What? Does your particularly tiny cortex realize that the only reason the computer or phone you are writing this on, and this website itself only exists because of Venture Capitalists who were willing to risk hard earned capital.
@@ethgod Lol. Investing money is their job. You think VCs invest their own personal money? No, they get funding from institutional investors who try to turn a profit and have returns uncorrelated with the stock market. It's like saying "omg, bankers are such good people, they lend all that money that they have to people who want to buy a house". It's not their money. Learn a thing about the world around you before you go defend billionaires on the Internet lol
Just move to communist countries, you will be happier there. Because billionaires like Jack Ma can be disappeared, if you become too rich and powerful, you will become target. Ah, what's the point of getting rich if your money belongs to government anyway? Just lying down, that's what's happening in China. You should really move there, you will love it.
Last time Marc said it was time to build, he also wrote a NIMBY letter to prevent building in his precious town of Atherton, CA :/ With that attitude we're not building shit.
their logic is build but 50 miles from their homes lol.. they have no empathy for working class especially the low wage workers maintaining their households
Yup, I spent a year building on one of their many dubious projects thinking "if a16z did their due diligence it must be a legit project"... then the founder was arrested by the FBI. I think they believe making this video somehow justifies years of terrible decisions... "if only Trump was given a second term, all of our LPs would be praising us for our crypto investments"... not true and what a joke. I hope the LPs for the next crypto fund (they are clearly teeing up here) do their research.
I’d love to hear their reactions to who he’s promoting to cabinet positions…predictably not meritocracy unfortunately. It’s people that say yes, not people that solve problems
I started my career in tech, left for a few years to work with my hands, paint, drive ambulances, and explore other careers, and now I'm back in tech. The people at the top of tech, the VCs, and the VPs will never know how little they know about the real world. A life in startups is a two-dimensional existence that leads a person to think they know everything, simply because they've explored the entire X and Y axes. Guess what, there's a third dimension. If you knew that, you would never have posted this video.
Please explain more about the third dimension so that they become more knowledgeable. This would help everyone since these guys have power over who gets investments.
Hey, these guys have built some massive companies and are pretty knowledgeable. I’d say 95% of VCs from my experience are completely stupid and ignorant. But these guys know they’re shit for sure. Although they are too sure in their opinions sometimes
@@ethgod stop licking the boot bro you're not a billionaire elite, more for them is less for u. and I'm saying this as someone trying to win capitalism
4:05 Entrepreneurial activity in AI has been depressed over the past 4 years? Are you actually kidding me. AI was not even a factor 4 years ago. Guy clearly has an agenda.
@@MB2501. Ai has received more investment in the past 4 years than in all of the rest of human history combined. I don't deny it existed before, but as commercial interests go it may as well have been non existent compared to what we have today, making his claim bogus. He's just salty that his crypto scams are being investigated by the FTC imo.
The AI field has existed since the begging of computation. Aka 1940's. Our chip set at the time couldn't think as humans do, so its been "depressed" for the +84 years technically.
All these guys care about is crypto…. The idea that they have been repressed is laughable. Do we really want to go back to the days of bored apes being worth more than houses? So stupid.
@@ethgodso we shouldn’t criticize them for this absolutely braindead take? They’re claiming they were oppressed while simultaneously acknowledging no laws were preventing them from achieving their goals. Just the “vibes” were authoritarian- give me a break
Are they talking about the CFPB actions against LendUp? The company that claimed to be different from payday lenders, but was found to be in fact, just like other payday lenders?
After a lifetime of financial advising, I promise you, the people going to payday lenders are going to find other ways to make themselves poor. Fixing them is like trying to make a pitbull behave like a golden retriever.
@@Notrocketscience101 undoubtedly true, but removing legitimized predatory lending from the environment will at least keep hyenas from being sold next to puppies in the pet stores - to run with the dog analogy.
You still need to mention how many tech rug pulls and behind the scene retail investor fleecing for what's adding up to billion that has gone on. Can't really count that as success.
I think we saw the potential harm crypto can do and Trump supporters are clearly supportive of this harm, which is why I’m confused about how they’re being “repressed”
The situation with FTX is a textbook example of regulatory capture. Despite being one of the most fraudulent companies in the crypto space, FTX managed to avoid significant scrutiny. Coincidentally, this happened while SBF was one of the largest donors to Biden's campaign and buddy buddy with Gensler. Meanwhile, companies like Ripple, Coinbase, and Kraken, which have consistently voiced the need for regulatory clarity and demonstrated efforts toward compliance, faced relentless crackdowns through “regulation by enforcement.” This approach provides no clear guidelines for the industry to follow, yet punishes firms trying to operate responsibly. Trump supporters are not endorsing harm to consumers; they’re advocating for a thriving nascent industry with the potential to transform finance. They support fair, transparent regulation that fosters innovation, not selective enforcement that stifles it.
They claim they were repressed and immediately after stated the truth... "what was stopping you from building a product because it wasn't a law". The persecution fetish now has a sub-level regulation fetish. They've lost the plot entirely
The Amish Raw milk comment I think these guys have wrong. A quick google search shows that it was the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture not the Federal Government. Gets your facts straight guys.
And raided because food born illness in children was traced back to the farm! Ben, are you suggesting the government should not concern itself with food safety?
These guys are lying liars, not just about the milk. Even when they say, "... bad for tech" it is a lie. It isn't bad for tech, it is bad for their investments based on the world they want to build.
@@TysonQuick The CHIPS Act was a big deal for AI and tech independence from China and external sources in particular. Trump didn't know sh*t about that stuff when he was prez four years ago, and today, he knows even less, to the extent that he can think at all. The tech sector will boom regardless of who is president. Nothing but nothing a president does will affect it with the kind of money being thrown around now, except something like CHIPS can help it along and god forbid regulate it as much as possible, which is to say, not much. Marc Andreessen has a net worth of $1.7 billion. Of course he wanted Trump to win, to renew his tax cut, which was set to expire in 2027. Not that he noticed. The paper his bills were written on noticed. He didn't feel a damn thing. He can spout whatever nonsense he wants.
