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Mona Coyle @ Cloud3 Ventures

🌟 Money is moving, and it is choosing builders.

From a16z’s $50 million bet on Solana’s MEV layer to ARK’s play in tokenized assets and Kraken’s move into regulated futures, the week was defined by conviction capital.

Real companies are being funded to solve real problems, and the institutions backing them are shaping the rails of tomorrow’s financial system. 🌟

Jito 🥷

a16z Doubles Down on Web3 Infrastructure with $50 Million Bet on Jito 💡

a16z is not just investing in projects. It is building the blueprint for decentralized finance.

With a $50 million investment into Jito, Solana’s MEV and liquid staking protocol, a16z is expanding its reach across the critical layer that powers yield, liquidity, and block production.

What’s Happening 🚀

a16z Crypto has taken a $50 million stake in Jito.

Jito manages about $2.8 billion in total value locked (TVL), leading Solana’s liquid staking market ahead of Marinade’s $1.9 billion, and following Ethereum’s Lido at $33.9 billion.

Together, this positions a16z as a critical builder of how modern blockchains move money.

Why Jito Fits the Thesis 🧩

a16z’s strategy is clear: back the rails, not the noise.

By investing in Jito, the firm gains exposure to Solana’s validator economy and to the rapidly growing MEV yield layer, one of crypto’s fastest expanding profit engines.

This move strengthens a16z’s cross-chain infrastructure strategy and reinforces its goal of owning the systems that power liquidity and block production.

As MEV evolves from niche arbitrage to a core market function, controlling its flow means influencing how value is distributed across networks. Jito gives a16z that foothold.

How It Works ⚙️

Jito runs optimized validator clients that capture MEV profits and redistribute them to users through JitoSOL, a liquid staking derivative.

Users stake SOL, receive JitoSOL, and earn both staking rewards and MEV revenue.

For a16z, the mechanics matter less than the economics. Jito turns network activity into a self-sustaining yield engine that increases Solana’s efficiency while rewarding participation.

The Strategic Layer 💸

The $50 million investment was executed as a private token purchase, granting a16z both governance rights and long-term alignment with Jito’s token economy (CoinDesk).

Proceeds will be used to scale validator infrastructure, deepen DeFi integrations on Solana, and expand JitoSOL liquidity across exchanges and lending protocols (MEXC News).

This reinforces the broader a16z ecosystem. Flashbots optimizes Ethereum’s blockspace, EigenLayer secures it, and Jito ensures Solana’s market runs efficiently and profitably.

Why It Matters 🌍

Infrastructure is crypto’s quiet monopoly.

By embedding itself in systems that manage block production, staking, and MEV capture, a16z is not betting on hype or speculation. It is investing in the mechanisms of value creation (Cointelegraph).

While others chase apps or memecoins, a16z is assembling the plumbing that every blockchain transaction will rely on.

Looking Ahead 🔮

a16z’s thesis is unfolding chain by chain.

If Solana continues to scale and MEV capture becomes standardized, Jito could become to Solana what Flashbots is to Ethereum, a core piece of market infrastructure (CoinDesk).

For a16z, the message is simple: whoever builds the infrastructure controls the future.

Securitize 🏗️ 

With tokenization on the rise, ARK doesn’t want to miss the boat.

ARK Venture Fund just invested in Securitize, joining a roster that already includes BlackRock, Hamilton Lane, ParaFi Capital, and Tradeweb Markets.

🌍 The Market for Tokenized RWAs

Real world asset (RWA) tokenization is now one of the fastest-growing sectors in crypto; topping $25 B in total value locked across regulated issuers → CoinDesk

Securitize sits at the center.

It converts money market funds, private credit, and fixed-income products into compliant, on-chain securities.

These are not synthetics, they’re legally backed shares recorded directly on-chain, giving holders true ownership.→ Medium

Their marquee deal: acting as digital transfer and placement agent for BlackRock’s BUIDL Fund, the first tokenized U.S. Treasury product managed by the world’s largest asset manager → Wall Street Journal

💰 Regulation, Market Depth, and the $1 B + Club

Regulation is both moat and bottleneck.

