather than direct financial political involvement.

**Additional Information**

- Active on LinkedIn (@carole-house-47471a40).

- Founder/CEO of Penumbra Strategies (strategic tech/national security advisory).

Editorial current analysis of Open Frontier

Based on our discussion and analysis of publicly available information (as of January 16, 2026), here’s a consolidated view of the key critiques of Open Frontier as a non-profit advocacy group. This draws together the unique perspectives we’ve covered: its reliance on vague, progressive buzzwords; lack of substantive policy depth; appearance as a Democratic political operation rather than a true innovation-focused advocate; opportunistic origins; transparency gaps; and early-stage emphasis on messaging over action. The overall picture suggests an entity more geared toward rebranding crypto for Democrats to tap into industry influence and funding, rather than driving detailed, impactful reforms.

Heavy Reliance on Flowery, Undefined Platitudes

Open Frontier’s messaging is dominated by classic Democratic/progressive buzzwords like “equity,” “strong regulatory guardrails,” “consumer protection,” “financial inclusion,” “responsible financial innovation,” “left-leaning approach,” “honest brokers,” and “countering Wall Street/big tech dominance.” These terms are repeatedly used in their website (openfrontier.us), interviews, and board commentary but remain largely undefined—e.g., no specific metrics for “equity” in crypto access, no concrete anti-monopoly mechanisms against big tech/Wall Street, or detailed frameworks for consumer safeguards.

- This creates a “flowery” vibe that sounds aspirational and inclusive but lacks grounding in practical details, making it feel more like political rhetoric to appeal to skeptical progressives (e.g., the Warren/Gensler wing) without committing to bold, potentially divisive stances.

Lack of Substantive Policy Depth or Original Proposals

- Beyond positive nods to the GENIUS Act (the 2025 stablecoin framework) and state models like Wyoming’s crypto regs as “blueprints” for federal policy, there’s no evidence of digging into existing legislation with line-by-line critiques, proposed amendments, or original reform packages. For instance, no detailed breakdowns of how GENIUS could be strengthened for better consumer protections, no calls for specific anti-exploitation measures, and no research reports analyzing innovation barriers or systemic risks.

- Board contributions (e.g., Amanda Wick on stablecoins for economic strength, Carole House on risks of “falling behind,” Todd Phillips on “fair/flexible regulation,” Austin Campbell on “smart innovation”) are thoughtful op-eds but stay high-level, without translating platitudes into actionable blueprints. This contrasts with true advocacy groups that produce whitepapers, lobby for bill clauses, or hold the industry accountable on specifics.

More Political Operation Than Genuine Advocacy

- The group appears engineered as a Democratic vehicle to make the party “more crypto-friendly” amid crypto’s massive political clout (e.g., $263M+ in spending ahead of 2026 midterms via super PACs like Fairshake). Executive Director Erik Balsbaugh’s 20+ years in Dem campaigns (e.g., Clinton 2016, Biden 2020, Harris 2024) and lack of prior crypto/tech expertise suggest an opportunistic pivot: spotting how the industry punished anti-crypto Dems in 2024 and creating a “trustworthy messenger” to soften skepticism, build coalitions, and potentially capture donations.

- It’s positioned as an “honest broker” for Democrats/progressives, focusing on education and “amplifying progressive voices” to reduce polarization—essentially rebranding crypto as aligned with Dem values without deep engagement on the innovation side. This reads as smart politics to get Dems “in the room” for industry relationships, rather than independently researching or crafting proposals for real change.

Early-Stage Emphasis on Messaging Over Action

- As a new, pre-revenue non-profit (relying on undisclosed donations/grants), the focus is on broad themes like U.S. fintech leadership, avoiding “falling behind globally,” promoting on-chain accountability, and tying stablecoins to things like funding labor movements. However, this prioritizes public discourse, interviews (e.g., Balsbaugh on podcasts/YouTube), and coalition-building over tangible outputs like lobbying disclosures, policy papers, or critiques of industry excesses.

- The approach stays “safe and non-confrontational” toward the crypto establishment, which supports the view that it’s more about bridging Dems to the industry’s money/influence than thoughtfully balancing regulation with innovation.

Transparency and Funding Gaps Raise Questions

- No public donor lists, IRS filings (e.g., Form 990 for 501(c)(3)/(c)(4) status), or lobbying disclosures are visible yet—common for early groups but notable in a space rife with “dark money.” Unlike industry-funded PACs (e.g., backed by Coinbase or Winklevoss twins), this opacity fuels skepticism about whether it’s truly independent or propped up by crypto interests seeking Dem buy-in.

- Board members bring credible expertise (e.g., Campbell from Paxos, Wick from Chainalysis/FinCEN, House from NSC), but the overall operation lacks the fingerprints of grassroots or pure industry advocacy, reinforcing the “political messaging vehicle” critique.

In summary

Open Frontier comes across as a well-timed Democratic response to crypto’s political rise—using buzzwords to make the industry palatable to the party while prioritizing winning elections and influence over substantive, research-driven advocacy. If it evolves with more granular proposals or disclosures in 2026, this could shift; for now, it feels light on real action and heavy on image-building.

Stand with Crypto’s Stated Mission

The goal of the Stand with CryptoAlliance is to mobilize the 52 million American crypto owners into a powerful force. The Stand With Crypto Alliance, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, champions for clear, common-sense regulations for the crypto industry. We’re mobilizing the 52 million crypto owners in the US - a demographic that is younger (60% Gen-Z and Millennials) and more diverse (41% identify as racial minorities) than the general US population - to unlock crypto’s innovation potential and foster greater economic freedom. Crypto drives American innovation. Keeping crypto in America means securing jobs and economic mobility. If you care about crypto, it’s time to prove it—join the fight to keep crypto in America, support pro-crypto legislation, and hold politicians accountable.

Cryptonite research on Stand with Crypto

Stand With Crypto is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization launched in 2023 by Coinbase, dedicated to mobilizing the U.S. crypto community to advocate for clear, common-sense regulations and pro-crypto policies. It emphasizes grassroots engagement to influence legislation, educate policymakers, and protect the industry’s future in America. The organization’s unique strength lies in its massive scale—over 2 million advocates—and use of digital tools (e.g., onchain petitions, NFTs, direct politician contact) to turn crypto users into a unified political force. This positions Stand With Crypto to pressure Congress for favorable market structure bills, track politician stances, support pro-crypto candidates, and counter anti-crypto narratives, enabling the industry to thrive with innovation while building economic freedom and U.S. leadership.

Published Positions on Recent Crypto and AI Policy Developments (2025)

Stand With Crypto has been highly active in advocating for pro-crypto legislation in 2025. The group strongly supported and celebrated the GENIUS Act (federal stablecoin framework with 1:1 reserves, audits, transparency, and AML) as a major win for regulatory clarity and industry growth. It actively pushed for the CLARITY Act (classifying non-stablecoin digital assets like Bitcoin/Ethereum as commodities under CFTC, easing issuance and reducing SEC oversight), urging members to contact Senators to pass market structure legislation while protecting user rewards. The group aligns with broader pro-innovation efforts, including SEC approvals for in-kind ETF creations/redemptions and additional crypto ETPs (e.g., Solana, XRP). It has endorsed the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve concept (U.S. government BTC holdings via seizures) as part of securing U.S. leadership, and supported executive actions promoting crypto-AI convergence and preempting restrictive state rules. Overall focus is on “common-sense” regulation to keep innovation in America.

Financial Backers

Stand With Crypto was initiated and launched by Coinbase, which has provided significant support (e.g., initial infrastructure, promotion by CEO Brian Armstrong). It accepts donations from individuals (fiat/crypto), has minted supporter NFTs with proceeds going to advocacy, and partners with numerous crypto companies (viewable on their site). The affiliated PAC has raised funds from members and crypto-aligned sources. Specific donor lists are limited due to 501(c)(4) rules, but Coinbase executives and industry figures (e.g., via related super PACs like Fairshake) have contributed heavily to the broader ecosystem; no fully public comprehensive donor disclosure exists beyond general industry backing.

Target Market

The target audience includes the 52 million American crypto owners (younger, more diverse demographic), grassroots advocates, and crypto enthusiasts pushing for pro-innovation policies. The broader crypto political advocacy space is massive, with hundreds of millions in spending (e.g., industry super PACs raised over $200M+ for 2024 elections, continuing into 2026 midterms) fueled by the global crypto market exceeding $2 trillion.

Business and Revenue Model

As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, Stand With Crypto relies on individual donations (fiat/crypto), NFT mint proceeds, partnerships with crypto companies, and community support to fund advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and policy efforts. It has a related PAC for direct political spending. The organization has grown rapidly (from launch to over 2M advocates) and remains donation-dependent with no traditional revenue streams. Annual revenue run rate is not publicly detailed but supported by crypto industry momentum and large-scale community engagement.

Founders and Board

Stand With Crypto was founded and launched by Coinbase in 2023, with strong involvement from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad (who announced the launch). It operates as an independent nonprofit but with clear Coinbase origins. Leadership includes Executive Director Logan Dobson (Republican consultant, hired in 2024). No formal board is publicly detailed; the organization emphasizes grassroots community and partnerships over a traditional board structure.

Brian Armstrong, Coinbase Co-Founder & CEO

Visionary tech entrepreneur and CEO of Coinbase, the leading U.S. cryptocurrency exchange. Co-founded Coinbase in 2012 to make crypto accessible. Strong advocate for pro-crypto policy, economic freedom, and U.S. innovation leadership. Launched Stand With Crypto to mobilize the community against overregulation.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Tech entrepreneurship and product development

• Policy advocacy and lobbying for crypto

• Community building and grassroots mobilization

• Business scaling in fintech/crypto

• Public speaking and media engagement

Professional Experience (Reverse Chronological)

• CEO & Co-Founder, Coinbase (2012–Current) – Built Coinbase into a major exchange; led through major growth cycles and policy fights.

• Prior roles: Software engineer at Airbnb; developer at IBM.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

• Co-Founded Coinbase – Now a public company (NASDAQ: COIN) valued in billions, serving millions of users.

Education

• B.S. in Economics, Rice University.

Known Political Contributions

Brian Armstrong and Coinbase have been major donors to pro-crypto causes, including millions to super PACs like Fairshake (e.g., Coinbase corporate donations of $45M+ to Fairshake in 2024 cycle). Armstrong personally donated to crypto-friendly candidates (bipartisan but focused on pro-innovation).

Additional Information

• Active on X (@brian_armstrong); frequent commentator on crypto policy.

• Committed $25M+ to Fairshake and support for Stand With Crypto growth to 4M advocates.

Logan Dobson – Executive Director

Professional Summary

Experienced Republican political strategist with over a decade in campaigns, data analytics, communications, public affairs, polling, research, and digital strategy. Former senior aide to U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Director of Data & Analytics at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Currently Vice President at Targeted Victory, a leading GOP digital consulting firm, where he advises major corporate, association, and political clients on influencing public opinion and elected officials. Served as Executive Director of Stand With Crypto Alliance (2024–present), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit mobilizing the crypto community for pro-crypto policies, education, voter activation, and grassroots efforts in swing states. Expertise in get-out-the-vote initiatives, digital advertising, and bridging traditional politics with emerging issues like cryptocurrency.

Core Skills & Competencies

Campaign strategy and management

Data analytics and polling

Digital advertising and strategy

Communications and public affairs

Grassroots mobilization and voter turnout

Political consulting for corporate and advocacy clients

Professional Experience (Reverse Chronological)

Executive Director, Stand With Crypto Alliance (August 2024–Current) – Leads efforts to mobilize crypto voters through education, swing-state activations, voter registration, get-out-the-vote drives, and policy advocacy; oversees grassroots campaigns and state chapter presidents in battleground states (e.g., Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin).

Vice President, Targeted Victory (September 2022–Current) – Works in corporate practice to help clients influence public opinion, elected officials, and policy outcomes; focuses on public affairs, digital strategy, and major campaigns.

Director of Data & Analytics, National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) (2017–2018 cycle) – Oversaw data, analytics, polling, and digital advertising for Senate races.

Senior Aide/Staffer, Office of U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) (Capitol Hill, post-2014) – Served in various roles supporting the Senator’s office.

Prior Role, The Tarrance Group (nationally recognized polling and research firm) – Worked on polling, research, and strategic analysis.

Education

B.A. in Political Science, George Washington University (2007–2011). Activities included College Republicans and contributing to The GW Hatchet (student newspaper).

Known Political Contributions

Public FEC/OpenSecrets records show limited personal contributions directly attributable to this Logan Dobson (Washington, D.C.-based Republican consultant). No major individual donations of $200+ are prominently listed in searches for his profile. His work involves supporting Republican candidates and causes through professional roles (e.g., NRSC, Sen. Gardner), and he has been involved in PAC operations (e.g., listed as Treasurer for Stand With Crypto Alliance PAC, which received contributions from crypto-aligned donors). Any contributions are likely small-dollar or channeled through professional entities; no crypto-specific personal donations identified.

Additional Information

Active on X (@LoganDobson), where he discusses politics, crypto advocacy, and personal interests (e.g., boxing, Bay Area sports).

Described as a “proud alum” of NRSC, Sen. Cory Gardner, and The Tarrance Group.

Passionate about get-out-the-vote and mobilizing voters for emerging issues like cryptocurrency.

Family: Married with a son; lives in Washington, D.C.

Kara Calvert—Vice President, Head of U.S. Policy

Dynamic policy leader and organizer driving Stand with Crypto’s growth from launch to 2M+ supporters. Former Coinbase Government Affairs head with deep crypto regulatory experience; excels in coalition-building, digital advocacy, and bipartisan lobbying. Key in securing FIT21 passage and GENIUS Act momentum.

Core Skills & Competencies

Grassroots mobilization and voter advocacy

Crypto policy lobbying and legislative strategy

Coalition management across industry

Digital campaign tools and app development

Bipartisan congressional engagement

Professional Experience (Reverse Chronological)

Executive Director, Stand with Crypto (2023-Current) – Scaled to 2.6M supporters, launched scorecards/petitions influencing 2025 bills.

Head of U.S. Government Affairs, Coinbase (2021-2023) – Led D.C. team on FIT21, stablecoins; built industry coalitions.

Policy Advisor, Various tech/policy roles (prior advocacy in fintech).

Education

B.A. in Political Science (details limited publicly).

Known Political Contributions

Minimal personal; Coinbase-linked PACs (Fairshake) donated $50M+ in 2024 cycle (pro-crypto Dems/Reps).

Additional Information

Active on X (@KaraCalvert1); podcast guest on crypto policy.

Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase Chief Policy Officer

Coinbase Chief Policy Officer overseeing Stand with Crypto strategy. Ex-Head of Regulatory at Coinbase; Wall Street to crypto bridge.

Core Skills & Competencies

Regulatory negotiations

D.C. lobbying

Fintech compliance

Professional Experience (Reverse Chronological)

CPO, Coinbase (2023-Current).

Head of Policy, Coinbase.

Goldman Sachs (prior).

Known Political Contributions

Coinbase-aligned.

Additional Information

LinkedIn active.

Editorial current analysis of Stand With Crypto

Stand With Crypto is a highly effective, industry-backed advocacy powerhouse that has successfully mobilized millions for pro-crypto policies. It excels at grassroots scaling, direct action (e.g., contacting lawmakers), politician scorecards, and leveraging digital tools for engagement. The organization’s strength lies in its massive community (over 2M advocates) and clear, unified push for regulatory clarity and innovation. It has played a key role in advancing 2025 wins like the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act momentum, demonstrating real political impact.

Strengths in Execution and Scale

Stand With Crypto delivers tangible results through high-visibility campaigns, email/ call tools, NFT incentives, and politician tracking—turning abstract policy into actionable community pressure. Its bipartisan focus and emphasis on “common-sense” regulation have broadened appeal.

Critique: Industry-Driven vs. Pure Grassroots

While presented as grassroots, it was launched and heavily supported by Coinbase (with CEO Brian Armstrong’s direct involvement), raising questions about independence. Critics view it as astroturf—a top-down corporate effort to amplify industry interests, with funding/partnerships from crypto companies and limited transparency on exact backers (common for 501(c)(4)s). It prioritizes deregulation and “clarity” that benefits incumbents like Coinbase, often staying non-confrontational on industry risks (e.g., no strong calls for enhanced consumer protections or anti-monopoly measures). The focus on mobilizing users to support pro-crypto candidates feels more like a sophisticated political operation to secure favorable rules and donations than neutral advocacy.

Transparency and Influence

As a 501(c)(4), donor disclosure is minimal; heavy reliance on Coinbase and industry partners fuels skepticism about true independence. In a space with massive spending, it effectively channels community energy toward industry-aligned goals, but critics argue it replicates traditional lobbying tactics under a “decentralized” banner.