Believe it or not, it takes courage to support Trump in the tech. It's obvious by just reading yours and other's comments here. There are billion and billion of moeny coming from the tech to Kamala instead of Trump. If you see the chart of donation, it seems now even funner that Kamala burned all the much money out and she's in debt now, and she lost. It shows how big the bullet we just dodged. Yes, it takes courage to speak up about the issues we experienced in the past 4 years. The other side should do real soul searching why American rejected their idea. "I am so right, you should do soual searching not me, I can't be wrong" that's exactly root cause led to today's result, it's a cult without any chance of self correction, unfortunately. They are still blaming minorities (listen to what it sounds, like, really? yeah, no soul searching needed😑) being rxist and voting for Trump instead of doing anything retrospective. Good luck with continuing the same route.
Nobody mentions that we survived a global pandemic which saw millions die, millions suffered from not being able to work because they would get sick if they had to go to a job, and avoided a recession/depression. These guys didnt have to worry about paying rent or buying food for their familly and probably got PPP loans to boot!
Says a lot about the state of the "crypto" industry when you have VCs complaining about their crypto startups being de-banked when the whole purpose of Bitcoin is to be an alternative payment system. If even Bitcoin can't be used in that way (evidently since they are complaining), what other value are the "crypto" startups bringing?
I'm one of the companies who got debanked. To answer your question, these days Bitcoin/crypto can be used for just about everything besides buying property and qualifying for loans in the traditional financial sector (there are crypto loans however). There are mastercards/visa cards and direct bill payments now available with crypto as well. My company went out of our way to be as compliant as possible and completely transparent about our business beyond what was necessary and the banks/government slapped us in the face anyways with no reason given. It's completely inappropriate. They are creating the market they are trying to destroy. Now we use crypto even more than we did before out of necessity and caution after realizing how rabid the government/financial regulators have become. The thing that really upsets me is that they are never going to win this battle, it's just a matter of how much they will destroy and hurt the country before someone kicks them out of the drivers seat. Other countries are adopting this tech and thriving because of it. And for the people who don't get it, that's fine. We have been extremely successful regardless of the attacks on our industry so I don't really care if people want to sit on the sidelines.
Honestly it is disgusting to call this a boot off your neck when he is promising to literally do that to millions of immigrants. But hey you make money. Disgusting
illegal immigrants, can you people stop the BS gaslighting. It's illegal immigration, stop disrespecting immigrants and combinding the two. Do you have the capacity to understand the difference? If not let me migrate to your house right now, whats for dinner? And I also need to bed to sleep, can you fulfill this?
As a European, who grew up with democratic values and spent some fabulous time in the US during high school, I am deeply saddened by what is currently happening in the US. But I am nothing less than disgusted by those two spoiled brats complaining how the old administration was not helping getting richer. When they say they "do not speak about politics" they are basically saying they are ignoring any harm that is done to human or democratic values as long as it helps their business interest. Through their narrow-mindedness they are essentially helping to destroy the great country that the US used to be and taking it to the level of a third world autocracy.
Rich men = bad. That's why you're not rich - because you re good and have democratic values! 😄 To their point - they didn't want the government to "HELP" them in any, they wanted it to stop middling in their business with massive regulation (sometimes harassing outside written rules and laws) done by socialist incompetents who have no idea how to build anything
Representing small tech in the White House, which is full of government-granted monopolies, is unbelievably impactful for the future of innovation in America. Happy to see a16z's network grow in yet another dimension.
Totally agree! I think this is the first time...maybe ever, that people who love small businesses are helping to make government more friendly to small business.
@@eriklondon2946 Whom are you referencing as "people who love small businesses"? It's certainly not the two guys in the video. Venture Capital business model is not helping small businesses. But VC's goal is to make 1-2 out of 10 investments get really big, so that they get their payday, they increase the risk for their portfolio of "small businesses" so that hopefully a few of them become unicorns. And this is not meant as criticism, I have worked in private equity. They are supporting a self-interested government for their own self-interest not to help others. Good luck for hoping for any benefit for anyone else.
As a small business owner this election felt life or death. For the millions dying in the middle east and ukraine in preventable wars, or the 400,000 children trafficked at the border under the democrat administration which no democrats have a heart for this was actually life or death. Happy for the humanitarian benefit of the Trump administration. Glad it comes with an economic bonus too!
@@GodofDisco Agreed. Thank you for recognizing the truth, that these tech guys are literally fighting to keep small tech and small businesses alive. The Leftist mind rot is astounding to me. It happened so quickly.
he's talking about the tech industry as a whole, not literally his individual self obviously he's not dumb enough to think that he as an individual is repressed, and if you think he is that dumb then it's willful ignorance or dumbness on your part :)
When you finally understand economics (as you clearly don't) you will understand that he was being restrained from helping you. Marc helped to build and open and free internet. Not a joke. He helped Al Gore. He is the reason we aren't paying some major Leftists corporation to use the internet, like a cell phone service.
The amount of YT censorship on this is crazy. Its not they who are being oppressed it is us. We the small businesses owners of the world are being crushed by over regulation and legal attacks that kill our ability to hire more people and to innovate.
Hello Marc and Ben, I met you Marc back on High School Street when you were a team of 15 or 20. And Ben I met you and Marc in a meeting Lozon set up. I was the EDS guy that was working to license Netscape when Microsoft FUBAR’d the play. Life’s been rough recently. My question is how should 95%ers navigate the 1% dominated world that you guys are building ? Ben you referred to creatives being freed up by WorldCoin schemas ? What are you talking about? How can what you are referring to help me fund and commercialize a startup ai play? I don’t see how small business or startups are going to benefit from all this destruction of regulation. What am I missing BTW I have a firm grasp of the obvious but reveal more about the deeper impact.
You two literally triggered my gag reflex. I "was" a fan of the show, and I'm as interested in tech and ROI as the next guy, but not at the cost of my soul. How's that for cost/benefit analysis.
