a16z (Andreessen Horowitz) is a well-known venture fund that has invested in Facebook, Twitter, Airbnb, Instagram, Coinbase, Ripple, and other early-stage startups. It manages about $42 billion.
It is always interesting to study forecasts from such funds because it is their professional activity.
What do they expect in the next year?
☕️ Cryptocurrencies will become part of the real economy
Stablecoins have already proven their value: they are cheaper and faster than traditional payments. In 2025, large companies will start transitioning to stablecoins en masse, saving millions on fees. Small businesses — cafes, shops, restaurants — will be at the forefront, as they suffer the most from high bank and payment system fees.
🔋 Tokenization of assets: everything can be turned into digital money
The decreasing cost of technologies will open up opportunities to tokenize unusual assets — for example, biometric data or energy. These assets will be sellable and rentable through smart contracts.
🏦 Government debt on the blockchain? Why not
Some countries are already experimenting with issuing government bonds on the blockchain. This creates new opportunities for investors and strengthens the DeFi ecosystem. Most importantly, it provides transparency and reduces bureaucracy.
🤖 AI and crypto: a new reality
Artificial intelligence is becoming autonomous. AI could have its own crypto wallet to perform operations on the blockchain, participate in DeFi, and even manage network nodes. Imagine AI managing the energy grid or creating its own blockchain. This is no longer fiction, but the near future.
🤖 Decentralized Autonomous Chatbots (DAC)
Chatbots will no longer depend on humans. They will be able to operate completely autonomously, earn money through cryptocurrencies, manage their assets, and attract an audience.
👀 «Proof of personhood»: how to understand that you are talking to a real person
In a world of fakes and deepfakes, we need a way to ensure that we are dealing with a real person. "Proof of personhood" is a technology that will distinguish people from AI. It will become an important tool for security and maintaining trust in the digital world.
📱 Web3 will become simpler
Blockchain technologies will stop being complex for ordinary users. Successful projects will hide technical details, making interfaces intuitive. Like Spotify for music or maps for payments.
In summary, 2025 could be the year when cryptocurrencies and blockchain move from niche areas into everyday life.