In summary, Stand With Crypto is a well-executed, high-impact pro-industry advocacy machine that has achieved significant political wins through scale and mobilization. It feels like a strategic arm of the crypto establishment (led by Coinbase) to win regulatory battles and elections, prioritizing industry growth over balanced critique or deep consumer protections. If it continues expanding, it could shape U.S. crypto policy for years, though at the cost of perceptions of corporate dominance.

Cryptonite’s related recently published content:

The reinvention of the Democratic Party.

(One of our 2025 predictions published January 6, 2025.)

This is not a prediction. This is a plea. And honestly, we don’t believe it’s gonna happen in 2025.

The Democratic party brand is now synonymous with: Condescension and elitism, installing candidates that don’t go through the primary process, cover-ups and lack of transparency, colluding with Old Media, bullying social media companies to censor, ‘Top School’ censorship of free speech, antisemitism, using the legal system to keep political opponents off of ballots, Dick ‘Darth Vader’ Cheney, sending strategic missiles to Ukraine, defunding police in neighborhoods that need them the most, supporting BLM protests that resulted in billions of property damage and the death of at least 20 innocent people, (and y’all bitch about Jan 6th? 🤔) allowing boys to play girl sports and shower in their locker rooms, pardoning (and back dating) family members when you said you wouldn’t, and not inviting people who don’t vote for your candidate to Thanksgiving dinner. 🦃

Are we wrong here? If you think we are full of shit, click the Perplexity links above.

Comedic relief from the Democrats

“I think humor is one of the best avenues to get at the truth, maybe the best, especially in politics. When someone laughs, it is involuntary. So you can make the audience admit that they agree with you even if they really don’t want to. This is one of the issues I have with the left. They can’t stand to have to endure a moment of hearing something they don’t already agree with. Not that the right doesn’t do it, too, but the left does it worse.

I have liberal friends who just couldn’t stand that I invite conservative guests, such as Ann Coulter, on my show. Just think about what this is—that’s people who hate me for who I won’t hate. It’s in their psychological profile; they just have this need for virtue signaling and to have their friends—and I guess everybody on social media—think of them as good people. ‘We’re the good people. We know who’s good. And it’s us.’

There are people who are not particularly enamored with Trump, not blind to his many flaws, but they just feel that the crazy on the left is somehow worse. I don’t agree with them, but I get it. I don’t hate them for voting for him.

The young people also have no idea, no perspective. Of course, suppose they’ve gone to elite universities, i.e., asshole factories. In that case, they’ve been indoctrinated into this idea that they live in the worst country in the world at the worst time in history, when actually they live in, with all our flaws, we are still probably the best country in the world and indisputably in the best time in history.

Republicans will dominate the Democrats in elections as long as the Democratic Party fails to un-convince itself that it is this misunderstood vehicle for what people really want. They often say, when they lose elections, ‘We didn’t get our message out.’ Yes, you did! You got it out loud and clear. The voters just didn’t like it.’

—Bill Maher excerpt from his Wall Street Journal interview on Saturday.

Democrats need to dig deep in their hearts and figure this out because our country desperately needs a strong Democratic Party that returns to its non-violent, transparent, free-speech-loving, compassionate roots that is there to catch those falling through the cracks of society.

To accomplish this, you cannot rely on the new elites like the Clintons, the Obamas, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, George Clooney, and other Hollywood celebrities, the Soroses, Super Donors, and the people who just received Biden’s Presidential Medal of Freedom. They have absolutely no connection with the average American.

Our boy Bernie Sanders may be misguided about the efficiency of centralized government agencies, but the man’s got a heart.💜 Where is the Bern Man’s Medal of Freedom? After all, the Party still owes Bernie for stealing his Presidential nomination in 2016!

In the 2024 election, the Democratic Party lost the Hispanics, the youth, the working class, 7% fewer women than HRK, and 20% of the black vote. The ‘Obama era’ in American politics is officially over. As Bill Maher points out, you may think you can justify gaslighting voters and other bad behavior because Trump is the Crazy Man—But you just lost to the Crazy Man with a message that was Loud and Clear.

(Follow-up review of the above 2025 prediction published December 28, 2025.)

The reinvention of the Democratic Party

Our Call: Plea for Dems to ditch the elites and Super Donor class, and return to its peace and freedom-loving, working-class roots.

How We Did: This was more of an appeal than a prediction, but either way, it didn’t come true. Simply put, US citizens (as documented by Gallup Polls since 1999), no longer, and will never again, trust centralized institutions. In other words, the ‘We know better for you than you know for yourself’ smugness and cozying up to bored, aging actors, and people who live behind high walls surrounded by people with guns is political suicide.

The politics that will win in the New Era will provide a roadmap to returning power and privacy to The People. With dApps, AI, and the Bitcoin metaphor to power us, it will happen. That we promise. It took us 20 years to take-down corporate media led by YouTube and X (founded in 2005, and 2006 respectively)—and we think we can cut this timeline in half if not much less.

Our advice: We collectively need to abandon political labels (we have as a matter of editorial policy) and identifying too closely with any political party brand, as their nature and characterization have changed so dramatically none of the old definitions do not hold up anymore.

Reclaiming our identities back from corporate media, political parties, and the ideological swarms on social media is also a supreme exercise for better mental health, especially in the post-COVID era. Think how free we will feel living by our own talking points built upon our individual journeys, personal experiences, study and imagination.🫠

This is the basis for a winning political agenda in the Web3 era.

Real estate Investment tip: Short Zohran

We will be buying a sweet flat in the West Village for our NY-editorial and podcast studio in the next few years, when we think the real estate market is close to bottoming out. Why? Well, one, we are Silicon Valley nerds who wish so desperately to be fashionable. And, two, soon there will be a City government whose agenda is more anti-Web3 and Animal Farm pig-likethan any Big City Mayor’s administration in the US. The Big Government, centralized power approach in the Web3 era is an anti-trend. The billions lost by fraud within Minnesota’s bureaucrat-run social services system is a case in point. Centralizing more power in NYC government will only lead to more chaos, fraud, and economic destruction—and keep deflating real estate prices—in the City we all love.

Over the last 3 years, the real estate market has already been ‘drifting sideways’ with Manhattan residential real estate prices declining by 20-22% from their mid-2022 peak. One other big issue you won’t read in the real-estate reports is the unprecedented escalation of antisemitic incidents in New York in the post-October 2023 period, fueling widespread safety fears within the NYC community of 960,000 Jews. Is the incoming administration going to keep a steady eye on this crisis? We sadly bet no.

NYC will inevitably learn yet another huge lesson about why the Socialist model of centralized control and its inherent lack of incentives and efficiency has never worked and will stage yet another comeback. From code to couture—the new Cryptonite It-crew will be there after the tank and when the turnaround begins! We look forward.

(Follow-up review of the another 2025 prediction published December 28, 2025.)

Washington gets its Crypto House in order

Our Call: Trump makes U.S. ‘Crypto Capital’ with regs, Bitcoin reserve, and preempts restrictions on AI innovation

How We Did: Textbook execution. The Bogeyman delivered on his promise to position the US as the undisputed ‘Crypto Capital of the World.’

Key US achievements in 2025:

• The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: In 2025, the US government’s BTC holdings grew from 200,000 to 327,000 BTC—worth $28.8 billion as of 12/26/25—accumulated via government seizures and forfeitures. The US is the largest holder of BTC, followed by China at 194,000 BTC and the UK with ~61,000 BTC.

• The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) provided entrepreneurs with crucial regulatory clarity by classifying non-stablecoin digital assets, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and genuine utility tokens, as commodities under CFTC oversight rather than SEC securities. Founders can now issue and distribute utility tokens more freely to fund projects, reward users, and build networks without fear of retroactive enforcement.

• GENIUS Act: Passed the first comprehensive federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins, requiring 1:1 reserves, audits, transparency, and anti-money laundering compliance.

• The SEC, under new leadership, approved in-kind creations/redemptions for spot Bitcoin/Ether ETFs, generic listing standards for additional crypto ETPs (paving the way for Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and more), and over 15 new ETFs launched or streamlined.

• A broader pro-innovation push included executive actions protecting AI-driven blockchain development by preempting burdensome state-level restrictions on AI innovation and ensuring U.S. leadership in crypto-AI convergence without fragmented regulation.

US adult crypto ownership climbed to ~28% (up from ~20% pre-administration), driven by regulatory certainty, institutional inflows, and ETF accessibility. America is now firmly on track to become the global hub for digital assets — innovation thriving, dollar dominance reinforced by stablecoins, and strategic reserves secured.

Executive Summary

This technology overview outlines the architectural foundation, key components, and development roadmap of the Cryptonite app, highlighting how it integrates blockchain, a native cryptocurrency, AI, and user-centric design to disrupt traditional social networks—enhanced with a fully private, on-device Personal AI Search feature for ultimate member sovereignty.

The Cryptonite Technology Stack

Core / Blockchain & Token Layer

• Dragonfire — Backend hosted on Dragonfire for accelerated, redundant quantum/AI-ready computing at low cost, with optional GPU add-ons supporting efficient on-device model inference. Custom core component for internal security, encryption, or protocol layer for enhanced protection of sensitive data, wallets, or transactions). Provides foundational security primitives, including encryption mechanisms, zero-knowledge elements, and app-specific safeguards to ensure data integrity and privacy across on-chain and off-chain flows.

• Solana Token-2022 — Advanced token standards and programmability on Solana, enabling extensions like confidential transfers (private amounts), transfer fees/hooks, metadata pointers, permanent delegates, and interest-bearing tokens.

• Helius — Production-grade Solana RPC provider and API platform. Delivers ultra-low latency RPC endpoints, staked transaction submission (higher landing rates), real-time webhooks, enhanced APIs (parsed transactions, token/account history, DAS), gRPC streaming, and WebSockets. Supports high-throughput operations like fee harvesting, batch transfers, treasury monitoring, and staking interactions with 99.99%+ uptime. Built-in dashboard for usage, credits, and performance metrics—crypto-native, developer-friendly, and optimized for Solana-specific workloads (Token-2022, multisig, vesting).

Infrastructure / Transaction & Relaying

• Secure Transaction Signer / Relayer — Backend service for secure creation, signing, and submission of transactions (e.g., presale claims from Squads multisig, fee harvesting, batch transfers). Leverages Privy server-side wallets + gas sponsorship for user-friendly execution, or Helius built-in relaying/staked submission for higher landing rates and reliability. Ensures platform-paid gas flows, audit trails, rate limiting protection, and integration with existing stack (Squads SDK, Anchor programs, Helius RPC) without exposing private keys.

User Onboarding & Auth

• Privy — Embedded wallets and seamless onboarding/auth flows for crypto-native and Web2-style experiences. Provides hardware-secured, self-custodial wallets (SOC 2-compliant) across chains including Solana/EVM/Bitcoin; supports progressive authentication (email, SMS, social logins → wallet connection), gas sponsorship, modular UI components, server-side sessions, and built-in dashboard/console for app management, user/wallet analytics, API keys, team roles, and transaction monitoring..

Content & Data Management

• Sanity.io — Headless CMS (Content Operating System) for structured, dynamic content management with real-time collaboration. Features visual drag-and-drop editing, rich text without HTML lock-in, advanced publishing workflows, datasets, user roles, and built-in apps/dashboards for content teams; and supports AI-assisted querying/editing app text, member profiles, or dynamic pages with full developer control and no vendor lock-in.

Communication

• XMTP — Decentralized messaging protocol for secure, end-to-end encrypted in-wallet chat, notifications, and agent-to-user/agent-to-agent communication. Built on Messaging Layer Security (MLS) standard; supports native token/asset transfers in messages, spam resistance at protocol level, quantum-resistant design, identity-agnostic (any verifiable signature), and topics/cursors for efficient sync.

Multisig & Treasury/DAO Tools

• Squads — Multisig wallets, proposals, and DAO tooling on Solana. Supports custom roles/thresholds, approval workflows, treasury operations (swaps, payments), program/token upgrades, validator management, spending limits, and built-in dashboard (app.squads.so) for multisig overview—asset balances, transaction history.

Payments & Streaming

• Streamflow — Token vesting, continuous streaming payments, escrows on Solana + built-in Token Dashboard for tracking locked/unlocked supply, allocations, and contracts (enhances transparency for vesting/streams).

• NOWPayments — Crypto + card/fiat payment gateway for merchants accepting 300+ cryptocurrencies and 75+ fiat currencies. Features a robust merchant dashboard for transaction monitoring, payment stats, customer details, success rates, payouts, and revenue insights—hybrid solution bridging traditional cards and crypto seamlessly.

• Stripe — Traditional fiat and stablecoin payments/subscriptions card processing that supports 135+ currencies, subscriptions, revenue optimization, fraud prevention (AI-driven), refunds/chargebacks, and detailed dashboard (dashboard.stripe.com) for payments analytics, customer management.

Analytics, Monitoring & Admin

• PostHog — Product analytics platform for user behavior tracking, funnels, retention, cohorts, feature usage, and session replays. Helps identify drop-offs, optimize onboarding/payment flows, and link insights to replays for deep UX understanding.

• Sentry — Error monitoring and performance tracing for real-time crash detection, distributed tracing, and issue resolution. Essential for debugging production problems, preventing outages, and maintaining app reliability in high-stakes Web3 environments.

• Retool (or Appsmith as free/open-source alternative) — Low-code platform for building a central unified admin dashboard (aggregation of data from Privy, Stripe/NOW, Solana RPC, Squads/Streamflow, Sanity, etc..

Profile/CV Linking

• Grok — AI-powered tool integration for auto-linking to member profiles/CVs. Enables contextual search, generation, or embedding of profile summaries, bios, or CV data within the app.

• Perplexity — AI-powered search/context engine for auto profile/CV linking, as a second option to Grok above.

Privacy, Sovereignty & Advanced AI Layer

• Arweave (via Bundlr integration) — Permanent, decentralized storage protocol for user-generated and sensitive personal data (AI interactions, brainstorm notes, business models, fundraising materials, crypto strategies, confidential topics). Provides “pay once, store forever” model with one-time fees for lifetime availability; integrates seamlessly with Solana for fast uploads/verification via Bundlr (bundler for efficient, low-cost Arweave access). Ensures encrypted, tamper-proof, distributed storage with no central servers, full user control, seamless portability, and unbreakable long-term sovereignty—complements on-device processing by persisting outputs durably without exploitation risks.

• On-device/Local LLM (e.g., via Ollama, Llama.cpp, or Solana-compatible frameworks like Rig/Listen.rs for agent tooling) — Exclusive, opt-in Personal AI assistant running entirely on-device or in-browser/local environments (offline-capable, unlimited private queries, zero server-side transmission). Enables secure, surveillance-free brainstorming of high-stakes topics (business modeling, fundraising pitches, crypto strategies, sensitive discussions). Leverages open-source models (e.g., Llama variants) for alignment with sovereignty goals; pairs with decentralized storage for persisting encrypted outputs portably and privately—ensuring every idea remains fully under user control forever.

• AI Matchmaking & Recommendation Engine (custom/integrated via Grok/Perplexity + on-chain signals) — Powers intelligent connections, expert/Wizard matching, and opportunity discovery based on verified profiles, contributions, network value, innovation tags, and on-chain activity. Uses AI-driven algorithms (Grok/Perplexity embeddings for semantic matching) combined with Solana data (via Helius parsed transactions/accounts) to transform serendipity into high-impact partnerships—filtering for relevance while preserving privacy through on-device/on-chain computation where possible.

Key Features and Technical Components

• User Onboarding and Profiles: Seamless registration with auto-wallet, AI-generated CVs, tags, and signup rewards.

• Daily Rap: Curated news feed with AI-assisted editorial and user interactions.

• Decentralized Messaging: XMTP-powered E2EE chats with CPRO tipping/subscriptions.

• Networks and Matchmaking: Vouching, friend networks, AI-driven expert/investor filtering.

• CPRO Wallet and Transactions: Balance management, multi-crypto payments.

• Personal AI Search (delivered in Phase 2):

Additional features include EliXr blog, Wizard subscriptions, CPRO Shop, and gamified stats.

Development Roadmap

• Phase 1: Early 2026: Initial launch with core app, Daily Rap, profiles, wallet, and payments.

• Phase 2: Q2 2026: Full rollout including messaging, networks, Wizard program, and complete Personal AI Search.

• Public Launch (Q3-Q4 2026): DEX/CEX listings, full on-chain migration.

• Future (2027+): Advanced AI integrations and ecosystem expansions.

Security, Scalability, and Sustainability

Enhanced privacy through local AI processing complements existing audits (Certik), anti-Sybil measures (Privy), and E2EE messaging. Solana and Dragonfire infrastructure ensure high performance; a virtual-to-real CPRO strategy supports seamless feature rollouts.