@@xandercorp6175 Sure. Fair question, Xander. When tech leaders voice approval for a regime that weakens regulatory frameworks, for me, it raises important ethical questions about the potential implications for society. Now, this may sound a little "dark," but without thoughtful, well conceived oversight, technologies could be developed and used in ways that prioritize profit or power over public welfare, potentially compounding inequality, perhaps violating privacy, or possibly sanctioning tools of oppression. Whether we like it or not, we're all involved. Hey, this is just one man's Op Ed.
@@urban3Czar Would you say that the current regulatory framework is working: (a) at all; (b) optimally according to its own goals; and (c) to produce outcomes that are worth the intentional tradeoffs? Also, the argument you presented is sociopolitical, not technical or even financial.
@@xandercorp6175 Hey Xander. I'll leave it at this: a) Yes, the framework does work to a degree as it prevents or at least attempts to mitigate harmful outcomes that could come in an entirely unregulated environment b) No, not optimally. Existing regulations do lag behind the pace of technological innovation, leaving gaps that can be exploited. c) The tradeoffs are very significant. Yes, regulation can impose costs. It can slow down innovation, or maybe even stifle competition. But, the outcomes, e.g. greater public safety, privacy protections, and ethical accountability I believe are worth it. Xander, you highlighted that the argument presented is sociopolitical, not technical or financial, and that’s precisely my point. Technology doesn't exist in a vacuum. It also operates within the fabric of society, impacting lives and and institutions. Thanks, man. Stay safe.
@@urban3Czar You too, bud. Although next time, if you have a point, like "I don't need to have a technical argument" you could state it outright. Or just say "no, I don't really have a tech argument". Though I don't begrudge you using to me think aloud. As to your (a-c) responses, your position as stated doesn't really justify the preservation of the current regulatory framework at all costs. It seems like even a local maximum would be preferrable, and that even greater improvements are not only possible but likely. Is your inconsistent application of progressive principles what they mean by "Americans tend to be socially liberal, but fiscally conservative"?
Wait til you fully understand the expression, "I have a bridge to sell you". This has been around for thousands of years. As they say a "Sucker is born every minute". But they used to say that in 2011 when Bitcoin was $33, now its +$78,000. Yes there are scams, but the entire US financial system is a scam when the money printer prints Trillions of USD every year.
Mmmmm can’t think of any Crypto start ups that have been dodgy….. this is like listening to two children moan about not getting enough cake at the party
Agreed, its kind of funny to hear them complain about their crypto startups being "de-banked" when the main point of Bitcoin was to be an alternative payment system.
Not defending but when the SEC says everything is illegal & we'll shut it down only the bad actors continue. Coinbase kept asking to meet with regulators for guidance & Govt said we won't meet but it will be shut it down if we decide it's wrong
Yup. Just like happened with cell phones, with Internet search, with social media companies, with internet providers (like AOL), with Computers (like Gateway, Dell, Compaq), with Camera companies going digital (Kodak is a great example of one that failed to innovate), with computer main frame companies like IBM, with Car companies when there 70 companies and now there are like 5 in the USA. It happens with most all industries... Except this time the internet Giants are trying to kill all startups and force everyone to use their 2-3 options. Pure evil.
As someone who loves all things innovation, I hope VC/PE can position themselves to be a referee of sorts between academia, industry and policy makers. As it stands (and having worked in all 3 worlds at different times) I believe it may need a 4th party to manage the rate of innovation and change impacting our society. Combine that with the upcoming change in administration, I think it will be more important than ever.
the current model will never do this - you have to figure out how to apply academia yourself first and then create a firm to drive this (this is what is happening with hedge funds)
@@halams3772 that may be true but void of me taking this on (and I would love to) I think it should be industry leaders in the space helping shape policy (to your point, I do worry about a "neutral" perspective as they sadly shape the policy to their advantage vis-a-vis what is reasonable and transparent for our world to absorb. Historically, there hasn't been too much thought on consequences to all the greatness tech introduces to the world. I hope I am wrong but I do foresee a 2008 fin event, this time prompted by tech.
46:50 Oil and gas imports to Western Europe dropped more than 50% with Germany building a gas port and new lines from Norway, and buying 50% of oil from U.S.
apolitical - bitcoin holder here… but what an incredibly odd conversation. more of a love letter to trump. cryto was held up so the hedge funds (blackrock vanguard) could get their share before the pop up. no oppression normal capitalist behavior. so why blame a political party.
@@eriklondon2946 Look at every AI startup that essentially stole data, said "well it's too late for you to do anything about it now, now watch as we tell every investor we are going to replace your job using the thing we made from your stolen data". Crypto rug pulls. Straight up fraud like Theranos. Completely fucking the housing and rental market with illegal subletting (AirBnB). Anytime I hear a startup guy say the government is holding them back means "we really want to break the law but the government won't let us". A good product is a good product. If you have a good product and are decent with numbers you can have a successful company. Crying that the government is holding you back tells me you have a bad product.
@@eriklondon2946 Perhaps the party will be great at first, but when the music ends, all that will remain is a broken context - and no small business flourishes in a place like that.
@@crispatagonian This literally sounds EXACTLY like what the Leftists tried to do during covid. Kill all small businesses, force everyone to go to the bigger monopolies. Why do you think so many small mom/pop shops have permanently closed during it? This is the opposite of what the voters who voted him in want. They don't want Leftist totalitarianism. They don't want totalitarianism of any kind.
Well look at that, another overly cynical 70 year old NBC viewer with dying TV ratings. How is a pro-growth administration going to end up being a horrible mistake? They've clearly laid their reasons about Biden's America (as in, Biden's ANTI AI/ Crypto /Tech agenda), but clearly, you didn't watch the video
Just two billionaires trying to ingratiate themselves with Cold War 2.0 authority, perhaps trying catch up Peter Thiel. They were such a great source of information,, now two more parrots. Really sad.
So this talk mentioned FIT 21 as a reasonable law, but the SEC specifically didn't like it because it purportedly creates regulatory gaps, and also because there is an existing test (Howey Test) to distinguish between securities and commodities. Does anyone know why that rebuttal by the SEC is invalid?
