What's up with Vitalik? Why Gen Z loves ‘Special K,' BTC to hit $150K, Here come the AI bots, Vinod K says 80% of jobs are dust by 2030, and other hits that will blow your mind...
The poster children of PC were Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Web1 was all about the WWW inventor Tim Berners-Lee, Internet browser pioneer Marc Andreessen, Mr. E-commerce Jeff Bezos, and the Google Search twins. Web2 was ushered in by the conspicuously unsocial social innovators Zuck and Jack Dorsey, the overly social Queen of SaaS Marc Benioff, and the comeback of Steve Jobs, who put the Internet in our pockets with a smart-looking smartphone.
The problem with Web3 is that we only have a pseudonym for our primary disruptor, ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’, who represents the one (or more) inventors still hiding somewhere, holding their ~1 million BTC reward for their early efforts. The number two dude of the revolution is our boy pictured up top—Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin—who, if for no other reason, fits the crypto look (and pioneered the world’s second-largest blockchain by market cap—ETH).
Vitalik was born in 1994 in Kolomna, Russia, and raised in Canada after emigrating at age six. In 2013, at just 19 years old, he published the Ethereum whitepaper, proposing a programmable blockchain that extended Bitcoin’s capabilities beyond simple transactions to include programmable smart contracts. Our simple view is that the combination of the ‘Bitcoin metaphor’ of decentralized power, self-executing code, and the fusion of crypto and AI makes the Web1 and Web2 eras look like we were playing with Tinker Toys.
What Vitalik is betting on…
Today, Vitalik pushes ethical development, layer-2 scalability, and decentralized governance—shaping Ethereum and Web3 amid evolving regulations and explosive adoption.
“The decentralized future is not just about creating new applications; it’s about rethinking how we organize society. You shouldn’t have to trust any single person, institution, or centralized organization to transact and get things done.” —VB
Vitalik currently holds approximately 224,000 ETH in his tracked on-chain wallets; this equates to roughly $430–$467 million in value from his primary ETH holdings. (We are certain he owns a boatload more in off-chain storage somewhere.) He actively reinvests his wealth into the Ethereum ecosystem, privacy tools, protocol research, AI safety, medical research, and humanitarian aid. Here’s a sample:
India COVID-19 Relief (2021): $1B+ in SHIB/ETH for pandemic aid—one of crypto’s largest.
Future of Life Institute (AI Safety, 2021): $665M in crypto for AI risks and alignment.
Methuselah Foundation (Longevity, 2021): $336M in ETH/tokens for anti-aging research.
U. Maryland Public Health (2022): $9.4M USDC for UV light pandemic prevention.
Session/SimpleX (Privacy, 2025): $765K ETH for secure messaging apps.
Kanro Charity (AI/Health, 2025): $500K ETH/USDC for AI risks, open-source, and global health.
Vitalik’s big vision for Ethereum: A “world computer” for a freer internet via decentralization, privacy, and utility. Achieving complete self-sovereignty via low-risk DeFi, censorship resistance, scalable decentralized tools for citizen ID, voting systems, and all government services.
If you are a cypherpunk developer aligned with the projects that embody Vitalik’s ideals, it’s time to send him your pitch. @VitalikButerin
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San Francisco’s restaurants are signaling an alcohol freefall, with sales plunging 30%—mirroring national trends. Gen Z’s 20% lower consumption rate is accelerating the bleed. This shift is also hammering California’s wine industry with brutal force: an oversupply and cratering demand sparked 81 winery closures in 2025, plus mass layoffs and restructuring at Gallo and others. A Silicon Valley Bank report predicts 3-5% annual declines through 2028 unless wineries pivot hard to non-alcoholic alternatives or exports.
Cryptonite’s go-to health guru, Dr. Franck Lipman—a top functional medicine expert—warns that even moderate alcohol harms health and longevity across multiple systems. Dr. Lipman urges quitting alcohol for better vitality and a longer healthspan.
Accelerates aging: Oxidative stress speeds cellular decline and age-related diseases.
Cancer risk: Boosts breast cancer via hormones and toxins.
Gut disruption: Causes dysbiosis, inflammation, fatty liver, and insulin resistance.
Immune weakening: Slows reflexes and increases susceptibility to infection.
Brain/sleep harm: Impairs cognition, hormones, and sleep; links to dementia and depression.
Gen Z’s physical and mental health divide
Surveys reveal 63% of Gen Z adults have lost interest in booze since their first sip, driven by health awareness, personal economics, shifting social vibes, and a craving for clear-headed living. Hop waters, tea-based sippers, low-sugar CBD-infused sodas, premium mocktails, and zero-proof beer and wines are exploding. Think spirit-free wonders from Curious Elixirs and Ghia, packed with botanicals and adaptogens for that mood-lift kick.
Gallup data shows just 50% of 18-34-year-olds now drink, down from 59% two years ago, while U.S. drinking rates among legal adults have crashed to a historic low of 54%. Cannabis is also a preferred alternative for Gen Z to achieve an elevated state: surveys show ~69% of young adults aged 18-24 prefer marijuana over alcohol, with cannabis-infused sodas, edibles, and vapes gaining traction for ‘highs without hangovers.’
For the ‘sober curious’ seeking Insta-worthy aesthetics
Watermelon-Basil Cooler (Watermelon Sugar High): Muddled watermelon, lime, and basil topped with sparkling water—crisp, herbaceous refreshment that’s clean, photogenic, and wellness vibes only.
🤤
Spicy Mango Mule: Mango puree, fresh lime, and fiery ginger beer in a copper mug—bold kick mimics booze with vibrant, aesthetic-first allure.
Blood Orange Elderflower Spritz: Vibrant blood orange and floral elderflower fizz for brunch or sober dates—sophisticated, bubbly botanicals that pop in photos.