Conclusion

Cryptonite’s technology stack—integrating Solana blockchain, Privy wallets, XMTP messaging, Dragonfire infrastructure, server-side AI tools, and on-device Personal AI Search powered by local LLMs—delivers unmatched privacy, incentives, and utility. This positions Cryptonite as the trusted, sovereign Web3 network for professionals, where members fully control their data, interactions, and personal AI.

As a CPRO pre-sale participant, you invest in a platform with proven traction (500,000+ subscribers) and massive growth potential. Join the Cryptonite Originals and shape the future of innovation networking.

For more information on Pre-Sale

For more details on tokenomics, higher-level business model, or the pre-sale, visit the post here or contact us @ theeditor@cryptoniteventures.com

Cryptonite Ventures Disclaimer

CPRO is a utility token for internal network use. Listings are subject to regulatory and market conditions. This overview is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.

Addendum 1: Evaluation of Solana as the CPRO blockchain foundation

As part of our ongoing commitment to building a robust, scalable, and user-friendly decentralized social network, we have evaluated various blockchain options for the Cryptonite PRO (CPRO) utility token. This addendum focuses on Solana—a high-throughput Layer 1 blockchain—as a strong foundation that aligns with our hybrid approach: native SPL issuance for speed and efficiency, combined with optional Base wrapping for EVM interoperability. The analysis is based on data as of December 2025, highlighting Solana’s growth and suitability for our non-DeFi utility token.

Solana, launched in 2020, is a monolithic Layer 1 blockchain optimized for speed and scalability, using Proof-of-History (PoH) consensus combined with Proof-of-Stake (PoS). It processes transactions in parallel across a global network of validators. As of December 2025, Solana has achieved significant maturity, with approximately $15B in Total Value Locked (TVL), around 2.5 million daily active users, and over 100 million daily transactions—driven by upgrades like Firedancer for enhanced decentralization and memecoin/DeFi booms. This positions Solana as an ideal platform for CPRO, emphasizing raw performance, low costs, and retail adoption.

Architecture and Core Design

• Monolithic L1: Handles execution, settlement, and data availability in one layer; PoH timestamps transactions for efficient ordering, enabling parallel processing. Non-EVM (Rust-based), with SVM (Solana Virtual Machine) for smart contracts.

• Ecosystem Focus: High-frequency apps, including DeFi, NFTs, and social media; 2025 updates include Firedancer (an independent client for validator diversity) and ZK compression for cost reductions.

• Multi-Chain Bridging: Native to Solana; supports bridges to EVM chains like Base via third-party protocols (e.g., Wormhole, LayerZero). This enables wrapped CPRO tokens on Base for our hybrid model, blending Solana’s speed with EVM liquidity.

• Purpose: Retail and high-velocity scaling for dApps, memecoins, and social interactions, with an emphasis on global throughput—perfect for Cryptonite’s real-time features.

Performance and Scalability

• TPS: Up to 65,000 TPS (theoretical 1M+ with Firedancer; real-world averages 2,000-5,000 TPS post-2025 upgrades).

• Scalability: The standalone design avoids L2 dependencies, achieving sub-second finality (400ms blocks). 2025 congestion fixes ensure reliability.

• Limits: Historical outages have been mitigated; a high validator count (3,500+) supports a massive scale for CPRO’s social volume.

Transaction Costs

• Fees: $0.00001-$0.001 per transaction (ultra-low, even during peaks; 2025 averages ~$0.00025 due to optimizations). Bridging to EVM incurs minor cross-chain fees (~$0.01-$0.1).

• Advantage: Negligible costs for CPRO’s micro-rewards and tips, enhancing a frictionless user experience.

EVM Compatibility and Development

• EVM Support: Non-native (SVM/Rust), but tools like Neon EVM enable hybrid EVM apps. 100% compatible via bridges for wrapped tokens.

• Tools: Rust ecosystem + Solana-specific SDKs (e.g., Anchor framework). Supports EVM liquidity through wraps.

• Unique Feature: Instant confirmations for social UX, ideal for CPRO’s tipping and subscriptions.

Security and Decentralization

• Security: PoS with 3,500+ validators; economic penalties for downtime; 2025 Firedancer boosts fault tolerance. No major hacks since its 2022 upgrades.

• Decentralization: Highly distributed (45+ countries); avoids single points of failure better than early L2s.

• Risk: Past congestion; mitigated by 2025 client diversity. Bridge exploits are possible (audited protocols used).

Liquidity and Ecosystem Reach

• Liquidity: ~$15B TVL (2025), with strong stablecoin dominance; taps into $10B+ daily DEX volumes via Jupiter/Raydium. Growing social/DeFi (e.g., Pump.fun for launches).

• Ecosystem: 2.5M+ DAUs; vibrant for consumer utilities, with EVM bridges expanding reach. Strong for retail trading, aligning with Cryptonite’s freemium model.

• Unique Feature: Memecoin velocity and fiat ramps boost hype, with 200+ CEX listings for ecosystem tokens.

Suitability for Cryptonite PRO

• Fit: Excellent for CPRO—native SPL issuance ensures speed and low costs, while ultra-high TPS supports in-app/social interactions. Wrapped Base tokens via bridges enable our hybrid model without rewrites. Solana’s performance handles high-velocity needs effortlessly.

• Edge: Prioritizes speed over EVM defaults, with lower latency (400ms vs. 12s) than L2s. Compared to a standalone Base, it reduces dependency risks while offering higher throughput. 2025 goals (e.g., 1B+ daily txns) align with Cryptonite’s growth.

Pros of Solana for Cryptonite PRO

• Speed/Cost Excellence: Sub-second finality and near-zero fees optimize for real-time, high-volume interactions.

• Ecosystem Velocity: 2.5M+ DAUs and $10B+ volumes accelerate adoption for our social features.

• Hybrid-Friendly: Seamless EVM bridging for wrapped tokens enhances liquidity.

• Retail Appeal: Ideal for utility tokens targeting viral, consumer-driven users, with strong CEX potential.

Cons of Solana for Cryptonite PRO

• Non-EVM Native: A steeper developer curve (Rust vs. Solidity); bridging to EVM adds complexity.

• Volatility Echoes: Memecoin dominance can introduce noise, though it is mitigated for utilities.

• Growth Risks: Rapid expansion could lead to temporary bottlenecks, though 2025 metrics demonstrate stability.

Final Solana verdict

Solana represents a compelling high-throughput option for CPRO, delivering standalone speed and efficiency at minimal costs, with bridges enhancing EVM liquidity to support Cryptonite’s social and app-focused initiatives. It integrates seamlessly with our hybrid strategy (SPL issuance + Base wrapped tokens), minimizing complexity while maximizing performance for high-TPS, non-DeFi applications. This evaluation supports our roadmap for a secure and scalable platform, as outlined in the main Technology Review.

Addendum 2: Why Cryptonite’s virtual token strategy is uncommon and superior

This hybrid virtual-to-real token rollout is the optimal path for Cryptonite, as it de-risks the launch, accelerates adoption, and maximizes control. By starting fully off-chain, we eliminate smart contract vulnerabilities, regulatory exposure, and gas cost friction during the critical phase of user acquisition. We can onboard thousands with zero barriers, fine-tune reward mechanics using real behavioral data, and build sticky habits—all while simulating a native crypto experience. The capped 600 CPRO onboarding incentive drives viral growth without over-inflating supply. Finally, the 1:1 Solana migration ensures fairness, transparency, and instant credibility at TGE—turning (Token Generation Event) early adopters into long-term holders on a high-performance chain.

Key Superiorities

• Full-Off-Chain Simulation: Virtual CPRO in DB + Privy UI provides a zero-exploit surface. No audits are needed pre-launch, unlike on-chain betas that risk hacks or rug pulls.

• Wallet-Native UX from Day 1: Privy shows “CPRO Test” balance, building muscle memory for spending and fostering retention before the chain exists.

• Fiat Onramp → Instant Credit: Stripe → virtual CPRO lets retail users buy in without crypto barriers, expanding reach beyond Web3 natives.

• Capped Onboarding (600 CPRO): Structured earn paths prevent dump risks and incentivize genuine engagement, creating a sustainable economy from the start.

• Merkle-Proofed Snapshot: Enables transparent 1:1 migration—trustless handoff with no “rug” fears, verifiable by anyone.

• Zero-Cost Iteration: Adjust burns, rewards, and inflation in real-time based on data, stress-testing tokenomics in a live user sandbox before the TGE.

This isn’t just a launch strategy; it’s a battle-tested blueprint for sustainable token utility—like running a closed alpha of your economy at scale, with real money and real users, without touching a blockchain. It’s elite-tier product thinking: the Web2 polish of Robinhood’s gamified UX + the Web3 promise of fair launch—executed before the chain even exists. For Cryptonite, this isn’t just a presale; it’s a user retention engine, data flywheel, and regulatory shield—all in one. Most projects launch broken tokenomics and pray. We’re perfecting it in a sandbox, then flipping the switch to Solana.

Final Verdict

This unconventional approach sets Cryptonite apart, ensuring a seamless path from virtual simulation to real-world utility, poised for explosive growth.

Addendum 3: Anti-Sybil Architecture via Privy

Cryptonite implements a robust, decentralized anti-sybil framework powered by Privy’s embedded wallet and authentication system. This architecture ensures that every CPRO wallet is tied to a verified, unique human identity from the outset—preventing fake accounts, bot proliferation, and reward farming—while preserving full user sovereignty and upholding Web3 principles. By combining progressive onboarding, cryptographic proofs, and policy-driven access controls, Cryptonite achieves sybil resistance without relying on centralized bans or KYC walls.

Core Design: Verified Wallet Selection at Onboarding

Privy enables configurable wallet selection flows that gate account creation behind multi-layered identity verification:

Progressive Authentication

• Users authenticate via trusted OAuth providers (Google, Apple, X, Discord) or passkey/biometric logins before provisioning their wallet.

• Email/SMS one-time codes are rate-limited and monitored for anomalous patterns (e.g., burner domains, geolocation mismatches).

• Optional zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) integration via Privy’s SDK allows apps to enforce human uniqueness (e.g., one wallet per real person) without collecting PII.

Conditional Wallet Provisioning

• Embedded self-custodial wallets (EOA or smart accounts) are auto-generated only after verification passes.

• Configurable via Privy’s createOnLogin: ‘users-without-wallets’ policy—unverified sessions are denied wallet access.

• External wallet connections (Phantom, MetaMask) require the same auth gate, ensuring consistency across entry points.

Hybrid Onboarding Path

• Non-crypto users: Social/email login → embedded wallet → instant virtual CPRO access.

• Crypto natives: Connect existing wallet → verify identity → link to Cryptonite ID.

This design blocks mass fake creation at the source—bots cannot bypass OAuth or ZKP checks.

Policy Enforcement and Slashing Mechanisms

Cryptonite enforces decentralized reputation and economic penalties directly through the app layer, integrated with Privy’s session and policy APIs:

Pre-Activation Rules

• New wallets may be required to stake a small amount of virtual CPRO or complete onboarding tasks (e.g., profile and vouch) before gaining full access.

• AI-driven risk scoring (via Grok/Perplexity) flags suspicious behavior (e.g., rapid multi-account logins from the same IP).

Post-Detection Response

Confirmed fake accounts (via community reports, DAO votes, or oracle signals) trigger:

• Client-side session revocation: Privy disconnects the wallet; UI hides content and disables spending.

• Stake slashing: Any bonded CPRO is burned or redistributed to reward pools.

• Access filtering: On-chain data remains immutable, but app enforces visibility rules (e.g., posts hidden from feeds).

• All actions are programmable via account abstraction (ERC-4337 compatible) or Solana program instructions after the TGE.

Multi-Wallet Management

• Users can link multiple wallets, but only one primary wallet receives rewards and PRO benefits.

• Revocation of compromised or fake-linked wallets is instant via Privy’s key management dashboard.

Security and Decentralized Integrity

• Self-Custodial by Default:

  • Private keys are sharded and secured in device TEEs (Trusted Execution Environments)—never exposed to Cryptonite servers.

  • Recovery via social guardians or encrypted backups, not centralized custodians.

• No Central Database of Identities:

  • Verification signals are transient; long-term identity lives on-chain (e.g., via SBTs or reputation NFTs post-TGE).

  • Policy logic migrates to Solana programs at public launch for full trustlessness.

• Auditability:

  • All provisioning and slashing events are logged off-chain during the virtual phase, then published via Merkle root at TGE.

  • Post-migration: All anti-sybil actions are on-chain, verifiable, and governed by CPRO token holders.

Performance and Scalability

• Proven at Scale:

  • Privy powers 1,500+ dApps with 75M+ embedded wallets and 99.99% uptime across Ethereum, Solana, and Base.

  • Real-world sybil reduction: 90%+ decrease in fake accounts in social dApps using similar gated flows (per Privy 2025 benchmarks).

• Gasless Enforcement:

  • Pre-TGE: All controls are server-side (zero cost).

  • Post-TGE: Bundlers (e.g., Biconomy, Solana Pay) sponsor verification transactions to ensure a seamless user experience.

Final Verdict on Privy

Privy’s wallet selection and authentication system is the cornerstone of Cryptonite’s anti-sybil architecture. It delivers Web2-grade usability with Web3-grade security, ensuring that every CPRO earned, spent, or staked belongs to a real, engaged user. This isn’t just bot prevention—it’s the foundation of a fair, merit-based economy where expertise and contribution define influence.

By combining identity gating, economic penalties, and seamless migration to on-chain governance, Cryptonite eliminates fake accounts at scale—without compromising privacy, sovereignty, or growth. This positions us not just as a social network, but as the most sybil-resistant professional ecosystem in Web3.

Addendum 4: XMTP messaging system

Cryptonite’s decentralized messaging system, powered by XMTP (Extensible Message Transport Protocol) and seamlessly integrated with the CPRO-branded Privy Wallet, forms a privacy-first, token-aligned communication layer for our global network of innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors. Built for scalability, security, and economic utility, this system transforms every conversation into an opportunity for collaboration, reward, and value creation—without compromising user control or decentralization.

The messaging system is engineered to:

1. Unify Identity & Economy: Link every message, tip, and subscription to the user’s CPRO wallet address.

2. Guarantee Privacy: Deliver true end-to-end encryption (E2EE) with no central message storage.

3. Drive Engagement via CPRO: Enable micro-rewards, paid consultations, and gated communities using virtual (pre-TGE) and real (post-TGE) CPRO.

4. Lower Barriers: Leverage Privy’s Web2-style onboarding to make wallet-based messaging accessible to non-crypto users.

5. Scale Globally: Support 520,000+ members at launch and millions post-TGE, with full interoperability across Web3 ecosystems.

Automatic Wallet-to-Messaging Binding

• On Signup: Every user receives a CPRO-branded Privy embedded wallet (Solana-native SPL address).

• XMTP Identity: The wallet’s public key is instantly registered as the user’s XMTP identity—no separate setup required.

• App Experience: A “Messages” tab appears in the Cryptonite UI (mobile/web), pre-populated with the user’s wallet-linked inbox.

Message Types and Access Controls

CPRO-Powered Interactions (Virtual → Real)

• Pre-TGE (Virtual CPRO):

  • All tips, subscriptions, and access fees are processed off-chain in the backend database.

  • Privy UI reflects real-time virtual CPRO balance and transaction history.

  • Merkle-proofed logs ensure 1:1 migration fairness.

• Post-TGE (Real SPL CPRO):

  • Transactions execute on Solana via Privy’s native integration (<400ms, ~$0.0001 fee).

  • Tipping: 1-click “Send 5 CPRO” in chat → signed via embedded wallet.

  • Subscriptions: Auto-renewal via Solana Pay or Token Program vesting.

Privacy and Security Model

• E2EE by Default: Messages encrypted client-side using XMTP’s Curve25519 + AES-256-GCM standard.

• No Central Storage: Messages live only on user devices and XMTP’s decentralized node network.

• Pseudonymous by Design: ChWallet addresses serve as identifiers; optional username mapping via on-chain registry.

• User Controls:

  • Block/allow messaging by wallet, vouch status, or PRO tier.

  • “Stealth Mode”: Hide profile from non-connections.

  • Exportable message history (encrypted backup).

Technical Implementation

Privy Wallet Advantages

CPRO Wallet branded UI across messaging, payments, and profile.

• Web2 Onboarding: Email/SMS login → instant wallet + messaging access.

• Solana-Native: Full SPL token support with sub-second confirmations.

• Non-Custodial: Keys secured via device TEE; recovery via social guardians.

• Deferred Compliance: KYC only triggered on external transfers.

XMTP Protocol Advantages

• True Decentralization: No single point of failure or data custody.

• Cross-dApp Compatibility: Users can message from Lens, Farcaster, or future partners.