One of the reasons we don't use nuclear that much is proliferation issue. It happened with India in 60s when US and others helped them with nuclear power tech and soon after they already got nukes. Now the US tries to prevent others from building reactors, and as an unwritten agreement doesn't use too much nuclear themselves to avoid being too unfair and hypocritical.
I’m confused AF! Didn’t Ben just give Harris a shit load of money? Now he is expressing extremely low opinions about the Biden/Harris administration. This is causing serious cognitive dissonance for me!
I feel the same way. Time to build. Now that i have a shot and not being hobbled because someone else is resentful. People, I went into STEM to make money and make my life good. Not to work more and pay more. Cope and seethe.
21:25 - “It’s so important to be nonpartisan and to be pro-tech” 🤦🏽♂️ It’s really sad how great people can be so focused on their own thing that everything else becomes unimportant 😞
Watch PART 1 (Trump Vs. Biden: Tech Policy): th-cam.com/video/n_sNclEgQZQ/w-d-xo.html
Poor VC billionaires, they are the victims. They just want to do cryptobro stuff and get 0% interest rates.
What? Does your particularly tiny cortex realize that the only reason the computer or phone you are writing this on, and this website itself only exists because of Venture Capitalists who were willing to risk hard earned capital.
@@ethgod Lol. Investing money is their job. You think VCs invest their own personal money? No, they get funding from institutional investors who try to turn a profit and have returns uncorrelated with the stock market. It's like saying "omg, bankers are such good people, they lend all that money that they have to people who want to buy a house". It's not their money. Learn a thing about the world around you before you go defend billionaires on the Internet lol
Moron
Tyranny by the minority, voted for by a brainwashed minority because of lazy people not voting
Just move to communist countries, you will be happier there. Because billionaires like Jack Ma can be disappeared, if you become too rich and powerful, you will become target. Ah, what's the point of getting rich if your money belongs to government anyway? Just lying down, that's what's happening in China. You should really move there, you will love it.
Last time Marc said it was time to build, he also wrote a NIMBY letter to prevent building in his precious town of Atherton, CA :/ With that attitude we're not building shit.
their logic is build but 50 miles from their homes lol.. they have no empathy for working class especially the low wage workers maintaining their households
Well maybe it's only building what they want and not the other stuff...
Give him his town.
How’s that relevant if you are unwilling to provide further context
Homeless drugies housing next to his house...thats why he and other objected to it ..does it solve it for you@@ethgod
The worst four years of your career weren’t caused by White House policies, but rather by investing in dubious crypto projects.
You and your policies murdered Peanut. How dare you sit and act like you care about anyone or anything other than murdering animals.
Exactly. But let them make up stories …
Yup, I spent a year building on one of their many dubious projects thinking "if a16z did their due diligence it must be a legit project"... then the founder was arrested by the FBI. I think they believe making this video somehow justifies years of terrible decisions... "if only Trump was given a second term, all of our LPs would be praising us for our crypto investments"... not true and what a joke. I hope the LPs for the next crypto fund (they are clearly teeing up here) do their research.
"The Whitehouse didn't do ANYTHING". Whitewashing tyranny.
Yes.
I’d love to hear their reactions to who he’s promoting to cabinet positions…predictably not meritocracy unfortunately. It’s people that say yes, not people that solve problems
@@Thebutchbutch3 Loyalty over meritocracy (that is the Trump logic)
@@sanesanyo, let's be honest here, it's still better than Biden's insane cabinet. None of them knew anything about the role more than Trump's.
Excuse me, do you believe Biden appointed a transgender secretary based on meritocracy lmao?
Thank you for sharing - I appreciated the opportunity to hear your insight on the current issues.
I couldn’t bring my self to mortgage my morals for some money and burning down the whole system.
th-cam.com/video/rMkfAmkNI-0/w-d-xo.html
What lol? Biden admin was burning down the whole system and they had no morals.
Exactly. Amazing how the comments section is full of people, completely rejecting these fools and shitting all over them.
As if anyone would be interested in what you had to sell.
I started my career in tech, left for a few years to work with my hands, paint, drive ambulances, and explore other careers, and now I'm back in tech. The people at the top of tech, the VCs, and the VPs will never know how little they know about the real world. A life in startups is a two-dimensional existence that leads a person to think they know everything, simply because they've explored the entire X and Y axes. Guess what, there's a third dimension. If you knew that, you would never have posted this video.
Please explain more about the third dimension so that they become more knowledgeable. This would help everyone since these guys have power over who gets investments.
Hey, these guys have built some massive companies and are pretty knowledgeable. I’d say 95% of VCs from my experience are completely stupid and ignorant. But these guys know they’re shit for sure. Although they are too sure in their opinions sometimes
While you seem like an absolute renaissance-man for the ages, you’ve succeeded in criticizing zero of their takes. Please elaborate
wow Elon really normalized billionaire elites saying the quiet part out loud
Good
These two are so poisonous, your dog would die if it bit them.
@@ethgod stop licking the boot bro you're not a billionaire elite, more for them is less for u.
and I'm saying this as someone trying to win capitalism
4:05 Entrepreneurial activity in AI has been depressed over the past 4 years? Are you actually kidding me. AI was not even a factor 4 years ago. Guy clearly has an agenda.
Ai has been around for more than 10 years you just haven’t been exposed to it until recently by chat GPT
Entrepreneurial activity in AI is pretty far from depressed. Not sure where that comes from. Crypto, sure. AI?
@@MB2501. Ai has received more investment in the past 4 years than in all of the rest of human history combined. I don't deny it existed before, but as commercial interests go it may as well have been non existent compared to what we have today, making his claim bogus. He's just salty that his crypto scams are being investigated by the FTC imo.
The AI field has existed since the begging of computation. Aka 1940's. Our chip set at the time couldn't think as humans do, so its been "depressed" for the +84 years technically.
All these guys care about is crypto…. The idea that they have been repressed is laughable. Do we really want to go back to the days of bored apes being worth more than houses? So stupid.
