Haun VenturesThe Web3 Voter
By Chris Lehane and Tomicah Tillemann At Haun Ventures, our belief that we need new rules for new things is central to our advocacy for web3. For over a decade, many in the crypto community have focused on effecting change through engagement with the executive branch of government. As we head into a new chapter for the space—a moment in which a myriad of new use cases beyond finance are emerging—it is the other two branches of government, the legislative and the judiciary, that will feature p...
Haun VenturesIntroducing Haun Ventures
By Katie Haun Today, we’re introducing Haun Ventures, a firm designed from the ground up to help founders build the next generation of the internet. We’ve raised $1.5 billion in capital to support the growth of web3. We’ll invest through two platforms: a $500 million early stage fund and a $1 billion acceleration fund. My path to web3 My road to crypto and then to venture was unconventional. I spent over a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuting organized crime, murders, public c...
Haun VenturesTaking A Long Term View of Web3
By Katie Haun and Fred Wilson The events surrounding FTX have shaken the confidence of many. How did one of the largest crypto exchanges collapse so quickly? Why do meltdowns like this seem to keep happening? At times like this, it helps to have a long-term view of web3 as a sector, not just a forward-looking long-term view, but also some perspective on where we have come from. As longtime investors in web3 and board members (also individual shareholders) of Coinbase, one of the oldest and be...
Investing in the next generation of the internet. Find us at https://www.haun.co/
Haun VenturesThe Web3 Voter
By Chris Lehane and Tomicah Tillemann At Haun Ventures, our belief that we need new rules for new things is central to our advocacy for web3. For over a decade, many in the crypto community have focused on effecting change through engagement with the executive branch of government. As we head into a new chapter for the space—a moment in which a myriad of new use cases beyond finance are emerging—it is the other two branches of government, the legislative and the judiciary, that will feature p...
Haun VenturesIntroducing Haun Ventures
By Katie Haun Today, we’re introducing Haun Ventures, a firm designed from the ground up to help founders build the next generation of the internet. We’ve raised $1.5 billion in capital to support the growth of web3. We’ll invest through two platforms: a $500 million early stage fund and a $1 billion acceleration fund. My path to web3 My road to crypto and then to venture was unconventional. I spent over a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuting organized crime, murders, public c...
Haun VenturesTaking A Long Term View of Web3
By Katie Haun and Fred Wilson The events surrounding FTX have shaken the confidence of many. How did one of the largest crypto exchanges collapse so quickly? Why do meltdowns like this seem to keep happening? At times like this, it helps to have a long-term view of web3 as a sector, not just a forward-looking long-term view, but also some perspective on where we have come from. As longtime investors in web3 and board members (also individual shareholders) of Coinbase, one of the oldest and be...
Investing in the next generation of the internet. Find us at https://www.haun.co/
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By Tomicah Tillemann, Chris Lehane, and James Rathmell
Yesterday, we submitted extensive comments in response to a request for input from the Treasury Department. The agency is looking for help figuring out how to support the development of digital asset technology without enabling bad actors. As a reminder, an Executive Order issued by the White House in March assigned the Department responsibility for quarterbacking elements of the government’s broader web3 strategy.
To date, much of the agency’s focus has been on managing potential risks related to money laundering and illicit use of digital assets. We think that’s the wrong starting point for a conversation about how policymakers should engage with web3. Our response, available in its entirety via this link, is built around three main points:
(1) The current financial system is failing to meet the needs of millions of Americans and billions worldwide. Consumers are currently spending $46 billion on anti-money laundering protections that only stop 0.2% of illicit financial flows. At the same time, the system is preventing millions from accessing basic financial services. Many legacy systems simply aren’t working the way they should.
(2) Web3 technologies can provide significant improvements over a broken status quo. Programmable assets can bring new functionality to finance. For example, emergency relief funds could be programmed for use on food or housing or designed to decrease in value over time, thereby reducing the potential for inflation. ZK proofs offer better solutions for preserving privacy. And digital assets in general provide a new infrastructure with the potential to be far more efficient, inclusive, and innovative than the antiquated systems currently used for moving money.