• Lightweight & Fast: <100ms message delivery; supports 10K+ concurrent group members.

• Open Source & Audited: Community-maintained, battle-tested in production dApps.

User Journey: From Signup to Paid Consultation

Scalability and Roadmap Alignment

PhaseMessaging MilestoneCPRO StateV0.5 (Dec 2025)1:1 chats, tipping, group invitesVirtual CPRO (off-chain)V1 (Apr 2026)Wizard bookings, subscriptions, notificationsVirtual → Real migration prepPublic Launch (Q3 2026)Full on-chain payments, cross-dApp messagingReal SPL CPRO on Solana2027+NFT-gated chats, DAO-governed channelsInteroperable with Base-wrapped CPRO

Final messaging verdict

The Cryptonite Messaging System, built on XMTP and tightly integrated with the CPRO-branded Privy Wallet, is not just a chat feature—it’s a decentralized collaboration engine. It turns every message into a potential partnership, every tip into aligned incentives, and every expert consultation into measurable value.

By combining E2EE privacy, instant wallet binding, and CPRO-powered economics, we deliver a messaging experience that is:

• As easy as WhatsApp for mainstream users,

• As secure as Signal for privacy advocates,

• As powerful as Slack + Stripe for professional monetization.

This system scales with our 520,000+ community, migrates seamlessly from virtual to real CPRO, and positions Cryptonite as the professional communication layer of Web3.

For more information on Pre-Sale

For more details on tokenomics, higher-level business model, or the pre-sale, visit the post here or contact us @ theeditor@cryptoniteventures.com

Cryptonite Ventures Disclaimer

CPRO is a utility token for internal network use. Listings are subject to regulatory and market conditions. This overview is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.

Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Cryptonite PRO (CPRO) Token Terms and Conditions

These terms govern the access, acquisition, and use of CPRO tokens through the Cryptonite social media network (“Cryptonite”).

CPRO Tokenomics: Building Long-Term Value
The Cryptonite PRO (CPRO) token is a utility token on the high-performance Solana blockchain, engineered to align incentives and build lasting wealth for our global Silicon Valley innovator community.

‘The CPRO market cap will ultimately quantify the value of being a member of the rapidly growing and global Cryptonite innovator community.’
— Tony Perkins, founder, Cryptonite

CPRO’s tokenomics are engineered to supercharge long-term scarcity by extending vesting on the CPRO Growth Fund and Treasury/Rewards pool—over 60% of total supply—to daily linear releases over 12 years. This timing gives our network the ramp to scale organically to millions of active members, thousands of Cryptonite Wizards and Tribes, and deliver an increasingly powerful and essential CPRO utility.

This strategy is reinforced by multi-year vesting schedules that align founders, partners, and stakeholders; a dedicated CPRO Growth Fund investing in ecosystem expansion; a robust liquidity pool paired with SOL/USDC; and a dual deflationary program.

This ultra-aligned structure minimizes early selling pressure, ties value accrual directly to real adoption and utility growth, and positions CPRO as a truly deflationary, holder-first token built for decades of lasting wealth creation, not cycles.

CPRO Distribution & Vesting
The total CPRO mint is 21 billion tokens. The table below details the precise allocations, percentages, vesting schedules, and other key data:

• Founders & Equity Partners: 3,000,000,000 CPRO (14.3%), 48-months weekly linear vesting starting at TGE. Unlocked at Public Offering. No Cliff.

• Advisors & Strategic Partners: 1,000,000,000 CPRO (4.8%), 24-month weekly linear vesting starting at TGE. Unlocked at Public Offering. No Cliff.

• CPRO Growth Fund: 8,000,000,000 CPRO (38.1%), 12-year weekly linear vesting starting at TGE. Unlocked at Public Offering. No Cliff.

• Treasury/Member Rewards Program: 4,750,000,000 CPRO (22.6%), 12-year weekly linear vesting starting at TGE. Unlocked at Public Offering. No Cliff.

• Marketing & Distribution Partners: 1,330,000,000 CPRO (6.3%), Unlocked and Liquid at Public Offering. No Cliff.

• CPRO/SOL Liquidity Pool: 420,000,000 CPRO (2.0%), Unlocked and Liquid at Public Offering (Before Public Sale/$.03 Presale Launch). No Cliff.

• Pre-sale @ $0.01 (Ongoing thru V.05 launch): 10,000,000 CPRO (0.0%), Unlocked and Liquid at Public Offering. No Cliff.

• Pre-sale @ $0.02 (V.05 launch date thru V1 launch date): 260,000,000 CPRO (1.2%), Unlocked and Liquid at Public Offering (Before V.05/$.02 Presale Launch). No Cliff.

• Pre-sale @ $0.025 (V1 launch date thru TGE): 500,000,000 CPRO (2.4%), Unlocked and Liquid at Public Offering (Before V1/$.025 Presale Launch). No Cliff.

• Public Sale @ $0.03 (est. between June and Oct, 2026): 1,730,000,000 CPRO (8.2%), Unlocked and Liquid at Public Offering (Before Public Sale/$.03 Presale Launch). No Cliff.

Total CPRO Mint Supply & FDV: 21,000,000,000 CPRO (100.0%), FDV $630,000,000 @ $0.03.
Initial CPRO Circulating Supply: 4,250,000,000 CPRO (20.2%), $127,500,000 @ $0.03.
Total CPROs Not Circulating: 16,750,000,000 CPRO (79.8%), $502,500,000 @ $0.03.

Key Definitions

• TGE = Token Generation Event (date CPRO is minted).

• Unlocked = All CPROs are locked in member CPRO wallets and usable in the app, but can be transferred to an outside wallet or exchange upon unlock at public offering (subject to vesting where applicable).

• CPRO/SOL Liquidity Pool = official decentralized liquidity pool for CPRO trading against SOL on Raydium. Initial liquidity provided at TGE using pre-sale proceeds portion + allocated pool CPRO. LP tokens fully burned to ensure non-controlled, community-driven pool.

Capped Supply for Broader CPRO Adoption & Velocity
Total mint: 21 billion tokens (scaled from Bitcoin’s 21 million cap). This keeps the price under $1 long-term, enabling easy, high-frequency rewards and broad holder distribution without friction.

Founders, Advisors, and Strategic Partners
Cryptonite Ventures collaborates with over 60 seasoned entrepreneurs, investors, early token holders, industry experts, and technology partners.

CPRO Growth Fund—A Long-Term Ecosystem Accelerator
The CPRO Growth Fund is a dedicated, evergreen venture capital and crypto investment fund designed to fuel CPRO ecosystem expansion through strategic investments focused exclusively on Cryptonite 300/Companies to Watch selections, select seed-stage co-investments, and emerging professional networks integrating CPRO. The 12-year vesting materially reduces near-term circulating supply, supporting stability and value appreciation with adoption.

Treasury/Member Rewards Program
The Treasury/Member Rewards pool vests linearly over 12 years for sustainable distribution and alignment. Cryptonite offers:

• New Member Onboarding Rewards — Up to $12 in CPRO (max 400 CPRO) for new members starting V0.5.

• 80/20 Rule for Top Contributors — 20% of weekly CPRO inflows from paid memberships rewarded to top 20% most active members starting V1.

• Member Referral Rewards — $0.30 (max 10 CPRO) for free sign-ups; $1.20 (max 40 CPRO) for paid referrals.

CPRO/SOL Liquidity Pool: Robust Liquidity & Security
Conservative allocation for strong initial liquidity at TGE on Raydium. 70% of LP tokens burned immediately; 30% time-locked 12 months—largely permissionless and community-driven.

Built-In Deflationary Mechanics
Every CPRO reward transfer incurs a 0.2% fee burned via Solana smart contract, decreasing supply over time alongside the 12-year Growth Fund lockup.

Transparent CPRO Token Management System
Uses Streamflow for automated vesting/streaming and Squads for multisig treasury control—immutable, auditable, professional-grade.

CPRO Exchange & Liquidity Strategy
Phased DEX-first launch on Raydium (primary liquidity) with Jupiter aggregation, followed by compliant CEX listings (Kraken, Gemini, Crypto.com, etc.) as volume and compliance allow.

CPRO Road Map

• Ongoing through V.05 dApp launch: Exclusive $0.01 pre-sale for Cryptonite Originals.

• Q2 2026: $0.02 pre-sale; V1 dApp launch.

• Q3 2026 (est. June–Oct): Public sale/launch @ $0.03 on DEXs (Raydium, etc.).

• 2027+: Progressive CEX listings.

1. Nature of the CPRO Token
CPRO is a limited-function utility token minted on the Solana blockchain with a total supply of 21 billion tokens. It allows verified members to unlock access to tools and services, reward peers, engage in a token-based reputation system, subscribe to Wizards (with discounted pricing for CPRO holders), and message Wizards and other professionals via the encrypted Cryptonite Rapper system. CPRO is designed to align the Cryptonite community by tokenizing expertise and influence, enabling members to buy, sell, trade, and reward contributions. It serves as the exclusive payment method for Wizard subscriptions and offers discounts on all Cryptonite products and services when paid with CPRO. CPRO is neither an investment, a share of ownership, nor a governance instrument. It carries no entitlement to profits, equity, or dividends in Cryptonite Ventures or any affiliates. Pursuant to the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act (2025), CPRO holds ‘digital commodity’ status on the Solana blockchain, shifting oversight to the CFTC.

2. Access and Purchase Restrictions
Only registered Cryptonite users may earn or purchase CPRO tokens. Onboarding includes issuing a platform wallet via Privy. Users may earn CPRO through engagement (e.g., up to $12 worth for the first 21 million registrants, who also receive a ‘Cryptonite Original’ NFT merit badge; daily bonuses for the top 20% most active members based on the 80/20 rule, prorated from 20% of daily CPRO inflows from subscriptions and services), or receive rewards for polls, ratings, and promotions. During the pre-sale phase:

• Ongoing through V0.5 launch at $0.01 per token

• From V0.5 launch date through V1 launch date at $0.02 per token

• From V1 launch date through TGE at $0.025 per token

Purchases are capped at $10,000 USD (or its equivalent in cryptocurrency) per user during pre-sale. Pre-sale tokens become liquid at TGE/public offering, subject to applicable vesting. Circumventing this cap through duplicate accounts or delegation will result in suspension or loss of tokens. Cryptonite reserves the right to monitor unusual patterns and enforce penalties for violations. Public sale tokens (at $0.03 per token, estimated between June and October 2026) are unlocked and liquid at public offering. In certain jurisdictions, purchases may be limited to accredited investors as defined by applicable securities laws (e.g., under the U.S. Howey Test). However, no general investor accreditation, minimum income, or net worth threshold is required for participation. Refunds may be issued in the original payment currency (minus fees) if: (i) the public offering does not occur by December 31, 2026; (ii) material project milestones (e.g., V1 launch by April 15, 2026) are not met; or (iii) at Cryptonite’s discretion for compliance violations. Refunds are not guaranteed post-public offering. Extensions or delays to timelines will be communicated via in-platform notices or email.

3. Token Transfer Restrictions
Until enabled by future regulatory-compliant listings, CPRO tokens may not be transferred to external wallets. CPRO remains locked in-platform through Solana smart contracts. Transfers will only be activated upon meeting legal, technical, and compliance criteria, which are planned to occur after the last pre-sale expires and following the public offering (targeted for an initial DEX launch in October 2026).

4. KYC/AML Compliance
KYC/AML is not needed on registration. It becomes mandatory when a user:

• Attempts to transfer or sell CPRO externally

• Participates in a liquidity event or public sale

• Engages in transactions exceeding defined risk thresholds

• Is located in high-risk or sanctioned jurisdictions

Verification includes government ID, sanctions screening, and address confirmation (e.g., via Sumsub). Any verified user — including students or creators who earn tokens via platform activity — may withdraw CPRO if they pass identity verification and are not from a restricted region. All KYC data is encrypted and only shared with compliance partners or regulators when required. All personal data collected for KYC/AML is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy (available at cryptonite.com/privacy), encrypted, and retained only as required by law. Data is not sold and is deleted upon request, where permissible.

5. Jurisdictional Restrictions
Token use is restricted in sanctioned geographies and may be adjusted based on evolving regulatory interpretation (e.g., SEC or FinCEN guidance, Colorado Digital Token Act). Geo-blocking is enforced to limit use in prohibited regions. Users in eligible regions, including the US (subject to state-specific compliance requirements), can participate without any additional restrictions beyond those outlined.

6. Smart Contract & Custody Risk
Smart contracts on Solana govern CPRO distribution, vesting (e.g., 48-month weekly vesting for Founders/Equity Partners starting at TGE/public offering; 24-month weekly vesting for Advisors/Strategic Partners starting at TGE/public offering; 12-year weekly vesting for Growth Fund and Treasury/Member Rewards Program starting at TGE/public offering; unlocked and liquid for Marketing/Distribution Partners, Liquidity Pool, pre-sales, and public sale at public offering; no cliff for any vested portions), and transferability. These contracts undergo security audits (e.g., an initial Certik audit is expected to be completed by September 30, 2025, prior to the public offering; ongoing annual audits are scheduled to start on January 1, 2026). However, there’s no warranty against future bugs or exploits. Cryptonite is not liable for user error or key compromise. Cryptonite is not liable for delays or failures due to force majeure events, including but not limited to cyberattacks, regulatory actions, or natural disasters, provided that reasonable efforts are made to mitigate them.

7. No Financial Advice or Guarantees
Participation in the Cryptonite platform or holding tokens should not be interpreted as investment advice. No claim is made that token value will appreciate, nor is liquidity guaranteed. Initial circulating supply at launch is approximately 4.25 billion CPRO (20.2% of total mint), with the remainder non-circulating until vested/unlocked. Users are solely responsible for any tax liabilities arising from acquiring, holding, or transferring CPRO. Cryptonite provides no tax advice; consult a qualified professional.

8. Public Listing Policy
Cryptonite plans a phased listing strategy for CPRO, starting with DEXs for organic traction, escalating to compliant CEXs. This is based on current data for Solana-compatible exchanges with high trading volumes, low fees, US accessibility (where applicable), and support for Solana tokens. Prioritized platforms include:

• Initial DEX Launch (est. October 2026): Raydium (primary), Jupiter (aggregator), Meteora, Orca. Provide 10–20% supply liquidity paired with SOL/USDC; integrate with Jupiter for aggregation. Target $10M+ TVL, >$1M daily volume via airdrops/incentives.

• Mid-Tier CEX Listings (Q2–Q3 2027): Gemini, Crypto.com, Kraken.

• Major CEX Expansion (Q4 2027+): Binance.US, Coinbase, etc.

Listings depend on legal readiness, exchange evaluation (e.g., fees, audits, community metrics), and platform maturity. External transfers will only become possible — and KYC will be mandatory — once the standards are met.

9. Token Allocation and Vesting Overview
See the detailed distribution & vesting table above. Shorter vesting periods for some categories (e.g., unlocked at public offering for pre-sales, public sale, marketing, liquidity) are designed to accelerate ecosystem growth, while the extended 12-year vesting period of the Growth Fund (38.1%) and Treasury/Member Rewards (22.6%) ensures long-term alignment and mitigates centralization risks. Proceeds from pre-sale and public sales will be used as follows: 40% for platform development and operations, 30% for marketing and community growth, 20% to seed the Liquidity Pool, and 10% to fund the CPRO Growth Fund for ecosystem investments (as detailed in the published fund charter). Annual audits will be conducted, and the results will be shared publicly for transparency.

10. Risks
Purchasing, holding, or using CPRO involves significant risks, including but not limited to: volatility in token value, potential regulatory changes affecting utility or transferability, smart contract vulnerabilities, market adoption risks, liquidity risks, and technological failures on the Solana blockchain. Cryptonite makes no representations or warranties regarding future performance, value, or utility of CPRO. Participants acknowledge and accept these risks.

11. Changes and Amendments
Cryptonite Ventures reserves the right to revise these terms as necessary to address changes in legal or operational needs. Critical updates will be announced publicly or delivered in-platform. Cryptonite will provide quarterly updates on progress to pre-sale participants via email or in-platform announcements, without making value predictions. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, USA, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any disputes arising hereunder shall be resolved in the courts of Delaware.

12. Dispute Resolution
Any disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration under AAA rules in Delaware, with each party bearing its own costs unless otherwise awarded. This promotes efficient resolution without waiving class action rights.

13. Representations and Warranties
By participating, you represent that you are eligible under these terms, are not a prohibited person (e.g., sanctioned entities), and understand the risks. Cryptonite represents that the disclosures in these terms are accurate as of the effective date and that tokens will be distributed in accordance with the allocation and vesting overview.

14. Acceptance of Terms
By acquiring, holding, or using CPRO tokens, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted these terms in full.

Read more

The global Silicon Valley’s best and brightest!