AWWW they didnt let the tech bros run unfettered and they felt constrained.
th-cam.com/users/shorts65ZM7AyMl8o?feature=share
Everything you use in your daily life has some of the tech they invested in :)
@@ethgodso we shouldn’t criticize them for this absolutely braindead take? They’re claiming they were oppressed while simultaneously acknowledging no laws were preventing them from achieving their goals. Just the “vibes” were authoritarian- give me a break
I know, the story is so sad, these poor billionaires.
Worthless comment
Are they talking about the CFPB actions against LendUp? The company that claimed to be different from payday lenders, but was found to be in fact, just like other payday lenders?
After a lifetime of financial advising, I promise you, the people going to payday lenders are going to find other ways to make themselves poor. Fixing them is like trying to make a pitbull behave like a golden retriever.
@@Notrocketscience101 undoubtedly true, but removing legitimized predatory lending from the environment will at least keep hyenas from being sold next to puppies in the pet stores - to run with the dog analogy.
You still need to mention how many tech rug pulls and behind the scene retail investor fleecing for what's adding up to billion that has gone on. Can't really count that as success.
The cyberpunk dystopia is coming along great
I think we saw the potential harm crypto can do and Trump supporters are clearly supportive of this harm, which is why I’m confused about how they’re being “repressed”
The situation with FTX is a textbook example of regulatory capture. Despite being one of the most fraudulent companies in the crypto space, FTX managed to avoid significant scrutiny. Coincidentally, this happened while SBF was one of the largest donors to Biden's campaign and buddy buddy with Gensler.
Meanwhile, companies like Ripple, Coinbase, and Kraken, which have consistently voiced the need for regulatory clarity and demonstrated efforts toward compliance, faced relentless crackdowns through “regulation by enforcement.” This approach provides no clear guidelines for the industry to follow, yet punishes firms trying to operate responsibly.
Trump supporters are not endorsing harm to consumers; they’re advocating for a thriving nascent industry with the potential to transform finance. They support fair, transparent regulation that fosters innovation, not selective enforcement that stifles it.
There are millions dead in preventable wars because of how you vote, please educate yourself.
What harm?
Repressed = had to follow laws that were created because they endangered people's online safety/ data privacy/ consumer rights/ and can't do fraud :(
They claim they were repressed and immediately after stated the truth... "what was stopping you from building a product because it wasn't a law". The persecution fetish now has a sub-level regulation fetish. They've lost the plot entirely
A strong podcast! Marc's comment on anarcho tyranny was spot on.
Thank God that Trump won 🏅
The Amish Raw milk comment I think these guys have wrong. A quick google search shows that it was the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture not the Federal Government. Gets your facts straight guys.
And raided because food born illness in children was traced back to the farm! Ben, are you suggesting the government should not concern itself with food safety?
Yup these guys really don’t do their fact checking before saying stuff. Really makes me question everything else they said.
Their whole schtick is lying.
Sir, you have not factored in the vibe shift. You have to think with your senses and your brain, not with words.
These guys are lying liars, not just about the milk. Even when they say, "... bad for tech" it is a lie. It isn't bad for tech, it is bad for their investments based on the world they want to build.
you guys act as if trump wasnt already president for 4 years...
Tech world was great those years.
@@Btn1136it was booming in 20-2022
@@TysonQuick The CHIPS Act was a big deal for AI and tech independence from China and external sources in particular.
Trump didn't know sh*t about that stuff when he was prez four years ago, and today, he knows even less, to the extent that he can think at all.
The tech sector will boom regardless of who is president. Nothing but nothing a president does will affect it with the kind of money being thrown around now, except something like CHIPS can help it along and god forbid regulate it as much as possible, which is to say, not much.
Marc Andreessen has a net worth of $1.7 billion. Of course he wanted Trump to win, to renew his tax cut, which was set to expire in 2027. Not that he noticed. The paper his bills were written on noticed. He didn't feel a damn thing. He can spout whatever nonsense he wants.
Tech world was great because money was free smh
He was and it was incredible
Ben loves talking about courage, but I don't buy his argument that courage is standing up to business regulations. I hope he does some soul searching.
Believe it or not, it takes courage to support Trump in the tech. It's obvious by just reading yours and other's comments here. There are billion and billion of moeny coming from the tech to Kamala instead of Trump. If you see the chart of donation, it seems now even funner that Kamala burned all the much money out and she's in debt now, and she lost. It shows how big the bullet we just dodged. Yes, it takes courage to speak up about the issues we experienced in the past 4 years. The other side should do real soul searching why American rejected their idea.
"I am so right, you should do soual searching not me, I can't be wrong"
that's exactly root cause led to today's result, it's a cult without any chance of self correction, unfortunately. They are still blaming minorities (listen to what it sounds, like, really? yeah, no soul searching needed😑) being rxist and voting for Trump instead of doing anything retrospective. Good luck with continuing the same route.
Nobody mentions that we survived a global pandemic which saw millions die, millions suffered from not being able to work because they would get sick if they had to go to a job, and avoided a recession/depression. These guys didnt have to worry about paying rent or buying food for their familly and probably got PPP loans to boot!
A lot of bust is coming with the deregulated boom...
It was also Republicans in congress who kept weed a schedule 1 drug and made the banking laws...
Says a lot about the state of the "crypto" industry when you have VCs complaining about their crypto startups being de-banked when the whole purpose of Bitcoin is to be an alternative payment system. If even Bitcoin can't be used in that way (evidently since they are complaining), what other value are the "crypto" startups bringing?
10 years and not a single use case
I'm one of the companies who got debanked. To answer your question, these days Bitcoin/crypto can be used for just about everything besides buying property and qualifying for loans in the traditional financial sector (there are crypto loans however). There are mastercards/visa cards and direct bill payments now available with crypto as well.
My company went out of our way to be as compliant as possible and completely transparent about our business beyond what was necessary and the banks/government slapped us in the face anyways with no reason given. It's completely inappropriate.
They are creating the market they are trying to destroy. Now we use crypto even more than we did before out of necessity and caution after realizing how rabid the government/financial regulators have become.