A ‘Generation K’ crisis?
Other alternatives include exploring psychedelics in therapeutic or recreational contexts, such as psilocybin microdosing for mental clarity. Ketamine (referred to as ‘K’ or ‘Special K’) use as a dissociative ‘floaty’ high among Gen Z has tripled since the mid-2010s, offering a perceived temporary escape from stress, anxiety, or depression. However, frequent use of K can lead to addiction, bladder damage (sometimes requiring surgery), kidney issues, incontinence, and even fatalities in extreme cases.😳
Ketamine nasal spray comes in two forms: the FDA-approved esketamine (Spravato), a prescription nasal spray derived from ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, and compounded or illicit versions sometimes obtained outside medical channels. The attraction is rapid symptom relief—sometimes within hours—compared to traditional antidepressants.
When we predicted in December that the crypto market cap would exceed $5 trillion by the end of 2026, the market cap was $3T and BTC was at $87K. Now it’s ~$2.4T and $67K. Basically, the crypto meltdown that started on October 6th—when BTC hit $126K—kept melting.
Institutional Flow Momentum: Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $506M in inflows on Feb 25 (largest in three weeks), amid projections of Vanguard’s entry and sustained demand; Ethereum’s DeFi expansion and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization growth are also driving large-cap momentum.
State BTC Reserves: Missouri advanced HB 2080, enabling voluntary BTC holdings, tax payments in bitcoin, and cold storage mandates; Texas funded the first state BTC reserve last year, Arizona advanced a multi-token bill this week, and multiple states are following suit.
Regulatory Progress: Recent SEC case drops are paving the way for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, expected in early 2026, which promises to end “regulation by enforcement” and boost confidence in assets like Solana and Chainlink.
Sector Catalysts: Stablecoins are poised to surpass $500B in market cap as key payment infrastructure expands globally; RWAs are set to lift Ethereum toward $6.5K–$7.5K and XRP beyond $2.80; Bitcoin faces risks of a $40K–$50K dip if macro weakens, though Q4 upside remains strong.
Macro Tailwinds: Dovish Federal Reserve rate cuts combined with dollar weakness are positioning Bitcoin as a premier hedge against fiat debasement, with a potential Q2 liquidity surge capable of elevating the total altcoin market cap to $2T
Our 2026 forecast update…
Recent $317M token unlocks—like Jupiter’s $36M and Sui’s $40M—sparked short-term selling pressure, but March brings the year’s largest at over $6B (led by WhiteBIT), nearly triple the monthly average—so expect volatility before a surge in regulatory-approved new listings.
Cryptonite Crypto Targets: Bitcoin could exceed $150K as a cycle-breaker, fueled by ETF and institutional demand; Ethereum $6.5K–$7.5K on RWA and DeFi growth; alts toward a $2T+ market cap via selective rotation, with AI/omnichain projects outperforming BTC by 20–50%. Stablecoins aim for $500B+, XRP past $2.80. Downside risks: BTC dips to $40K–$50K or March unlocks amid macro weakness—yet Q3–Q4 trends favor upside as catalysts activate.
If all our dreams (and targets) come true, we’ll blow through our $5T crypto market cap prediction for the year. 😎🤙🏼
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Here come the AI bots—and the VCs backing them
Personal AI bots (digital companions) are intelligent software systems powered by AI—often leveraging LLMs, natural language processing, and sometimes on-device processing—to help individuals manage daily tasks, boost productivity, and augment cognition in highly personalized ways.
Unlike traditional chatbots, AI bots can be reactive—executing commands like scheduling or note-taking—or proactive/agentic, autonomously handling workflows, prioritizing actions, and learning user habits. Here’s a list of the most active VCs in AI bots, with their top portfolio companies:
Draper Associates (led by Tim Draper) has a Strong emphasis on AI (over 40% of portfolio), including agentic/interactive bots, speech AI, and personal assistants. Uses AI internally, including digital twins/chatbot versions of Tim Draper for founder interactions.
Otter.ai — AI speech recognition for conversational notes/meetings.
Omi — an AI wearable as a personal assistant/memory aid.
Leo AI — AI copilot for mechanical engineers (on-device sketches/searches).
Graphite (acquired by Cursor) — AI collaboration for developers.
Index Ventures targets global AI-native applications and enterprise tools, with a focus on seed-to-growth bets in legal AI, healthcare agents, sales automation, and foundational models that power scalable workflows.
Hippocratic AI — Healthcare AI agents for patient interactions and compliance.
Artisan AI — Autonomous sales agents handling prospecting and bookings.
Index Partner Nina Achadjian likes industrial AI agents and robots.🤖
Greylock Partners emphasizes agentic AI and enterprise automation, backing startups that build autonomous agents to improve productivity, security, and workflows across sectors such as sales, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Adept AI — Agentic AI lab developing general-purpose productivity agents.
Netic — Autonomous AI revenue engine for essential services businesses.
SuperMe — AI-native professional network with instant expert answers.
GV (Google Ventures)focuses on transformative AI across consumer and enterprise, with bets on foundational models, voice interfaces, and personalized intelligence platforms designed for on-device and scalable deployment.
Character.AI — Conversational AI companions for personalized interactions.
Inflection AI — Pi, a consumer-facing personal AI assistant.
Perplexity AI — On-device AI search and productivity companion.
Following the crypto VC money 🤑
💰 a16z leads $250M Series B in Bittensor—AI-blockchain fusion for decentralized ML models, valuation hits $3B post-money…
💰 AI-Crypto Whispers: Coatue eyes $500M fund for onchain AI infra; Tiger Global scouts RWA tokenization startups amid $10T hype….
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