We are pleased to present the Cryptonite 300 Top Company list for 2025, featuring the most innovative private companies in AI, blockchain, crypto, robotics, autonomous vehicles, drones, and other key Web3 sectors worldwide.

When Perplexity AI's search and Chat GPT first emerged at the end of 2022, AI had fin…

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The future of search isn’t Google — and it’s $10 a month

Google has felt like a product in decline for a long time. Kagi offers a new, better vision for search, but the only way it works is if you’re willing to pay.

I don’t remember when I started using Google. Google just… is. It’s the verb for internet search,…

Read more

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Introducing Cryptonite Live!

Cryptonite Live! (CL!) is the original video production arm of the Cryptonite brand. Currently, Cryptonite Live! is producing two regular weekly programs.

Cryptonite Live! with Anthony Perkins, where Cryptonite’s founder & editor host informed, engaging, and intimate conversations with well-known global Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, venture investors, and thought leaders.

The Entrepreneur’s Journey, where Cryptonite editors interview the founders of private Web3 companies from the AI, blockchain, crypto, VR/AR/Metaverse, robotics, devices, and vehicles, regenerative science, and green tech industries,

The Cryptonite brand is owned and operated by Cryptonite Ventures, which is based in Silicon Valley, USA, and serves innovators worldwide.

Content publishing and distribution strategy

Cryptonite Live seeks to distribute its content live and in archived formats across the broadest possible selection of video platforms.

YouTube. CL!’s YouTube channel is the primary live content and archive video platform. Each show also will post up to three video clips per show as well.

Rumble. CL!’s Rumble channel also archives CL! content and clips.

LinkedIn. CL!’s content and clips are linked and promoted on Anthony Perkins’ LinkedIn account, which has 30,000 contacts and an additional 30,000 followers.

X (Twitter). CL!’s video clips are linked and promoted on Cryptonite’s Instagram account.

Instagram. CL!’s video clips are posted and promoted on Cryptonite’s Instagram account.

TikTok. CL!’s video clips are posted and promoted on Cryptonite’s Tiktok account.

Discord. CL! is researching this social media option, which is popular with a segment of our audience, particularly in the gaming area.

Cryptonite Weekly Rap (CWR). Every new CL! the program will be linked and promoted regularly and prominently in an edition of CWR edition, which currently reaches 520,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and supporting professionals.

The Innovator Marketplace

Demographically, Cryptonite viewers represent the most potent demographic on the planet in terms of thought leadership and personal and professional buying power and influence.

Clever entrepreneurs leverage innovation to upend industries, transform culture, regenerate our planet, and create new wealth for all.

Risk investors funding entrepreneurs across all innovation growth sectors. Early developers and adopters of AI, dApps/crypto, VR/AR, robotics, regenerative science, green energy, devices, and vehicles.

Early developers and adopters of AI, dApps/crypto, VR/AR, robotics, regenerative science, green energy, devices, and vehicles.

Thought leaders in technology, science, law, tokenomics, finance, entrepreneurial management, and accounting.

‘The Cryotonite Live! market represents the highest business and consumer purchasing power on the planet.’ —Anthony Perkins, Founder & Editor, Cryptonite Ventures

Economic model

Paid membership: Build the Cryptonite brand and drive new Cryptonite network paid memberships. (Note: We will not try to sell subscriptions to the actual podcasts).

The host promotes the product. You, the host, share and talk about the product or service in question. This option can be less intrusive or disturbing to the flow of your episode.

Cryptonite Live! sponsorships: Includes sponsor mentions at the beginning and end of programs and up to 30-second video ad interstitial ads within the program.

Podcast advertising networks partnership: Ad network partner prospects, including Midroll, can connect Cryptonite with potential brands and sponsors.

Syndicating show transcriptions to outside publishers: Edited transcriptions of each show using transcription services such as Riverside’s automated transcription function,

Syndicating your podcast to YouTube: Cryptonite will stream and archive our shows on our video platform and YouTube simultaneously as part of the YouTube Partner Program. The program also gives you access to other YouTube resources and features.

Audio podcast syndication: Using a tool like the Riverside.fm recording

The YouTube Partner Program makes it easy to make money from podcasting. However, bear in mind you have to satisfy specific eligibility requirements plus a minimum subscriber and viewer count to join the program. Publishing your podcast to YouTube effectively reaches a broader audience, some of whom may need to listen to podcasts on conventional listening platforms.

YouTube advertising revenue. Cryptonite earns a portion of the ad revenue generated for any displayed alongside, overlayed, or played before or during Cryptonite programming.

YouTube Premium Revenue. When YouTube Premium subscribers watch our content, Cryptonite earns a portion of their subscription fee.

Sell merchandise: High-quality and sustainable Cryptonite caps, shirts, fleece jackets, backpacks, and coffee mugs — made in the USA. (Patagonia as a partner?)

Rumble

How to Make Money on Rumble in 2023 ⚠️ (Must-Read Guide)
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How Do I Get More Traffic To My Channel On Rumble.Com? - Kivo Daily
Introduction Optimizing your channel is the best way to get more traffic on Rumble.com. How can you do that? The…www.kivodaily.com

The Cryptonite Live! Mission—24/7 global live program

There is a rising global citizen movement to take back our privacy, freedom, and individual dignity from centralized powers. The list of such powers is long and includes the CCP, Wall Street, Big Tech, legacy media, the top schools,’ Hollywood, central banks, and governmental agencies. To watch out for the little guy, the early founders of Bitcoin created a technology metaphor to radically diminish centralized power. Inspired by this spirit, a new generation of Web3 entrepreneurs and developers throughout the global Silicon Valley are building decentralized apps that will disrupt every industry. Increasingly, people will conduct business and transfer value more securely, privately, and peer-to-peer without central intermediaries charging their usurious fees.

We’ve launched the Cryptonite social network and the Cryptonite Live! video player to highlight news commentary and trends, top companies, growth stock and coins, entrepreneurial management, and other high-end and clever content that matches the needs of our global audience of innovators. Our goal is to leverage this content to create a dialogue between global innovators, risk investors, and thought leaders who are driving counter-revolution to take back power.

Demographically, Cryptonite viewers represent the most potent demographic on the planet in terms of thought leadership and personal and professional buying power and influence. Additionally, Cryptonite offers English and Spanish versions of its network and multi-lingual caption options.

Cryptonite Live! video Producer Partner Program (PPP)

While 99 percent of the Cryptonite social network content will come from our global membership, Cryptonite Live! programming will be produced and managed by the Cryptonite Ventures team. To reach our programming goals, this effort includes seeking a variety of high-IQ and clever 3rd-party programming that best matches the interests of our business and innovation-savvy viewers.

In addition to leveraging our video platform, Cryptonite simultaneously live streams and archives all our programming and that of our partner programmers on Cryptonite Live’s YouTube channel for broader distribution. We aim to create 24 hours of live network programming daily, seven days a week.

Pitch Cryptonite your live video programming ideas here.

First Cryptonite Live! program: Silicon Valley OGs featuring Anthony Perkins (TPerk) and Tim Draper (The Drape)

The first Cryptonite show to launch will be Silicon Valley OGs with Anthony Perkins and Tim Draper. This show’s focus will consist of interviews with cutting-edge Web3 founders, venture investors, and cutting-edge computer and natural scientists dedicated to the blockchain, crypto, AI/ML metaverse/VR technology, robotics, and sustainability sectors. The show will also host influential popular culture commentators, economists, historians, and other thought leaders.

The show seeks to achieve thoughtful, in-depth, and often very personal conversations with guests that Anthony and Tim can uniquely access as Silicon Valley OGs that resonate with our highly educated, technology-savvy, sophisticated audience.

Top 50 Target Guests

Roger Ver, Founder of Bitcoin Cash; George Gilder, futurist & author; Brad Garlinghouse, CEO, Ripple; Brad Stephens, Founder of Blockchain Capital; Joey Krug, Chief Investment Officer of Panter Capital; Shawn Douglass, Founder of Amberdata.io. Peter Thiel, Founder of PayPal & Palintir; Vinod Khosla, Founder of Khosla Ventures; Elon Musk, Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Brian Armstrong, Founder & CEO, Coinbase; Lachlan Murdoch, Vice Chairman, News Corporation

Crytonite Live! program sponsor targets

Deloitte, PwC, IBM, KPMG, Accenture, EY, Capgemini, Wipro, Infosys, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting, and Bain & Company.

Fidelity, BlackRock, Coinbase, Goldman Sachs, BNY Mellon, Mastercard, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan,

Finish setting up Cryptonite Live! video channel

1. Add Twitter link to https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCc9ktDtD69n2iJZszNOiF4w/editing/details

2. Add LIKE and Subscribe button

3. Create model espisode description with proper links — see example below.

2. Create Intro and outro video and Graphics

3. Update this video with the following graphics

4. Set up Cryptonite Live! Studio look and feel

The Look and Feel

Cryptonite Live! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc9ktDtD69n2iJZszNOiF4w

To Dos

• Figure out podcast software — Steamyard

• Add LIKE and Subscribe buttons

• Finish model episode description format

• Create a funny disclaimer a la Red Herring at the bottom of the YouTube description —add to CWP

• Example YouTube description:

The Huberman Lab Podcast

In this episode, I discuss the physiological effects that drinking alcohol has on the brain and body at different levels of consumption and over time. I also describe genetic differences that predispose certain individuals to alcoholism, binge and habit-drinking. I explain alcohol metabolism in simple terms and how it effectively acts as a poison, leading to cellular stress and damag…….

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

Levels: https://levels.link/huberman

Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/huberman

ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous

https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Social & Website

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab

Website: https://hubermanlab.com

Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network

Articles

Associations between alcohol consumption and gray and white matter volumes in the UK Biobank: https://go.nature.com/3PNFj7y

Gut Microbiota at the Intersection of Alcohol, Brain, and the Liver: https://bit.ly/3AaeF2F

Tolerance to alcohol: A critical yet understudied factor in alcohol addiction: https://bit.ly/3CmfCYo

Other Resources

Examine - Alcohol & Hangover: https://bit.ly/3QHYpx4

Timestamps

00:00:00 Effects of Alcohol Consumption

00:02:25 Momentous Supplements

00:03:19 Low to Moderate Alcohol Consumption & Neurodegeneration

Disclaimer

Create a funny disclaimer at bottom of YouTube description  la Red Herring—add to CWP

The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

• Check out The Economist YouTube channel

• Add Spanish subtitles.

• Use Apple Clips iPhone app to create thumbnail images

• Use iMovie to edit

• Set-Up RUMBLE (see below Rumble section)

How To Videos

The Studio Gear

• iPhone for camera

• UBeesize Selfie Stick Tripod, 62" Extendable Tripod Stand with Bluetooth Remotetri-pod

• Shure SM7B microphone

• NEEWER Ring Light Kit: 18"/48cm Outer 55W 5600K Dimmable LED Ring Light, Light Stand, Carrying Bag for Camera, Smartphone, YouTube, TikTok, Self Portrait

• Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface for the Guitarist, Vocalist, Podcaster or Producer — High-Fidelity, Studio Quality Recording, and All the Software You Need to Record

• Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator: https://currentprice.io/cloudlifter

• XLR Cable

• TRS Cable — Microphone

• USB C— USB C

• Rode PSA1+ Desk-mounted Broadcast Microphone Boom Arm

Russel Brand’s Gear:

• Microphone — Shure SM7B

• Microphone arm — Rode PSA1

• Headphones — Sony MDR 7506

• Headphones — BeyerDynamic DT-990 Pro

• Software — Adobe Audition

• Computer — Macbook Pro

Other Equipment Research:

Shure SM7B & Rode PSA1 (microphone arm)

Shure MV88+ Video Kit — Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone

UBeesize Selfie Stick Tripod, 62" Extendable Tripod Stand with Bluetooth Remotetri-pod

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer

UBeesize 10" Selfie Ring Light with 50" Extendable Tripod Stand & Phone Holder

NEEWER Ring Light Kit: 18"/48cm Outer 55W 5600K Dimmable LED Ring Light, Light Stand, Carrying Bag for Camera, Smartphone, YouTube, TikTok, Self Portrait

Camera — Canon 80D: https://amzn.to/2LFHKMS Lens — Sigma 18–35 f1.8: https://amzn.to/2Yh4tQX

Mic — Shure VP83 Lenshopper Shotgun Microphone: https://amzn.to/2JQzxTy

RODE Wireless Lavalier Microphones: https://bhpho.to/2YaJBec

RODE Smartphone Microphone: https://amzn.to/32OUQN1

Blue Yeti Microphone: https://amzn.to/2SCfPOo

Tripod — Manfrotto: https://amzn.to/310zZol

Vlog Camera — G7Xii : https://amzn.to/32Hw55c

Vlog Tripod — Joby Gorillapod: https://amzn.to/30X4Odr

Headphones:

—Sony MDR 7506

—Sennheiser HD280PRO

—BeyerDynamic DT-990 Pro

Headphone Amp (For in-studio guests)

—Berringer headphone amp

Editing Software:

—Final Cut Pro X: https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/

Computer

— Macbook Pro (RB)

Audio Recorder

— Tascam DR-100MKIII (JR)

Video Camera

— Canon VIXIA HF G50 4K30P Camcorder (JR)

Video Switcher (With in studio guests)

— BlackMagic ATEM Mini Pro (up to 4 cameras)

Note to Guests: Recommend remote guests to use AirPods as earphones

Set-Up RUMBLE

Dinesh D'Souza
Browse the most recent videos from channel "Dinesh D&#39;Souza" uploaded to Rumble.comrumble.com

\

Marketing YouTube Channel

Podcasts strategy

Web3-the latest Silicon Valley buzzword
Our podcast on science and technology is is making the news. This week we investigate the hype and potential of the…www.economist.com

Podcasting Market Size, Share, Trends & Growth Report, 2030
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Podcast Industry Report: Market Growth and Advertising Statistics in 2022
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Topic: Podcasting Industry
As awareness and usage have grown, so has consumption frequency. Data from a study conducted in early 2022 showed that…www.statista.com

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The 20 Popular Podcasts in America Right Now
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Top 100 US Podcasts (Apple Podcasts Top Charts) In 2023
Disclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you…www.podcastinsights.com

Optimizing YouTube Channel

1. Once your live stream is finished, you can end the stream, and it will be available for replay on your channel.

2. Make sure to read and follow YouTube’s guidelines for live streaming to avoid any violation.

Note: YouTube also provides a live streaming encoder software OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), that you can use to stream from your computer without a camera or from a professional video camera.

There are several ways to optimize your YouTube channel to build a large audience. Here are a few tips:

1. Create high-quality content: Your audience will be more likely to subscribe and watch more of your videos if they are high-quality and engaging.

2. Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags: Use keywords that people are searching for in your video titles, descriptions, and tags. This will help your videos show up in search results.

3. Create a consistent posting schedule: Posting videos on a regular schedule will help keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

4. Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and messages from your viewers, and ask for feedback to improve your content.

5. Promote your channel on other platforms: Share your videos on social media, embed them on your website, and ask friends and family to share them with their networks.

6. Collaborate with other YouTubers: Partnering with other YouTubers in your niche can help you reach a new audience and gain more subscribers.

7. Optimize video settings: Use video settings like end screens and annotations to promote your other videos and encourage people to subscribe.

8. Use YouTube’s analytics to track your progress and understand your audience.

Remember that building a large audience takes time and effort, so be patient and keep working on creating great content and promoting your channel.

16 ways to promote your YouTube channel for more views
There’s no better time than now to figure out how to promote your YouTube channel. Why “now,” though? For starters…sproutsocial.co

Some of the most popular ones include:

1. Joe Rogan: Joe Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” has a large and dedicated following. His podcast covers a wide variety of topics and features interviews with a wide range of guests.

2. PewDiePie: PewDiePie is a YouTube personality who is known for his gaming and vlogging content. His channel has over 110 million subscribers.

3. Shane Dawson: Shane Dawson is a YouTube personality, comedian, and podcaster. He has a large and engaged audience that follows his personal vlogs, documentaries, and podcast

4. Casey Neistat: Casey Neistat is a filmmaker and YouTuber; his podcast is mostly about his personal life and his journey as an entrepreneur and a content creator; his videos are very personal and relatable, which has helped him to build a large audience.

5. Jenna Marbles: Jenna Mourey, known by her pseudonym Jenna Marbles, is an American YouTuber, comedian, and actress. Her podcast is mostly based on her personal life, her vlogs, and her comedy sketches; Jenna Marbles has built a large audience by being relatable and funny.

Top Web3 YouTube podcasters

1. Anthony Pompliano: Anthony Pompliano is the host of “Off The Chain,” a podcast that covers blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. He regularly discusses Web3 topics and has a large following.