The thing that really upsets me is that they are never going to win this battle, it's just a matter of how much they will destroy and hurt the country before someone kicks them out of the drivers seat. Other countries are adopting this tech and thriving because of it.
And for the people who don't get it, that's fine. We have been extremely successful regardless of the attacks on our industry so I don't really care if people want to sit on the sidelines.
Honestly it is disgusting to call this a boot off your neck when he is promising to literally do that to millions of immigrants. But hey you make money. Disgusting
*Illegal* immigrants. You're spreading false claims.
illegal immigrants, can you people stop the BS gaslighting. It's illegal immigration, stop disrespecting immigrants and combinding the two. Do you have the capacity to understand the difference? If not let me migrate to your house right now, whats for dinner? And I also need to bed to sleep, can you fulfill this?
There are millions dead in preventable wars because of how you vote, 400k missing children at the border. You are evil, Clay.
As a European, who grew up with democratic values and spent some fabulous time in the US during high school, I am deeply saddened by what is currently happening in the US.
But I am nothing less than disgusted by those two spoiled brats complaining how the old administration was not helping getting richer. When they say they "do not speak about politics" they are basically saying they are ignoring any harm that is done to human or democratic values as long as it helps their business interest.
Through their narrow-mindedness they are essentially helping to destroy the great country that the US used to be and taking it to the level of a third world autocracy.
Rich men = bad.
That's why you're not rich - because you re good and have democratic values! 😄
To their point - they didn't want the government to "HELP" them in any, they wanted it to stop middling in their business with massive regulation (sometimes harassing outside written rules and laws) done by socialist incompetents who have no idea how to build anything
It's geeed
Stay in Europe.
@@xrunner55 do you even know where that is on a map? The U.S. can be proud to have articulate geniuses like you.
@@m4rtin419 Half way between Russian and your own head up your arse.
Not sure why this episode is getting so much hate…
Representing small tech in the White House, which is full of government-granted monopolies, is unbelievably impactful for the future of innovation in America. Happy to see a16z's network grow in yet another dimension.
Totally agree! I think this is the first time...maybe ever, that people who love small businesses are helping to make government more friendly to small business.
@@eriklondon2946 Whom are you referencing as "people who love small businesses"?
It's certainly not the two guys in the video. Venture Capital business model is not helping small businesses. But VC's goal is to make 1-2 out of 10 investments get really big, so that they get their payday, they increase the risk for their portfolio of "small businesses" so that hopefully a few of them become unicorns. And this is not meant as criticism, I have worked in private equity.
They are supporting a self-interested government for their own self-interest not to help others. Good luck for hoping for any benefit for anyone else.
As a small business owner this election felt life or death. For the millions dying in the middle east and ukraine in preventable wars, or the 400,000 children trafficked at the border under the democrat administration which no democrats have a heart for this was actually life or death. Happy for the humanitarian benefit of the Trump administration. Glad it comes with an economic bonus too!
@@GodofDisco Agreed. Thank you for recognizing the truth, that these tech guys are literally fighting to keep small tech and small businesses alive. The Leftist mind rot is astounding to me. It happened so quickly.
So these guys are excited about . . . crypto???
“Help! Help! I’m being repressed!” - Billionaire Marc Andreessen
"Help, help! I'm being repressed!" - non billionaire, non job creator.
The super rich are usually arrogant and oblivious. I hope he reads this comment and contemplates his importance in the world.
he's talking about the tech industry as a whole, not literally his individual self
obviously he's not dumb enough to think that he as an individual is repressed, and if you think he is that dumb then it's willful ignorance or dumbness on your part :)
You think the government is robbing billionaires but leaving you alone. They're robbing you too, chump.
He did say that he felt like he has had a “boot on his neck” lol.
Another great one, thanks for doing it 🫶
A white BILLIONAIRE uttering he was "being oppressed" is hella laughable. 😂
When you finally understand economics (as you clearly don't) you will understand that he was being restrained from helping you.
Marc helped to build and open and free internet. Not a joke. He helped Al Gore. He is the reason we aren't paying some major Leftists corporation to use the internet, like a cell phone service.
Right?!
I’m being oppressed from making MORE money!
@@monchikun9935 🎯 EXACTLY!
The amount of YT censorship on this is crazy. Its not they who are being oppressed it is us. We the small businesses owners of the world are being crushed by over regulation and legal attacks that kill our ability to hire more people and to innovate.
Hello Marc and Ben, I met you Marc back on High School Street when you were a team of 15 or 20. And Ben I met you and Marc in a meeting Lozon set up. I was the EDS guy that was working to license Netscape when Microsoft FUBAR’d the play. Life’s been rough recently.
My question is how should 95%ers navigate the 1% dominated world that you guys are building ? Ben you referred to creatives being freed up by WorldCoin schemas ? What are you talking about? How can what you are referring to help me fund and commercialize a startup ai play? I don’t see how small business or startups are going to benefit from all this destruction of regulation. What am I missing BTW I have a firm grasp of the obvious but reveal more about the deeper impact.
They only care about their ability to build their wealth.
There are people in our government who are working for America's competitors.
And there are about to be a lot more. Elon musk and the trump family for instance.
@@Rockyzach88
There are millions dead in preventable wars because of how you vote, 400k missing children at the border. You are evil. Go away.
Couple of crooks whining about regulation.
funnily enough they’re asking for clear regulation, you’re the one whining
@@giosanchez90 simp
Couple of tech bro whinging about their billion dollar donation went into nothing and even debt for Kamala 🤣🤣🤣
The president has more NFTs than I could ever want 🤣
They saw entrepreneurial activity "die" in the area of ai over the past 4 years?? What planet was this guy sleeping on?
A planet where he has over invested and now wants the federal government to bail him out by removing all regulation. He’s a fucking monster
The stirrup didn’t allow bow and arrow, but armor. That was the big breakthrough to have knights in armor not falling off their horses.
You two literally triggered my gag reflex. I "was" a fan of the show, and I'm as interested in tech and ROI as the next guy, but not at the cost of my soul. How's that for cost/benefit analysis.