(3) Given the benefits of web3 architecture, the Treasury should prioritize responsible collaborative efforts with the private sector. The infrastructure of the internet and global finance is going to change. That much is clear. The question is whether the United States and other open societies can leverage web3 to provide serious alternatives to the sophisticated systems emerging from authoritarian regimes. That’s still an open question, and the answer will depend on regulators working together with technologists and industry.
We suggest that the Treasury Department take specific actions including building policy around consultative rulemaking rather than punitive enforcement, encouraging development of open standards for privacy-preserving digital identity, and embracing open-source innovation as an alternative to closed, centralized systems. Fostering the responsible growth of web3 is one of the most important steps the United States can take to ensure its strength and competitiveness in the 21st century. Our engagement with Treasury is one of many ways we’re working to help policymakers understand and embrace that potential.
This post is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell securities or to pursue any particular investment strategy. This post should not be relied upon in evaluating the merits of any investment or any particular investment strategy. You should consult your own advisers as to business, financial, tax, legal, and all other related matters concerning any investment. The views expressed in this post reflect the current opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Haun Ventures Management LP or its affiliates. Certain information in this post may have been obtained from third-party sources, including portfolio companies of Haun Ventures. While taken from sources that the authors believe to be reliable, Haun Ventures has not independently verified the accuracy of such information. Content is as of the date posted and subject to change without notice. Haun Ventures makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of information or its appropriateness for any given situation. Please see https://www.haun.co/disclosures for additional important information.
By Tomicah Tillemann, Chris Lehane, and James Rathmell
Yesterday, we submitted extensive comments in response to a request for input from the Treasury Department. The agency is looking for help figuring out how to support the development of digital asset technology without enabling bad actors. As a reminder, an Executive Order issued by the White House in March assigned the Department responsibility for quarterbacking elements of the government’s broader web3 strategy.
To date, much of the agency’s focus has been on managing potential risks related to money laundering and illicit use of digital assets. We think that’s the wrong starting point for a conversation about how policymakers should engage with web3. Our response, available in its entirety via this link, is built around three main points:
(1) The current financial system is failing to meet the needs of millions of Americans and billions worldwide. Consumers are currently spending $46 billion on anti-money laundering protections that only stop 0.2% of illicit financial flows. At the same time, the system is preventing millions from accessing basic financial services. Many legacy systems simply aren’t working the way they should.
(2) Web3 technologies can provide significant improvements over a broken status quo. Programmable assets can bring new functionality to finance. For example, emergency relief funds could be programmed for use on food or housing or designed to decrease in value over time, thereby reducing the potential for inflation. ZK proofs offer better solutions for preserving privacy. And digital assets in general provide a new infrastructure with the potential to be far more efficient, inclusive, and innovative than the antiquated systems currently used for moving money.
(3) Given the benefits of web3 architecture, the Treasury should prioritize responsible collaborative efforts with the private sector. The infrastructure of the internet and global finance is going to change. That much is clear. The question is whether the United States and other open societies can leverage web3 to provide serious alternatives to the sophisticated systems emerging from authoritarian regimes. That’s still an open question, and the answer will depend on regulators working together with technologists and industry.
We suggest that the Treasury Department take specific actions including building policy around consultative rulemaking rather than punitive enforcement, encouraging development of open standards for privacy-preserving digital identity, and embracing open-source innovation as an alternative to closed, centralized systems. Fostering the responsible growth of web3 is one of the most important steps the United States can take to ensure its strength and competitiveness in the 21st century. Our engagement with Treasury is one of many ways we’re working to help policymakers understand and embrace that potential.
This post is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell securities or to pursue any particular investment strategy. This post should not be relied upon in evaluating the merits of any investment or any particular investment strategy. You should consult your own advisers as to business, financial, tax, legal, and all other related matters concerning any investment. The views expressed in this post reflect the current opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Haun Ventures Management LP or its affiliates. Certain information in this post may have been obtained from third-party sources, including portfolio companies of Haun Ventures. While taken from sources that the authors believe to be reliable, Haun Ventures has not independently verified the accuracy of such information. Content is as of the date posted and subject to change without notice. Haun Ventures makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of information or its appropriateness for any given situation. Please see https://www.haun.co/disclosures for additional important information.
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