2. Laura Shin: Laura Shin is the host of “Unchained,” a podcast that covers blockchain and cryptocurrency. She regularly covers Web3 topics and has deep knowledge and expertise in the field.

3. Balaji Srinivasan: Balaji Srinivasan is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur; he is the host of “Srinivasan Venture Capital,” a podcast that covers a wide range of topics related to startups and technology, he also discusses web3 topics on his podcast and has a large following.

4. Ryan Selkis: Ryan Selkis is the host of “Two Minute Crypto,” a podcast that covers a wide range of topics related to blockchain and cryptocurrency; he also discusses web3 topics on his podcast.

5. Michael Casey: Michael Casey is a journalist and researcher; he is the host of “The Coin Podcast,” a podcast that covers a wide range of topics related to blockchain and cryptocurrency; he also discusses web3 topics on his podcast.

Check this out regarding all the ways to describe the content

Apps and Products | Fox News | Fox News
Watch Fox News Channel on all of your devices to keep up to date with the latest in news, politics, entertainment and…www.foxnews.com

How to Promote Your YouTube Channel: 30 Tactics That Work

If your goal is to make money on YouTube, hitting subscriber milestones is critical. For instance, you need at least 1,000 subscribers to become a YouTube Partner and start earning ad revenue. The more subscribers you have, the higher you will rise on YouTube’s “benefit level” ladder (think of awards, managers, and production aid, starting when you hit 100,000 subscribers).

What if you plan to use YouTube for branding and video marketing rather than to make money directly? You still need subscribers. They bump up your play counts, watch time, and engagement — all important signals to the YouTube algorithm.

Find out how to get people to click that Subscribe button and get free real YouTube subscribers using legitimate strategies to grow your channel.

You can also watch the video below to get our top 7 tips on how to grow your YouTube following:

Table of Contents

Why you shouldn’t buy YouTube subscribers

How to get more YouTube subscribers (for free): 15 tips

How to see your YouTube subscribers

Bonus: Download the free 30-day plan to grow your YouTube following fast, a daily workbook of challenges that will help you kickstart your Youtube channel growth and track your success. Get real results after one month.

Why you shouldn’t buy YouTube subscribers

Look, we understand the urge to buy YouTube subscribers. We’re not going to shame you about it.

But we are going to burst your bubble: it ain’t gonna work. The truth is that the video creators behind the world’s best YouTube channels aren’t spending their time or money on shady growth schemes. They’re too busy making awesome videos.

First, let’s look at how “free” YouTube subscriber services work. (While keeping in mind that nothing is really free. As the saying goes, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.)

You earn your “free” subscribers by subscribing to and liking other channels, as instructed by the service. Most ask you to subscribe to 20 channels and like a certain number of YouTube videos. In return, 10 channels will subscribe to yours.

Essentially, you’re hiring yourself out as a one-person clickfarm. It’s similar to the time we tried Instagram engagement pods.

The service hopes that you get bored of all this endless clicking after a few days and decide to pay for YouTube subscribers instead. Either way, the service wins: they either get your time or your money. Whether you get them through a free scheme or you pay for them, what do you get?

• Bot subscribers that don’t engage

• A bad look for your real audience, who are probably quite keen on authenticity

• The risk of running afoul of YouTube’s fake engagement policy(tl;dr: you could get banned)

• Potential stink-eye from any brands that might eventually want to partner with you

At the end of the day, it’s just not worth it.

There are a lot of clickbait videos out there that claim to tell you how to get 1,000 YouTube subscribers for free. Or even a million! Of course, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Clickbait videos rack up tons of views from people looking for some quick and easy secret to boosting their number of subscribers. But they’re just clickbait. They’re not real. Don’t waste your time, unless you just want a laugh.

The fact is, there is no workaround. You’ve got to put in the work. But there are some simple, real-world tactics you can use to start growing a legitimate YouTube following right away. Let’s dive in.

How to get more YouTube subscribers (for free): 15 tips

If you’re just starting out, take a look at our guide to creating a YouTube channel. You should have the basics of your channel in place before you dive into the tips below.

Here, in order from easiest to most complicated, are our best practices for converting viewers into subscribers. Don’t tackle them all at once. Try out one of these tips for each new video you post, or implement one or two a week.

1. Ask your viewers to subscribe

It doesn’t get much easier than this.

Sometimes your audience just needs to be reminded.

Does asking for the subscribe seem too salesy to you? It can be, if you ask too soon or too often. But a quick reminder to subscribe at the end of your video is just making it easier for fans to keep up with the work you do.

Remember to demonstrate why your channel is worth subscribing to. Make sure you ask for the subscription only after you’ve provided new and useful information, or you’ve made viewers laugh.

2. End your video by teasing what you’re working on next

Subscribing to a channel on YouTube is an act of anticipation. Viewers who’ve just seen what your brand is about are primed to want more if you’ve done your job right.

Hyping your next video, and making it clear why it’s not to be missed, is the most organic way to encourage people to tap subscribe.

Of course, this requires having a good handle on your YouTube content schedule, and knowing what’s coming next. (More on that soon.)

3. Verify your Google account

By default, all YouTube users can upload videos up to 15 minutes long. If you want to create content longer than that, you’ll need to verify your account.

Since longer videos give you more options for the kinds of content you can create, this is an important step for anyone who wants to build a professional channel.

To verify your account, go to www.youtube.com/verify on your computer (not a mobile device), and follow the instructions.

Once you verify your account, you can upload videos up to 256GB or 12 hours long.

4. Interact with your audience and make friends (a.k.a. build community)

If you form relationships with your viewers, they’re more likely to want to keep watching your work. Respond to comments. Follow their channels back.

Yes, it’s exciting if a famous YouTuber comments on your video, but who knows who’ll be famous next year. Form a community of peers and promote each other. (Yes, I’m talking about shine theory.)

Also, once you’re plugged in, your audience will provide you with plenty of free content ideas for your next video. Don’t worry, you don’t have to take all of them.

Manage your YouTube presence using Hootsuite and not only can you upload and schedule videos, you can also add comment streams to your dashboard. That makes it easy to review, reply, and/or moderate comments on all your videos from one place.

5. Create effective channel branding

Channel branding is an important way to let viewers know who you are and what they can expect from your channel.

Banner art

Your YouTube banner welcomes everyone who clicks into your channel. Maybe they just watched a video and are looking for more. Maybe they’re a potential subscriber.

Make sure they know where they are and why they should stick around.

Source: Laura Kampf

Your banner needs to be clean, on-brand, compelling, and — this is the fussy part — optimized for all devices. You don’t want important details covered up by your social media buttons, for instance.

We have a handy guide for creating your own YouTube channel art, along with free templates with the most up-to-date dimensions.

Channel icon

Your channel icon is essentially your logo on YouTube. It appears on your channel page and anywhere you comment on YouTube. Make sure it clearly represents you and your brand, and that it’s easy to recognize even at a small size.

Channel description

This text appears on the About page of your channel on YouTube. You have up to 1,000 characters to describe your channel and let viewers know why they should subscribe. We’ve got a full blog post on how to write effective YouTube descriptions to get you started.

Custom URL

Your default channel URL will look something like this: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMmt12UKW571UWtJAgWkWqgyk.

This is… not ideal. Fortunately, you can change it using a custom URL. In YouTube Studio, choose Customization in the left menu, then click Basic Info and scroll down to Channel URL. You can change your URL to something like this: https://www.youtube.com/c/HootsuiteLabs.

The catch is you need to get at least 100 subscribers before you can claim a custom URL. If you’re not there yet, put this on the top of your to-do list for when you hit that first subscriber milestone.

6. Add a custom channel trailer

YouTube’s customization settings allow you to make the most of the featured video space at the top of your channel page. You can choose to show one video to existing subscribers and something else to non-subscribed viewers.

Source: YouTube Studio

For non-subscribers, create a channel trailer that lets people know what they can expect from your channel and why they should subscribe. Here’s a great example from Bhavna’s Kitchen & Living:

And here’s how the video looks on her channel page:

Source: Bhavna’s Kitchen & Living

7. Brand your video thumbnails

A thumbnail is a 1280 x 720px still image that acts as a cover for your video. Think of it as a mini movie poster. It’s your first, best chance to persuade someone to click on your video. (Aside from your video titles, that is, but more on that later.)

We’re not talking about getting YouTube views today (we’ve got a different post for that), so why bring this up here? Because consistent, professional custom thumbnails are another component of your channel branding. They can help tell new viewers more about who you are as a video content creator.

Aim for consistent branding in all your thumbnails. Use the same font, the same color palette, or even the same frame composition so people know (at least subconsciously) that they’re looking at a video from your channel.

For example, take a quick peek at Jack Sturgess’s Bake with Jack YouTube channel. His consistent, compelling thumbnails show that his channel offers plenty of reasons for viewers to subscribe.

Source: Bake with Jack

8. Use YouTube’s clickable subscription tools in your videos

YouTube offers a couple of built-in clickable tools to help you convert video watchers to channel subscribers.

End screen

This is a still image at the end of your video where you can remind people to subscribe or insert another call to action before YouTube’s algorithm moves them on to the next video. You can add an end screen to any video during the upload process as long as the video is more than 25 seconds long.

You can also go back and add end screens to existing videos, which can be a great way to start converting subscribers right away from your existing content.

To add an end screen to an existing video, click Content in the left menu of Creator Studio, then select the video to which you want to add an end screen. Click the End screen box on the right side of the screen and add a Subscribe element to your video.

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Brand watermark

This is an extra subscribe button that will hover in the bottom right corner of your video. You can choose when during your videos the watermark appears.

To add the watermark, click Customization in the left menu of YouTube Studio, then select Branding. The watermark will now appear on all your videos.

9. Think in terms of playlists

Playlists are a great way to increase your YouTube channel’s watch time. Like a Netflix series, a YouTube playlist autoplays a set of videos in a set order. The viewer doesn’t have to actively click the next video — they just sit back and let the content keep coming.

Think of each playlist as its own mini-channel, or as an ongoing series. If someone watches a few videos in a row and enjoys them all, they’ve got plenty of reasons to subscribe for more.

Playlists appear, not surprisingly, in the Playlists tab of your channel.

You can also use playlists to…

10. Showcase your content strategically on your channel page

From the layout tab in YouTube Studio, you can add up to 12 sections to your channel homepage. This allows you to feature your best content right up front, so new visitors see your best creations as they think about whether to hit the Subscribe button.

You can also use sections to showcase the playlists you created in the last tip. Use playlists specifically targeted to various viewer needs to highlight right off the top the extensive value you provide.

For example, take a look at these playlist sections on the English with Lucy YouTube channel:

Source: English with Lucy

People likely land on her channel page after searching for English language learning tips. They can immediately see from her playlists that there’s plenty of information there if they want to learn about grammar or pronunciation.

If you’re not sure which sections to include on your channel page, try starting with Popular Uploads. This will automatically collect your top 12 videos with the highest number of YouTube views.

11. Run a contest

If you want a short-term bump in engagement, or just feel like you’ve been languishing in a subscriber count plateau, check out our guide to running a YouTube contest.

Key steps include choosing a prize that matters to your audience, and asking viewers to subscribe and turn on notifications to participate.

12. Release videos on a consistent schedule

Many experts confidently cite a rule of thumb as to how often creators should post video to their channels. For instance: one video a week to start, increasing to 3–4 week as your channel grows.

The theory is that more videos = more watch time from viewers. But prioritizing quantity over quality has drawbacks.

If your goal is to convert viewers to subscribers, you need to focus on quality first, and consistency next. (Then you can start worrying about quantity.)

If you upload videos consistently, then people know that more good content is coming, and they’re more likely to tap subscribe.

You can also use a social media management platform like Hootsuite to schedule your videos on YouTube for publishing later.

13. Entice your audience over from other social media channels

This means cross-promoting on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook — wherever you have an existing community of fans established. This can be as simple as encouraging people to check out your YouTube channel in your Instagram or Twitter bio.

Posting a teaser of your latest video is another great way to draw people to your YouTube channel from other social accounts. Instagram Stories are ideally suited to this since you can offer a trailer or teaser of your video and point people there with a simple Swipe Up link.

Connecting this to the previous tip: If you tease videos on a regular schedule, people will start to anticipate your content. Once they’re anticipating your work, they’re primed to subscribe.

Alexandra Gater is a home decor and DIY YouTuber who uses Instagram Stories really effectively to tease her YouTube videos, which she releases every Saturday. After swiping up a few times, viewers are more likely to hit Subscribe so her content can become a regular part of their weekend plans.

Here’s a teaser on Instagram Stories:

Source: Alexandra Gater on Instagram

And here’s the video on YouTube.

Pro tip: a social media scheduling tool like Hootsuite makes cross-promoting much easier. And we have a full guide to creating a social media content calendar.

Do your keyword research for titles, descriptions, and hashtags

Understanding YouTube SEO and knowing which keywords related to your subject matter people are looking up on YouTube will help you title your new videos and choose the right hashtags. But it might also lend inspiration for your next video topic.

For example, if you have a YouTube channel about making kombucha at home, some preliminary keyword research might reveal YouTube viewers are interested in how to choose the right brewing vessel, how to clean your brewing vessel, or how to perform second fermentation. These topics could all be their own videos.

SEO (search engine optimization) tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you identify the words and phrases people are using to find the information you’re providing. Your goal is to find topics in a sweet spot: lower competition scores, but higher search volume.

This lets you avoid making videos that no one is searching for. Or videos with titles no one can find.

Also, it’ll help you avoid creating content on a topic that’s already highly competitive before you’re ready.

If you have no idea where to start with your keyword research, think about what kinds of search phrases you would use to search for content within your industry.

For example, Adriene Mishler of Yoga with Adriene has an extensive back catalog of videos starting with the words “yoga for…”

Source: Yoga with Adriene

This is exactly the kind of language people are likely to use when searching for home yoga videos. And as Adriene told The Guardian last spring, keyword research and SEO terms sometimes guide the videos she creates.

Once you start to build your channel, you can use YouTube Analytics to see which keywords are working to bring people to your videos. Look for trends that might guide the content you create in the future.

To access this information, click Analytics in the left menu of YouTube Studio. Click Traffic Source in the top menu, then click YouTube Search to see a list of the top searches driving viewers your way.

Source: YouTube Analytics

You can go back into the descriptions of older videos to add new keywords and hashtags and increase your discoverability in YouTube search results at any time.

Collaborate with other creators

This goes all the way back to Tip #4: Build community. Use your connections to find other YouTube creators to collaborate with so you can leverage each other’s audiences. After all, your audience trusts your recommendations, and their audiences trust theirs.

Once you start to build an audience, you might find that your followers suggest potential collaborations. Until then, explore YouTube yourself to look for potential collaborators in your field. If you find someone who looks promising, reach out.

How to see your YouTube subscribers

You can check your list of YouTube subscribers from your channel dashboard. Here’s where to find a full subscriber list:

1. In YouTube Studio, go to your channel dashboard and scroll down to the Recent Subscribers card. Click SEE ALL.

Source: YouTube Studio

2. In the top right corner of the pop-up window, choose Lifetimefrom the dropdown menu.

Source: YouTube Studio

You can now click through your list of subscribers. You can choose to sort by subscriber count if you want to see the most subscribed YouTubers following you first.

If you only want to check on new subscribers, you can choose to see a list of people who have subscribed in the last 7, 28, 90, or 365 days.

Note that the list only includes users who have made their subscriptions public.

5 ways to promote YouTube channel through TikTok

Today, video marketing has become one of the bestselling business strategies. There are many video streaming platforms on the internet trying to grab the attention of the audience. However, one of the best video streaming platforms that stands out from the rest is YouTube. People use YouTube to watch entertaining and educational videos from creators worldwide.

But with increasing competition, it becomes challenging for most creators to grow on YouTube. Most creators buy YouTube subscribers to boost their channel but in the long run, they experience stagnant growth. If you are one among them, then it is time to focus on promotional strategies.

One of the best ways to gain more YouTube views and subscribers is to promote your channel on TikTok. TikTok is a popular video marketing platform with millions of active users. Use this powerful platform to grow your influence online. In this article, we will tell you the five best ways to promote your YouTube channel through TikTok and gain more subscribers.

Add YouTube Channel Link to TikTok

The first thing that you must do to promote your YouTube channel on TikTok is to share your YouTube link on TikTok. This can be done by editing your TikTok profile. TikTok offers an option to add your YouTube channel link to the bio. It provides an amazing opportunity to allow TikTok followers to visit your YouTube channel without having to search for you on YouTube.

So, create entertaining videos on TikTok and increase your following. The more followers you will have, the more likely they will check your YouTube channel. Thus, helping you gain more YouTube views and subscribers through cross-promotion.

Create Short Videos Similar to YouTube Content

Most creators make the mistake of posting YouTube videos on TikTok directly. TikTok is a mobile application that shows videos in a vertical format. Therefore, to get more traction, it is best to upload videos on TikTok in the same format.