Have you got an actual tech argument in there, buddy?
@@xandercorp6175 Sure. Fair question, Xander. When tech leaders voice approval for a regime that weakens regulatory frameworks, for me, it raises important ethical questions about the potential implications for society. Now, this may sound a little "dark," but without thoughtful, well conceived oversight, technologies could be developed and used in ways that prioritize profit or power over public welfare, potentially compounding inequality, perhaps violating privacy, or possibly sanctioning tools of oppression. Whether we like it or not, we're all involved. Hey, this is just one man's Op Ed.
@@urban3Czar Would you say that the current regulatory framework is working:
(a) at all;
(b) optimally according to its own goals; and
(c) to produce outcomes that are worth the intentional tradeoffs?
Also, the argument you presented is sociopolitical, not technical or even financial.
@@xandercorp6175 Hey Xander. I'll leave it at this:
a) Yes, the framework does work to a degree as it prevents or at least attempts to mitigate harmful outcomes that could come in an entirely unregulated environment
b) No, not optimally. Existing regulations do lag behind the pace of technological innovation, leaving gaps that can be exploited.
c) The tradeoffs are very significant. Yes, regulation can impose costs. It can slow down innovation, or maybe even stifle competition. But, the outcomes, e.g. greater public safety, privacy protections, and ethical accountability I believe are worth it.
Xander, you highlighted that the argument presented is sociopolitical, not technical or financial, and that’s precisely my point. Technology doesn't exist in a vacuum. It also operates within the fabric of society, impacting lives and and institutions.
Thanks, man. Stay safe.
@@urban3Czar You too, bud. Although next time, if you have a point, like "I don't need to have a technical argument" you could state it outright. Or just say "no, I don't really have a tech argument". Though I don't begrudge you using to me think aloud.
As to your (a-c) responses, your position as stated doesn't really justify the preservation of the current regulatory framework at all costs. It seems like even a local maximum would be preferrable, and that even greater improvements are not only possible but likely. Is your inconsistent application of progressive principles what they mean by "Americans tend to be socially liberal, but fiscally conservative"?
you guys just described my life from 2016 to 2024 lol
He should make the company logo in the shape of his head. 100% power move.
Let the crypto scams begin and become fully legal 😂😂.
Such courage. Sacrificing human decency for crypto investments.
Wait til you fully understand the expression, "I have a bridge to sell you". This has been around for thousands of years. As they say a "Sucker is born every minute". But they used to say that in 2011 when Bitcoin was $33, now its +$78,000. Yes there are scams, but the entire US financial system is a scam when the money printer prints Trillions of USD every year.
Thanks Marc & Ben, I sincerely appreciate your insights!
Cool name!
Mmmmm can’t think of any Crypto start ups that have been dodgy….. this is like listening to two children moan about not getting enough cake at the party
Agreed, its kind of funny to hear them complain about their crypto startups being "de-banked" when the main point of Bitcoin was to be an alternative payment system.
In the future when a fraction of world finance occurs on blockchains, these comments are going to look very stupid.
Not defending but when the SEC says everything is illegal & we'll shut it down only the bad actors continue. Coinbase kept asking to meet with regulators for guidance & Govt said we won't meet but it will be shut it down if we decide it's wrong
@@JuanYo_crypto isn’t just bitcoin, stablecoins have found PMF and they need bank accounts
Dream bigger my dude, same thing could have been said about the early internet
Been wondering where Marc gets his caffeine from, glad to see it's not soda!
Funny, every government problem mentioned, as a Brit, this is just normal everyday government for us.
Grand theft auto is no longer a crime. More BS from some lo iq clowns
It literally is barely a crime in the most leftist states lol you are the low iq person living in a liberal bubble
Super interesting, thank you.
Insightful - especially on the topic of CHIPS Act!
In other words, time for a tech bubble, crazy valuations, people making millions off of fake and "nice to have" companies and then get the hell out.
Yup. Just like happened with cell phones, with Internet search, with social media companies, with internet providers (like AOL), with Computers (like Gateway, Dell, Compaq), with Camera companies going digital (Kodak is a great example of one that failed to innovate), with computer main frame companies like IBM, with Car companies when there 70 companies and now there are like 5 in the USA. It happens with most all industries... Except this time the internet Giants are trying to kill all startups and force everyone to use their 2-3 options. Pure evil.
I hope there are a16z employees out there who feel differently.
The Future will be amazing
Keep this content coming please. More Marc and Ben, more bg2, more all in. Get the smart minds at the top of it all to lift the lid for the rest of us
Trickle down economics. Keep waiting! If they enrich themselves just a little bit more, I'm sure it will pay off for you soon!
Great
Thank you for keeping the public updated🇺🇸
As someone who loves all things innovation, I hope VC/PE can position themselves to be a referee of sorts between academia, industry and policy makers. As it stands (and having worked in all 3 worlds at different times) I believe it may need a 4th party to manage the rate of innovation and change impacting our society. Combine that with the upcoming change in administration, I think it will be more important than ever.
the current model will never do this - you have to figure out how to apply academia yourself first and then create a firm to drive this (this is what is happening with hedge funds)
@@halams3772 that may be true but void of me taking this on (and I would love to) I think it should be industry leaders in the space helping shape policy (to your point, I do worry about a "neutral" perspective as they sadly shape the policy to their advantage vis-a-vis what is reasonable and transparent for our world to absorb. Historically, there hasn't been too much thought on consequences to all the greatness tech introduces to the world. I hope I am wrong but I do foresee a 2008 fin event, this time prompted by tech.
build nuclear powerplants in remote areas with AI data centers next to them: win-win.
I normally listen at 1.5 speed but when Marc speaks I look for the 0.5 button
46:50 Oil and gas imports to Western Europe dropped more than 50% with Germany building a gas port and new lines from Norway, and buying 50% of oil from U.S.
