Here’s the cryptocurrency news you missed at Disrupt 2023

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This week I was in San Francisco for TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. It was a three-day trip jam-packed with panels, booths, and conversations about tech, AI, space, security, and, of course, cryptocurrencies. You can check out all the news coverage Here.

During the event, 20 startups showcased their companies live as part of the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2023. These companies were selected as the best of the Startup Battlefield 200 and competed for a chance to take the Startup Home Battlefield Cup and $100,000. Here are the six finalists.

For me, I moderated four panels on stage, including two separate chats with major VC players like Arianna Simpson of a16z and Chris Lehane of Haun Ventures. (Details about this below.)

And don’t worry, we’ll be posting more cryptocurrency coverage from the conference, including a story on the blockchain-focused panel I moderated with Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder and CEO of Solana Labs; Grace Torrellas, vice president of product and product manager at Polygon zkEVM; and Mo Shaikh, co-founder and CEO of Aptos Labs.

Anyway, let’s get to the point.

Cryptocurrencies at Disrupt 2023

1. After cutting ties with Binance, Checkout.com says crypto firms account for around 4% of its total processing volume
2. Arianna Simpson of a16z believes cryptocurrencies will do well, thanks for asking
3. Libra’s co-creator had geopolitical motivations for building the digital currency (TC+)
4. Alpha3D wants to accelerate digital and AI-based asset generation through cheaper, hyperscale technology

This week on web3

1. PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin is now available on Venmo
2. Aptos Labs adds Coinbase Pay to its Petra crypto wallet
3. 8 web3 gaming experts discuss the obstacles and opportunities on the path to wider adoption (TC+)
4. Blockchain Capital launches two new funds totaling $580 million
5. Adoption of Web3 may come through the enterprise, but the real boom will come through startups (TC+)

The last pod

For this week episode, Jacquelyn did a live interview with Chris Lehane, chief strategy officer at Haun Ventures, at TechCrunch’s Disrupt 2023 in San Francisco.

Before joining the company, Chris was an executive at Airbnb. He also co-founded a strategic consulting firm, Fabiani & Lehane, which advised political, corporate, technology, entertainment and professional sports clients. In the 1990s, Chris served in various government roles, as press secretary to Vice President Al Gore and as assistant special counsel to President Bill Clinton.

After several decades of working across multiple industries, Chris entered the world of cryptocurrencies at Haun Ventures, a web3-focused venture capital firm that has two investment vehicles: a $500 million early-stage fund and a $1 billion acceleration. In addition to Haun, he is also a member of Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council.

We discussed, among other things, Haun’s investment strategy in the context of U.S. and global regulatory challenges, how the firm advises portfolio companies to navigate an ever-changing environment, and whether Chris finds the firm’s regulatory tactics productive United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Follow the money

1. Mesh, which helps people manage their digital assets, raised 22 million dollars
2. The former Farmville co-creator raised $33 million for his Proof of Play blockchain gaming startup
3. The Lens protocol-based Orb app has raised $2.3 million to grow the social web3
4. Crypto analytics platform CoinScan breaks out with a $6.3 million raise
5. Decentralized marketplace protocol Freatic raises $3.6 million in round led by a16z

This list was compiled with information from Messari and reporting from TechCrunch.

What else are we writing

Do you want to leave the world of web3? Here are some articles on TechCrunch that caught our attention this week.

1. Cisco to Acquire Splunk in Mega $28 Billion Deal
2. As Robinhood looks to global expansion, CEO says: ‘We’ve made a lot of progress’
3. How Reed Jobs’ venture capital firm tackles cancer
4. Shaquille O’Neal talks investing in edtech and startups that will ‘change people’s lives’
5. Why is Y Combinator so defensive lately?

Follow me on Twitter @Jacqmelinek for the latest cryptocurrency news, memes and more.

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