An excellent way to promote your YouTube channel is to use TikTok and create short videos similar to YouTube content. If you can impress your TikTok audience with short videos, they will surely check your YouTube channel to watch similar content. Thus, helping you gain more views on YouTube.

For example, if you have a YouTube channel on baking, you can post short TikTok videos in the same niche. This will help to grab the attention of your target audience on TikTok and if they love your content, they will want to come back for more. They would want to check your YouTube channel as well.

Post Short YouTube Trailers on TikTok

Most TikTok creators shoot and edit their videos on the app itself. However, TikTok also allows you to upload videos on your phone. This is a perfect opportunity to upload short engaging trailers of your YouTube video on TikTok. While creating the video trailer, mention your channel name at the end of the video and add interactive call-to-actions to drive the audience to your YouTube channel.

Mini Trailers generate curiosity and excitement among the followers on TikTok. It will also encourage them to subscribe to your YouTube channel to watch the full-length version. You can also use the TikTok app to create fun trailers for your upcoming YouTube videos that will pique viewer’s interest.

Post-User-Generated Content

TikTok offers amazing features to create engaging content, one of them is ‘Duets’. This feature enables the creators to repurpose other user’s content in a split-screen video. There are tons of things you can do using the ‘Duets’ feature. For example, you can create reaction videos, or participate in a Duets challenge, and recreate a look.

You can Duet with TikTok influencers or feature your fans to increase engagement and gain more followers. You can also run a Duet contest where you can ask your followers to create entertaining Duets with one of your TikTok videos. The winner of the contest will be featured in a YouTube video on your channel.

Featuring your followers in a YouTube video will drive massive traffic to your YouTube channel. Thus helping you gain more YouTube views and subscribers. It will also help you to build a loyal community by increasing audience engagement.

Pay Attention to Brand Recognition

One of the crucial aspects of increasing brand recognition is to be consistent on all social media platforms. Make sure that your YouTube channel has the same name as that on your TikTok account. This will help your TikTok audience find you easily on YouTube.

Additionally, promote your YouTube channel by mentioning your channel’s name at the end of your TikTok videos. This call-to-action encourages more of your followers to subscribe to your YouTube channel.

Another way to increase brand recognition and gain more YouTube subscribers is to create a branded hashtag and use it in your YouTube/TikTok bio and description. Focus on growing a following on TikTok that is similar to your YouTube subscriber base. Keep your audience engaged and share new videos regularly to drive traffic to your YouTube channel.

Conclusion

A lot of creators and brands use cross-promotions to build a loyal community through their social media presence. But often they fail to do it the right way. The above tips will guide you to promote your YouTube in the most effective way using TikTok.

All you need to do is to build a marketing strategy by following the above steps. Follow them properly to increase audience engagement. You can also buy YouTube subscribers to increase your influence. But it is always good to take leverage of your social media profiles to cross-promote your content that will massively grow your business.

The YouTube Partner Programme (YPP)

The YouTube Partner Programme (YPP) gives creators greater access to YouTube resources and monetization features, as well as access to our Creator Support teams. It also allows revenue sharing from ads being served on your content. Learn more about the features, eligibility criteria and application details in this article.

The following material can also be viewed on the YouTube site here.

Want to apply to the YPP but need help building an audience first? Take a look at our tips to establish your fanbase and our tips for the YouTube Partner Programme.

What you need to join

1. Follow the YouTube Channel Monetisation Policies. These are a collection of policies and guidelines that allow you to monetise on YouTube and compliance with them is required when you accept a partner agreement with YouTube.

2. Live in a country/region where the YouTube Partner Programme is available.

3. Have no active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel.

4. Make sure that 2-Step Verification is turned on for your Google Account.

5. Have one active AdSense account that you’ll link to your channel or be ready to set one up in YouTube Studio if you don’t already have one (only create a new AdSense account in YouTube Studio — learn more).

How you can become eligible:

Once you understand what you need to join, your channel can become eligible for YPP with either Shorts or long-form videos. If you’d like us to notify you when you’re eligible, click Notify me when I’m eligible in the Earn area of YouTube Studio. You’ll get an email once you’ve met either of the eligibility thresholds below.

1. Get 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or
2. Get 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days

Bear in mind that any public watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed won’t count towards the 4,000 public watch hours threshold.

More on eligibility thresholds

These thresholds help us to make a more informed decision about whether your channel meets our policies and guidelines. Once you apply, your channel will go through a standard review process to see whether your channel meets our policies and guidelines. If it meets our policies and guidelines, we’ll accept your channel into the YPP. Bear in mind that we continuously check channels in the YPP to make sure that they continue to meet our policies and guidelines over time.

Where to apply

Once you have what you need and your channel is eligible to apply, sign up for the YPP from either a desktop computer or a mobile device:

Computer

1. Sign in to YouTube

2. In the top right-hand corner, click your profile picture

3. YouTube Studio

4. In the left menu, click Earn

5. Click Start to review and Accept the Base Terms

6. Click Start to set up an AdSense account, or link an existing active one

iPhone & iPad

1. Open the YouTube Studio app

2. From the bottom menu, tap Earn

3. Click Start to review and Accept the Base Terms

4. Click Start to set up an AdSense account, or link an existing active one

Note: Currently only the application process is available in the YouTube Studio app. We’re working on adding more features soon such as managing ads and other monetisation features. For now, go to YouTube Studio using a web browser on a phone, tablet or computer for access to all the features.

Once you’ve applied, you’ll see In progress in the ‘Get reviewed’ step, which means that we have received your application.

How we review your application

Once you accept the YPP terms and link an active AdSense account, your channel will automatically be put in a review queue. Our automated systems and human reviewers will review your channel as a whole to make sure that your channel follows all of our policies and guidelines. Check the Earn section of YouTube Studio at any time to see the status of your application.

We’ll get back to you with a decision once your channel has been reviewed (typically in about one month).

Bear in mind that delays are possible due to higher-than-usual application volumes, system issues or resource limitations. All YPP applications are serviced in the order that they’re received by us. Sometimes, channels require multiple reviews, especially when several reviewers disagree on your channel’s suitability for the YPP. This may increase the time required for a decision to be made.

If your application wasn’t successful, don’t worry — keep uploading original content and you’ll be able to try again after a 30-day period. Our reviewers probably found that a significant portion of your channel doesn’t currently follow our policies and guidelines, so make sure that you review those against your channel’s overall content and adjust your channel before reapplying. Learn more about the steps that you can take to strengthen your application for next time.

Choose how to earn and get paid

Once you’re in the YPP, get started in YouTube Studio with watch page ads, Shorts Feed ads, memberships, Supers, Shopping and more. To turn on monetisation features, you’ll need to review and accept the relevant module terms. Learn more about the modules and their options here.

After choosing how you want to monetise, you’ll be able to manage ad preferences, turn on monetisation for your uploads and more. Here’s a list of FAQ that we get from creators who have just joined the YPP.

Getting paid

Visit our Help Centre for an easier understanding of your earnings as a YouTube partner, learn all about AdSense (Google’s programme that lets creators in the YPP get paid) and troubleshoot common payment issues.

Stay active to keep making money

As the YouTube Partner Programme continues to grow, it’s important to maintain a healthy, active ecosystem of channels. To focus our support for creators who are active and engaged with the community, we may turn off monetisation on channels that haven’t uploaded a video or posted to the Community tab for six months or more.

FAQ around applying and more

What if I don’t meet the programme threshold?

If you don’t meet the requirements yet, keep working to make original content and build your audience. Here are some resources that can help you to grow your channel:

• Learn solutions from other YouTube users in the YouTube Help forum.

• Discover quick and easy tips on how to grow and build your channel in our creator tips hub.

• Go to youtube.com/creators to learn, grow and be connected to programmes, resources and events.

• Take a look at our YouTube Help Channel and YouTube Creators channel for tutorials, troubleshooting and tip videos from the YouTube Help team.

If you have active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel, you can apply after your strikes have expired. You can also apply after you’ve successfully appealed to have your Community Guidelines strikes removed. Current members of the programme won’t be removed when receiving Community Guidelines strikes.

What do ‘valid public watch hours’ and ‘valid public Shorts views’ mean?

Valid public watch hours

What counts as a valid public watch hour:

• Watch hours gained from long-form videos that you’ve set as public

Watch hours gained through the following types of video don’t count towards YPP thresholds:

• Private videos

• Unlisted videos

• Deleted videos

• Ad campaigns

• YouTube Shorts

• Live streams that are unlisted, deleted or not converted to VOD (video on demand)

Valid public Shorts views

What counts as a valid public Short view:

• Views of Shorts that you’ve set as public that appear in the Shorts Feed

Bear in mind that any public watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed don’t count towards the 4,000 public watch hours threshold. For info about Shorts view eligibility with regard to how we calculate payments, see our YouTube Shorts monetisation policies.

If I meet the threshold, do I automatically get into the YPP?

No. Every channel that meets the threshold will go through a standard review process. Our team will review your channel as a whole to check whether your channel meets our YouTube Channel Monetisation Policies. Your channel also must not have any active Community Guidelines strikes in order to apply. Channels that follow our policies and guidelines can monetise.

What happens if my counts drop below the threshold after I have applied?

We’ll send your channel for review once you meet our valid public watch hours and subscriber threshold. So, it doesn’t matter if your subscriber or watch hour counts drop below the threshold whilst waiting for review. If you’ve met the threshold and applied for the YPP, we’ll still review your channel for YPP suitability.

If a channel is inactive and has not uploaded or posted Community posts for six months or more, YouTube reserves the right to remove its monetisation.

Channels will lose monetisation if they violate any of the YouTube Channel Monetisation Policies. This loss of monetisation will happen regardless of their watch hours and subscriber count.

I’m no longer in the YPP (or I was never in the programme) and I’m seeing ads on my videos. Am I earning revenue from those ads?

YouTube can serve ads on all content on the platform. If you were previously a member of the YPP (and currently are not in the programme), you may still see ads being served on your content. In this case, you don’t get a share of the revenue.

If you rejoin the YPP in the future, you can get a share of the revenue from ads served on your content after you have rejoined. In that case, when reapplying for the YPP, make sure that your channel meets the eligibility criteria outlined on this page.

How to live video stream on YouTube

YouTube Live is an easy way for Creators to reach their community in real-time. Whether streaming an event, teaching a class, or hosting a workshop, YouTube has tools that will help manage live streams and interact with viewers in real-time.

The following material can also be viewed on the YouTube site.

Creators can live stream on YouTube via webcam, mobile, and encoder streaming. Webcam and mobile are considered great options for beginners and allow Creators to go live quickly. Encoder streaming is ideal for more advanced live streams, such as: sharing the creator’s screen or broadcasting your gameplay, connecting to external audio and video hardware, and managing an advanced live stream production (like multiple cameras and microphones).

Live streaming lets you interact with your audience in real time with a video feed, chat, and more.

Subscribe to the YouTube Creators channel for the latest news, updates, and tips.

1. Enable live streaming

To live stream, you need to have no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days and you need to verify your channel.

Computer

1. Go to YouTube.

2. From the top right, click Create > Go live

3. If you haven’t already, follow the steps to verify your channel.

4. Starting your first live stream may take up to 24 hours. Once enabled, you can live stream instantly.

iPhone & iPad

1. On your phone or tablet, open the YouTube app.

2. At the bottom, click Create > Go live.

3. Starting your first live stream may take up to 24 hours. Once turned on, you can live stream instantly.

2. Choose a way to stream

There are three types of streams: mobile, webcam, and encoder. Choose the one that’s best for what you’re streaming.

Mobile

Good for vlogging and quick updates from your phone or tablet. To create a mobile live stream, you need to meet the requirements.

Requirements

To live stream on mobile, you’ll need:

• At least 50 subscribers.

• No live streaming restrictions within the last 90 days on your channel.

• To verify your channel.

• To enable live streaming. You may need to wait 24 hours before you can start your first live stream.

• An Android 5.0+ device.

If you have under 1,000 subscribers

To help make YouTube a safe community for everyone, we may limit the number of viewers on your mobile live stream, and your archived live stream will be set to private by default.

Why is my mobile live stream’s audience limited?

To help aspiring creators while protecting the community, we’ve created safeguards to limit the spread of potentially harmful content.

What happens after I get 1,000 subscribers?

After reaching 1,000 subscribers, it may take several weeks to remove the mobile live-streaming audience limitation. If your subscriber count decreases during this time, then it may take longer.

If your channel goes below 1,000 subscribers, you will have the same audience limitation as when your channel had less than 1,000 subscribers. You won’t lose access to mobile live streaming unless your channel goes below 50 subscribers.

Create & schedule a mobile live stream

1. On your phone or tablet, open the YouTube app.

2. At the bottom, tap Create > Go live. For your first mobile live stream: Starting your first live stream may take up to 24 hours. Once enabled, you can live stream instantly.

3. Follow the steps to create a live stream. Your default mobile live stream privacy setting is set to public. All users can change this setting to make their live stream public, private, or unlisted.

4. To schedule for later, tap More options. To set options for live chat, age restriction, monetization, and more, tap More options > Show more. Then tap Next.

5. To stream your phone’s screen, tap Create channel > Share screen

6. Tap Go live.

To end your stream, tap Finish. An archive of the stream will be created on your channel. You can edit the privacy setting or delete the archive at any time.

Start a scheduled mobile live stream

1. On your phone or tablet, open the YouTube app.

2. Tap Create > Go live.

3. Tap Calendar >Select your live stream.
   Note: You can delete scheduled live streams by pressing the delete button.

4. Tap Go live.

Create a live stream via webcam

Quickly live stream from your computer using a webcam. You’ll need a computer with a webcam.

1. Make sure that you’ve enabled your channel for live streaming. Webcam streaming is compatible with Chrome 60+ and Firefox 53+.

2. Sign in to YouTube.

3. In the upper right, click Create > Go Live.

4. From the left, select Webcam

5. Enter a title and description, and select a privacy setting. You can also schedule your live stream for a later date. Your default privacy setting is set to public. All streamers can change this setting to make their live stream public, private, or unlisted.

6. Click More Options> Advanced Settings for more settings.

7. Click Next. Your camera will then take a thumbnail.

8. Make sure you’ve chosen the correct webcam and microphone.

9. Click Go Live.

10. To manage your stream, like add tags, change monetization and chat settings, and more, click Edit. You can change these settings at any time, whether your stream is live or not.

11. When you’re done streaming, click End Stream at the bottom. All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived. You can access previous, current, and upcoming streams in the Live Tab.

Note: To access or launch a scheduled live stream, go to the Live Control room and select Manage.

Add a trailer to your live stream

Get your audience excited about your scheduled live stream by showing a trailer. Your trailer will play for viewers on the watch page before the live stream starts.

Trailers can only be played on streams scheduled from the “Manage” tab in Live Control Room.

1. Upload your trailer to your YouTube channel like you would with a regular upload.

2. Go to YouTube Studio > Go Live.

3. Create a scheduled live stream or choose a scheduled stream from the “Manage” tab.

4. From the top right, click Edit.

5. Click Customize.

6. Under “Trailer,” click Add.

7. Choose your trailer video.

8. Click Save.

Requirements

• Video type: Use any YouTube-supported video type.

• Video length: 15 seconds — 3 minutes.

• Aspect ratio and resolution: We recommend the same aspect ratio and resolution as the Premiering video.

• Audio and video rights: Make sure that the trailer does not infringe on other content.

Manage live streams

From the YouTube Studio dashboard, you can access current, upcoming, and past live streams. Here’s how:

1. Go to YouTube Studio or studio.youtube.com.

2. From the left menu, select Content.

3. Click the Live tab.

• Live Now: videos that are currently live streaming.

• Upcoming: videos that have yet to stream, but are scheduled to be at a certain time.

• Live Replay: videos that have already live streamed.

You can also access and launch scheduled live streams in the Live Control room.

1. From the left, select Manage.

2. Click the scheduled live stream you’d like to launch.

3. Click Go Live.

Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder

Encoders let you stream gameplay, and overlays, and use hardware like preamps, mics, and cameras. This type of stream is commonly used for gaming, sporting events, concerts, and conferences.

There are three ways to stream on YouTube: use a webcam, your mobile device, or an encoder (streaming software or a hardware encoder). Using an encoder lets you:

• Share your screen or broadcast your gameplay

• Use external audio and video hardware

• Manage an advanced production (like a few cameras and microphones)

The steps below will help you get started with your first live stream.

1. Enable live streaming

Enabling a live stream for the first time may take up to 24 hours. Once enabled, your stream can go live instantly. Learn how to start live streaming.

2. Install an encoder

An encoder converts your video into a digital format to stream on YouTube. Some encoders are software apps on your computer, while others are standalone hardware.