Love you guys- thanks again
thanks for standing up for this
apolitical - bitcoin holder here… but what an incredibly odd conversation. more of a love letter to trump. cryto was held up so the hedge funds (blackrock vanguard) could get their share before the pop up. no oppression normal capitalist behavior. so why blame a political party.
Helping new startups is a noble effort, but this is going to end up being a horrible mistake...Oppressed? Seriously?
Please explain how helping small companies and small startups that employee a lot of young people i s a "horrible mistake"?
@@eriklondon2946 Look at every AI startup that essentially stole data, said "well it's too late for you to do anything about it now, now watch as we tell every investor we are going to replace your job using the thing we made from your stolen data".
Crypto rug pulls.
Straight up fraud like Theranos.
Completely fucking the housing and rental market with illegal subletting (AirBnB).
Anytime I hear a startup guy say the government is holding them back means "we really want to break the law but the government won't let us". A good product is a good product. If you have a good product and are decent with numbers you can have a successful company. Crying that the government is holding you back tells me you have a bad product.
@@eriklondon2946 Perhaps the party will be great at first, but when the music ends, all that will remain is a broken context - and no small business flourishes in a place like that.
@@crispatagonian This literally sounds EXACTLY like what the Leftists tried to do during covid. Kill all small businesses, force everyone to go to the bigger monopolies. Why do you think so many small mom/pop shops have permanently closed during it?
This is the opposite of what the voters who voted him in want. They don't want Leftist totalitarianism. They don't want totalitarianism of any kind.
Well look at that, another overly cynical 70 year old NBC viewer with dying TV ratings. How is a pro-growth administration going to end up being a horrible mistake? They've clearly laid their reasons about Biden's America (as in, Biden's ANTI AI/ Crypto /Tech agenda), but clearly, you didn't watch the video
Just two billionaires trying to ingratiate themselves with Cold War 2.0 authority, perhaps trying catch up Peter Thiel. They were such a great source of information,, now two more parrots. Really sad.
So unfair to have to teach seniors (like his dad!) how to protect themselves.
The meme coins came AFTER you demanded the regulation end. You asked for it!
vultures gonna vult
No wonder Chamath is pumped
Yappers gonna yapp
14:23 anarcho tyranny
Great interview. Why is there not a dedicated to assist VCs + using AI to create submission que for projects seeking funding?
wow i totally agree with you that's amazing🎉🎉🎉🎉
"not banking is an act of violence"😔
Thank you both!!
So this talk mentioned FIT 21 as a reasonable law, but the SEC specifically didn't like it because it purportedly creates regulatory gaps, and also because there is an existing test (Howey Test) to distinguish between securities and commodities. Does anyone know why that rebuttal by the SEC is invalid?
didn't Section 174 happen during Trump's first administration? yeah that's been great for tech startups
thank you guys for so matter of fact supportive of tech 👏🚀🇺🇸
Just remember folks, if guys like this are happy, you are probably losing
Everyone that visited Diddy’s parties endorsed Kamala
I don’t like trump but pretending like the blues are any better is kinda nuts
@@miketrago4561Trump endorsed Kamala ?
the opposite is true
You supported the murder of Peanut?! You support totalitarianism? Wow. Why not move to North Korea, get all of it you want?
@@miketrago4561 Agreed. Leftists are the ones transing kids and murdering squirrels and saying they are "good ones".
Timestamps please
Excellent….very enlightening!
Humpty Dumpty looking out for the elites
Yes, the elites, the greatest value creators, the greatest job creators, as they should be.
Appreciate this. Such testing times we are entering and our adversaries degrade us from within.
The stirrup comment was used in the Netflix show 3 Body Problem. The lead planetary defense agent received the gengis Kahn stirrup as a gift.
How is crypto being used in Korea? How do these use cases improve lives in Korea?
I assume we're talking about South Korea too.
Unsubbed. What astounding selfishness and greed.
I unsubscribed as well. These guys are grifters.
@@eric.aaron.castro This video is so good at disguised greed it's comical
Unsubbing is greedy and selfish.
There are millions dead in preventable wars because of how you vote, we'll fix your mistakes please move elsewhere.
Not at all, they are some of the most selfless people in tech. You just do not understand what a nightmare this administration was.
One of the reasons we don't use nuclear that much is proliferation issue. It happened with India in 60s when US and others helped them with nuclear power tech and soon after they already got nukes. Now the US tries to prevent others from building reactors, and as an unwritten agreement doesn't use too much nuclear themselves to avoid being too unfair and hypocritical.
Music to my ears 🎉
Really nice to have a16z on the right side of things, took courage
Its crazy to see how YT is hiding this comment at the bottom but boosting Leftists ones who crave totalitarianism.
Finally I understand why my bank account was closed….
i really struggled to stay awake listening to this
I’m confused AF! Didn’t Ben just give Harris a shit load of money? Now he is expressing extremely low opinions about the Biden/Harris administration. This is causing serious cognitive dissonance for me!
Biden/Harris went extremely anti-business after they hired Lina Khan.
I feel the same way. Time to build. Now that i have a shot and not being hobbled because someone else is resentful. People, I went into STEM to make money and make my life good. Not to work more and pay more. Cope and seethe.
21:25 - “It’s so important to be nonpartisan and to be pro-tech” 🤦🏽♂️
It’s really sad how great people can be so focused on their own thing that everything else becomes unimportant 😞
55:05 Marc is talking about Erik Prince the founder of Blackwater.
Erik said that about that in his recent interview with Anthony Pompliano.
I stand corrected.
great pod
That must be a skit right? Are they doing the Gavin Belson "billionaires are the real victims" bit from Silicon Valley? You guys are hillarious
lmao entire comment section is just a liberal hug box
Just pure mumble bumbling - you commercialized the browser - sad
This is an excellent podcast. Weird to see negative comments.
Bots and paid shills. Unironically.
So odd that we don't love the sight of two billionaires gloating about how they sold our country down the river for a buck.
It’s interesting anyone else noticing that the comment section algorithm is now being filtered for negative things to be at the top?
That is a beautiful tin foil hat!
Do you guys foresee the repeal of Sarbox and other exit-choking regulations?