Tokenized assets must clear SEC, KYC/AML, and broker-dealer frameworks.

Among the few who have scaled past $1 B:

Each billion-dollar platform has institutional gravity.

For Securitize, that anchor is BlackRock. The BUIDL launch proved tokenization isn’t just possible, it’s credible for Wall Street.→ Axios

💸 The Raise

$47 M Strategic Round → Securitize Press Release

For ARK Invest, the move reinforces its thesis that blockchain is the new backbone of capital markets.

For Securitize, it’s institutional validation at the highest level.→ Refresh Miami

🔮 Looking Ahead

Securitize isn’t proving that tokenization works; it’s proving that it scales.

If the next generation of capital markets moves on-chain, Securitize will already be running the rails.

Kraken 🦑

Kraken Expands Its Tentacles Acquiring Small Exchange

Kraken is tightening its grip on the U.S. derivatives market, acquiring the CFTC regulated Small Exchange to bring crypto futures and options trading fully onshore.

Kraken at a Glance 🌍

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Wyoming, Kraken is one of the world’s oldest and most trusted crypto exchanges, serving over 10 million clients across more than 190 countries.

Its reach spans the full digital asset stack:

Kraken’s compliance footprint includes active regulation under FINTRAC in Canada, the FCA in the United Kingdom, and BaFin in Germany, making it one of the most globally regulated exchanges (CoinDesk).

The Acquisition by the Numbers 💸

The Small Exchange 🌾

The Small Exchange is a boutique U.S. futures marketplace operating on traditional financial rails, offering smaller standardized contracts under full regulatory oversight.

Under Kraken, The Small Exchange is expected to evolve from a niche TradFi platform into a compliant bridge connecting regulated derivatives infrastructure to on chain markets, paving the path for a new era of Web3 integrated and U.S. regulated futures and options.

Strategic Fit 🧩

This acquisition places Kraken directly inside the regulated U.S. derivatives market, allowing it to compete with Coinbase Financial Markets and CME Group on domestic ground (The Block).

It also connects Kraken’s offshore futures strength with institutional capital in the United States, furthering its long term goal of becoming the first full stack digital asset bank (Decrypt).

Looking Ahead 🔮

If approved by regulators, Kraken’s new CFTC license could make it the most vertically integrated crypto platform in the United States, from wallet to spot to derivatives, proving that the kraken’s reach is far from over (Business Wire).

Daylight Energy ☀️

Web3 power for the real world. Backed by real players for real people.

Daylight Energy is turning solar energy into yield on chain ⚡💲

Who They Are ⚡️

Founded in 2022 by Evan Caron and Eric Andrews, Daylight Energy is building a decentralized energy network that connects rooftop solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles directly to the grid (ESG Today).

The company enables homeowners to earn yield from stored solar energy while investors gain exposure to those same energy flows through tokenized assets (Blockworks).

The Raise 💸

Daylight’s latest round builds on its prior $15 million Series A and a growing cash-flow foundation through homeowner subscriptions and grid-dispatch revenue (Blockworks).

Total raised: $75 million

Why It Matters 🌍

Daylight’s vision shows how Web3 can power real assets, not just digital ones.

To deliver, it needs to prove measurable adoption, scalable deployment, consistent subscription revenue, and a functioning token economy that connects real-world energy to on-chain yield.

The institutional backing gives Daylight credibility, but now it must turn that potential into performance.

_IRL:

Bank Charter Enters New Territory 🏦

Stripe and Sony are each applying for U.S. federal charters that would let them hold, move, and manage both fiat and digital assets under direct regulatory oversight (CoinDesk, The Block).

New Frontiers in Banking 🚀

For Stripe, the charter strengthens its position as the backbone of global payments, extending its reach into stablecoins and on-chain financial infrastructure (CoinDesk).

🚦 Sony’s move signals the next evolution of banking itself, where media, gaming, and creative IP converge inside an immersive digital economy built on tokenized ownership and programmable value (The Block) 🚦

What Is a Bank Charter? 🧩

A bank charter is a federal license that allows a company to operate as a bank under U.S. oversight (U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency).