YouTube Live verified encoders

Here’s a list of YouTube Live verified encoders. None of these products are made by YouTube. Make sure to evaluate the products and decide which option makes the most sense for you or your business.

Software encoders:

AWS Elemental MediaLive — AWS Elemental MediaLive is a broadcast-grade live video processing service, supporting live streaming all the way up to 4Kp60 HEVC.

Cinamaker Director Studio (Mac & iOS) The all-in-one multi-camera video recording, editing, and live streaming app. Include up to 8 local iPhones, digital cameras, and remote guests via Zoom in HD. Add overlays, graphics, audio, video, screens, and visual effects. Stream to YouTube, Zoom, RTMP. Save hours building your video library with the In-App Editor.

Elgato Game Capture Software (Windows, Mac) Record and stream your Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii U gameplay.

Gamecaster (Windows no charge version available!) The easiest way to stream and record your greatest gaming moments at the click of a button. Perfect for sharing your gameplay.

Melon Live Streaming App Best live streaming app for professional quality-live streams from your browser. Invite guests with ease. Packed with features, tons of customization options, donations, and no downloads needed.

Open Broadcaster Software Open source software for video recording and live streaming at no charge.

PRISM Live Studio (Windows) PRISM Live Studio is a streaming software for Windows that is recognized for its intuitive user interface and convenient usability. Streamers love this software for its stable streaming quality and attractive features such as beauty and sticker effects, drawing, virtual background, virtual camera, and integration with PRISM mobile apps. All the features are given for no charge.

Restream The leading live streaming broadcasting studio for creators and businesses. Stream live to 30+ platforms simultaneously from our cloud studio. Invite guests, add overlays, play videos, & professionalize your stream — at no charge, and easy to use.

Stage TEN Easily produce and distribute broadcast quality live streams. You can invite guests from anywhere, drag-and-drop media and graphics, add live commerce to your streams, interact with audiences and earn revenue.

Streamlabs (Windows, iOS, Android) Streamlabs is the leading broadcast software for streamers. There’s no charge, it’s open-source, and packed with powerful features to help you grow, get to know, and monetize.

Wirecast (Windows, Mac) Easy-to-use, award-winning live streaming and production software. Add cameras, live screenshots, titles, graphics, and more with just a click of a button. Stream directly to YouTube or any RTMP destination. Works with the YouTube API so you can manage, create, and schedule or stream your live channel without leaving the app.

XSplit Broadcaster (Windows no charge version available!) Revolutionary audio/video-mixing app that allows you to create professional live broadcasts and video recordings.

Hardware encoders:

AWS Elemental MediaLive AWS Elemental MediaLive is a broadcast-grade live video processing service, supporting live streaming all the way up to 4Kp60 HEVC.

Cinamaker Director Studio (Mac & iOS) The all-in-one multi-camera video recording, editing, and live streaming app. Include up to 8 local iPhones, digital cameras, and remote guests via Zoom in HD. Add overlays, graphics, audio, video, screens, and visual effects. Stream to YouTube, Zoom, and RTMP. Save hours building your video library with the In-App Editor.

Elgato Game Capture Software (Windows, Mac) Record and stream your Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii U gameplay.

Gamecaster (Windows no charge version available!) The easiest way to stream and record your greatest gaming moments is at the click of a button. Perfect for sharing your gameplay.

Melon Live Streaming App Best live streaming app for professional quality-live streams from your browser. Invite guests with ease. Packed with features, tons of customization options, donations, and no downloads needed.

Open Broadcaster Software Open source software for video recording and live streaming at no charge.

PRISM Live Studio (Windows) PRISM Live Studio is a streaming software for Windows that is recognized for its intuitive user interface and convenient usability. Streamers love this software for its stable streaming quality and attractive features such as beauty and sticker effects, drawing, virtual background, virtual camera, and integration with PRISM mobile apps. All the features are given for no charge.

Restream The leading live streaming broadcasting studio for creators and businesses. Stream live to 30+ platforms simultaneously from our cloud studio. Invite guests, add overlays, play videos, & professionalize your stream — at no charge, and easy to use.

Stage TEN Easily produce and distribute broadcast quality live streams. You can invite guests from anywhere, drag-and-drop media and graphics, add live commerce to your streams, interact with audiences and earn revenue.

Streamlabs (Windows, iOS, Android) Streamlabs is the leading broadcast software for streamers. There’s no charge, it’s open-source, and packed with powerful features to help you grow, get to know, and monetize.

Wirecast (Windows, Mac) Easy-to-use, award-winning live streaming and production software. Add cameras, live screenshots, titles, graphics, and more with just a click of a button. Stream directly to YouTube or any RTMP destination. Works with the YouTube API so you can manage, create, and schedule or stream your live channel without leaving the app.

XSplit Broadcaster (Windows no charge version available!) Revolutionary audio/video-mixing app that allows you to create professional live broadcasts and video recordings.

Mobile encoders

AirServer (Windows, Mac) Mirror your mobile device to YouTube.

PRISM Live Studio (iOS, Android PRISM Live Studio) is one of the most popular mobile apps optimized for IRL and gaming streaming. It is loved by streamers for its stable streaming quality and attractive features such as decoration and beauty effects, source overlay, and chroma key. All the features are given for no charge.

Streamlabs (Windows, iOS, Android) Built on OBS, and combines Streamlabs alerts, shortcuts, tipping, face masks, and thousands of themes and overlays for no charge.

Wirecast Go (iOS) There’s no charge when downloaded from iOS App Store. Easily produce professional live broadcasts from your iPhone and stream them to YouTube. Switch shots, add photos, graphics, and more on up to three layers at a time for powerful mobile production. Read YouTube comments and chat in real-time and interact with your audience. Schedule, create, and manage your YouTube live streams directly inside the app. Upgrade from the no-charge version to stream to any RTMP destination.

3. Connect your hardware

If you’re using hardware, like a webcam, a microphone, or a headset, connect them and make sure they’re set up with your encoder.

Depending on your stream, you may use different hardware. Here are some typical examples:

Casual live streams
Many streamers use an external microphone, webcam, and headphones. Gamers may also use other tools like a green screen.

Professional live streams
Advanced stream setups can include more than one microphone, camera, mixer, and hardware encoder.

4. Connect your encoder and go live

To start streaming, enter your YouTube Live server URL and stream key into your encoder. If you have audio and video hardware, set it up with your encoder, also known as streaming software.

What can you stream

All content in live streams must adhere to our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.

Hola {{fname}},

This is Tony Perkins, founder and editor of Cryptonite. We are checking in to wish you and your family a lovely summer and to invite you to speak at an extraordinary event this fall.

My fellow Silicon Valley OG, Tim Draper, and I would be honored if you could be part of our program for Silicon Valley ‘24 at the Presidio Theatre on October …

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The prior stance of crypto-asset regulation is the polar opposite of the rest of the internet.

The U.S. government literally built the internet (ARPANET, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of TCP/IP last year). The U.S. government then empowered early internet companies with a myriad of Congressional advantages. In particular, the U.S. gave them safe harbor against regulation and provided an 8.25% discount versus their brick-and-mortar competitors via no sales tax. The result is that all of the largest internet companies in the world are in the United States (or essentially Chinese copies of them).

So far in the blockchain era, the U.S.’ regulatory approach has had the opposite effect. It scared 95% of blockchain trading to move offshore to the Bahamas and opaque firms like FTX instead of being regulated in the US. Similarly, 93% of the market cap of blockchain protocols are in projects domiciled outside of the United States.

ALIGNMENT OF INTEREST

I love this bit. Literally the next words from his mouth from the mid-sentence quotation above was:

“The other thing is, I did things like NFTs and, you know, stuff. And I noticed that 80% of the money was paid in crypto. It was incredible. So, NFTs are, you know, I did the — very successful. We had one year to sell it out and it sold out in one day. The whole thing sold out: 45,000 of the cards. And I did it three times [and] I’m going to do another one, because the people want me to do another one. It’s unbelievable spirit. Beautiful. But the thing I really noticed was everything was paid in — I would say almost all of it was paid in crypto, in this new currency. And it opened my eyes.

“So we have a good foundation. It’s a baby. It’s an infant right now. But I don’t want to be responsible for allowing another country to take over this sphere. And so I think we’re going to be good. Also, I’ve gotten to know people in the industry, they’re top-flight people. And you ask Jamie Dimon, Jamie Dimon was, you know, very negative and now all of a sudden he’s changed his tune a little bit.”

– The Donald Trump Interview, Bloomberg Businessweek, July 16, 2024

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Speaking of toppling totalitarian regimes

—Anthony Perkins, founder & editor Cryptonite

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(Overheard on the streets of the global Silicon Valley. Got any hot insider tips? Email us editor@cryptoniteventures.com)

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Billionaire Boys & Girls Club

Tesla CEO Elon Musk zinged Dallas Mavericks …

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VC Whispers

• Early-stage VC deal value jumped by 56.9% QoQ, notching $16B in Q2—but the figure may be buoyed by select outsized deals.

• The pace of dealmaking remains sluggish, suggesting a flattening of deal activity.

• 2024 has a mere total of 35 public listings so far, and the lack of exits continues to weigh on LP liquidity constraints.

• Fundraising activity remains diminished, with established firms commanding an advantage when securing LP commitments.

AI Tracker

AI is coming for the centuries-old legal profession, an area once written off by venture capitalists as uninvestable.

Legal-tech startups offer software, platforms and services intended to help law firms with research and operations.

But the legal profession is entrenched in old habits, making it a hard group to sell to. Laws and regulations also vary widely among jurisdictions, compounding the challenge of making a product at scale. But perhaps the biggest hurdle has been a perceived threat that technology poses to the legal industry’s revenue model of billable hours, as simplifying processes may curb profits.

All of this appears to be changing, though, as the rise of generative AI drives an unprecedented flow of capital into legal tech.

“It feels like for the first time we’re the popular kids,” said Zach Posner, co-founder and managing director at The LegalTech Fund, which, according to PitchBook data, is a top investor in legal-related startups.

Now some of the venture industry’s biggest players are making sizable bets. Harvey, the developer of an all-encompassing AI platform for researching and drafting legal documents, just raised a $100 million Series C led by GV at a $1.5 billion valuation, with additional backing from investors including OpenAI, Sequoia and Elad Gil.

Also on Tuesday, Canadian legal-tech company Clio raised a $900 million Series F, valuing the company at $3 billion. NEA led the deal.

After slow, mostly static growth, investments in legal-tech startups have taken off as advances in AI give the vertical a shot in the arm. This year, deal value had already hit nearly $1 billion prior to the Harvey and Clio deals, surpassing last year’s annual sum of roughly $960 million. In Q2 alone, investors committed $354.4 million to 55 deals.

Pointing to a flood of companies chasing the opportunity, Posner estimated nearly 100% growth in new legal-tech companies being founded compared to last year. At the same time, he said, more high-profile venture firms are contacting his team for help in their efforts to tackle the legal-tech market.

“It feels like everyone looked at legal before and said, ‘Why would you do that?’” Posner said. “Now it’s like, ‘Oh my God these are hot companies.’”

But in a field where precision and accuracy are paramount and the risks of AI-created errors are very real, what’s driving the excitement and growth?

For one thing, some VCs and startups are taking an approach that’s more measured—and less hype-focused.

By emphasizing AI’s fallibility up front and taking a hybrid approach to applying the new technology to existing services, some founders and their backers aim to keep their pitches more rooted. Posner said the slow and steady approach of easing into AI is one of the key reasons startups are finding traction with legal firms and attracting investor interest.

“The way I look at it is, do you want to experiment with an entire company or do you want to experiment with a product that is tried and true with a little bit of [a large language model] on top?” Posner said. “You can’t rely on this right now 100%.”

Hammers, not gavels

As investors look for startups addressing specific needs, legal tech has provided an answer for many them.

“When these large language models first came out, it was like everyone was running around trying to use these transformative models like a hammer,” said Kory Jeffrey, an investor at Inovia Capital, which led a $20 million Series A in January for Spellbook, an AI legal-tech startup focused on reviewing and drafting contracts. “Everything looks like a nail and you end up hitting things that aren’t nails.”

Jeffrey said that one of the promising aspects of AI legal tech is the opportunity the technology brings to open up more services to people. Given the sky-high costs of legal services, startups that can create documents like wills and leases could lower costs and allow more people to access service.

“This idea of democratizing services to people who are typically underserved, that excites me,” Jeffrey said. “The more distribution of this technology, the better outcomes for everyday people.”

Artificial versus intelligence

For Max Junestrand, CEO and co-founder of legal AI startup Leya, the calls from investors didn’t stop after closing their seed round—they accelerated. Based in Stockholm, Leya offers an AI assistant for lawyers that analyzes documents and generates briefs. In May, Leya raised $10.5 million in seed funding led by Benchmark and backed by SV Angel, Y Combinator and Hummingbird.

Just two months later, in mid-July, the startup secured a $25 million Series A led by Redpoint Ventures and joined by backers including Benchmark. The amount of investor outreach, according to Junestrand, only picked up after Leya’s seed round.

Junestrand said Leya is gaining traction because its software was built directly in tandem with law offices. He said that making central the needs of lawyers and promising actual utility was key in company growth and attracting investors. He also emphasized that every step of the way managing expectations has been crucial to nabbing clients and getting backers on board.

“The market has been over promised before and it didn’t deliver,” Junestrand said. “The last AI wave was more artificial than intelligent.”

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Going Green

Bill Gates-backed climate VC Breakthrough Energy Ventures has gathered $839 million in its effort to raise the firm’s third flagship fund, according to a regulatory filing, making it the largest climate fund raised so far this year.

Kirkland, Wash.-based Breakthrough launched its BEV III fund in July 2023, having closed its 2021 vintage second fund at $1 billion.

The final target amount for the fund close is unclear. Breakthrough didn’t respond to a request for comment.

LPs have indicated a bullish stance on early-stage climate funds even as they have simultaneously retreated from other sectors in venture. In the first half of 2024, climate dedicated funds attracted nearly 5% of all LP capital commitments globally, according to PitchBook’s 2024 Climate Tech Funds Report.

But early stage climate investing comes with significant risks, notably the long time horizon for exits and the significant capital required to scale novel hardware technologies.

Founded in 2015 by Gates, Breakthrough was one of the first VC funds dedicated solely to climate bets. That unique approach, and Gates’ connections in the climate world, catapulted Breakthrough into the ranks of leading early-stage investors just as climate dealmaking took off in 2020.

Breakthrough has made early bets on several now-prominent climate startups. It led Boston Metal‘s Series A at a $55 million valuation (last valued in 2023 at $860 million), Redwood Materials’ Series B at a $217 million valuation (last valued in 2023 at $5.25 billion) and Pivot Bio‘s Series B at a $200 million valuation (last valued in 2021 at $1.7 billion).

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Robots on the March

Mytra, a robotics company for warehouse automation, launched from stealth Tuesday with $78 million raised across three rounds, including a $50 million Series B led by Greenoaks. The company declined to disclose a valuation.

The logistics business, which is revenue-generating, was incubated by Eclipse Ventures, a VC firm focused on investments in physical industries. Its 3D robotics system automates moving and storing materials in warehouses.

Mytra joins a rapidly growing group of startups developing AI-enabled robotics, an emerging technology that is bolstering an otherwise slow dealmaking landscape for warehouse and supply chain technology. In the first half of 2024, warehousing-tech startups raised $298 million—compared to $451.6 million in the first half of 2023, according to PitchBook data.

But even as VCs retreat from the supply chain, AI-enabled robotics for warehouses remains hot, seen as a viable, practical application for generative AI technology in the physical world. Covariant, co-founded by OpenAI research veterans, has raised more than $220 million in total capital for its warehouse robotics picking technology. Earlier this month, Standard Bots, a developer of robotic arms for manufacturing, raised a $63 million Series B led by General Catalyst.

The idea for Mytra originated on co-founder Chris Walti’s notepad in early 2022, according to Seth Winterroth, a partner at Eclipse, which led the company’s seed and Series A rounds.

Walti then worked out of Eclipse’s offices throughout the summer of 2022 to develop his idea for the startup through customer conversations, an incubation model that Eclipse has replicated with roughly a dozen of its portfolio companies.

Walti previously led Tesla‘s Optimus project, which is developing a humanoid robot. Mytra co-founder Ahmad Baitalmal most recently headed up factory software at Rivian.

Mytra’s production system is in market with its first customers and has a “massive backlog of business that we’re ready to fulfill over the next two or three years,” Winterroth said.

The next stage of Mytra’s growth will involve reducing the company’s cost structure and working toward unit economics, he added: “We want to get to this place where the merits of the business are underwritten purely by looking at the financials alone.” Winterroth declined to share details on the company’s revenue growth.

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