Companies pursue charters to:

Traditionally, charters are reserved for banks and trust institutions, not tech giants. 

That is why these applications from Stripe and Sony represent a new phase in financial convergence between technology and traditional banking (CoinDesk, The Block).

Why It Matters 🌍

For Stripe, this helps lock in its role as the backbone of digital payments and stablecoins (CoinDesk).

For Sony, it marks a shift from entertainment to finance, showing how bank charters are becoming the key to owning the future of digital money and assets (The Block).

ETF / ETP-tober: Filings and Approvals Abound 📈

From Washington to London, crypto investment products are multiplying as both regions see a surge in new ETF and ETP filings. 

BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETP marks the first launch under the U.K.’s post-ban regulatory framework (CoinDesk, Cointelegraph).

ETF-tober Expands: Wall Street Files, London Approves ✅

The latest wave of U.S. filings shows traditional finance racing to capture crypto exposure across multiple fronts.

Meanwhile in the U.K., BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETP marks the country’s first regulated crypto listing since the Financial Conduct Authority lifted its retail trading ban earlier this year (CoinDesk). 

The approval signals a wider shift in Europe toward bringing digital assets into traditional market structures under clear compliance frameworks.

Why It Matters 🌍

Together, these filings signal real momentum in regulated crypto investing. 

ETFs and ETPs are quickly evolving from pilot products into global trading infrastructure. 

The next test will be sustained inflows, cross-market liquidity, and how regulators balance innovation with investor protection.

Citi Joins the TradFi Custody Club 🏦

What’s Happening 🚀

Citigroup is preparing to launch its in-house crypto custody service in 2026 after years of quiet development. 

The bank plans to integrate digital assets directly into its existing securities and treasury management platforms, extending access to institutional clients and fund managers worldwide (Ledger Insights).

The Space 🌍

Traditional banks are racing to bring crypto custody in-house as regulation and institutional demand mature.

Why It Matters 💡

The world’s largest custodians are turning digital assets into an integrated part of the traditional financial system. 

Citi’s entry signals that crypto custody is no longer an experiment but a standard feature of modern banking infrastructure.

Square is giving merchants a direct line to Bitcoin. The payments giant is now letting its 4M+ U.S. merchants accept BTC at checkout, hold it in an integrated wallet, and enjoy zero fees through 2026.

🧭 Regulation Roundup

Global regulators are no longer on the sidelines.

From stablecoins to tokenized treasuries, the conversation is shifting from enforcement to integration. Governments are now building policy frameworks that connect crypto to traditional markets, data systems, and even national infrastructure.

🇺🇸 Fed Eyes “Skinny” Accounts for Fintechs

Fed Governor Christopher Waller says the central bank must “embrace disruption,” proposing a limited-access “skinny” master account for fintech and blockchain firms to plug into Fed payment rails without full banking charters. (CoinDesk)

🇨🇦 British Columbia Bans New Crypto Mines

British Columbia will permanently block new crypto-mining connections to the provincial grid to conserve power for AI and industrial projects. (CoinDesk)

🏛️ Congress Still Split on Crypto Policy

After Democrats’ closed-door crypto roundtable, Senate Republicans are planning their own CEO summit as Congress struggles to finalize a unified digital-asset framework; leaving the U.S. crypto agenda stalled despite bipartisan pressure for clarity. (CoinDesk)

🏦 Ondo Pushes SEC to Delay Nasdaq’s Tokenization Plan

Ondo Finance urged the SEC to postpone Nasdaq’s tokenized-securities rollout, citing gaps in transparency and clarity around asset custody and trade settlement. (CoinDesk)

💵 Fed’s Barr Warns of Stablecoin Risk Zones

Vice Chair Michael Barr outlined key hazards in future stablecoin regulation, including redemption runs, custodial risk, and concentration in non-bank issuers. (CoinDesk)

🇺🇸 Florida Revives 1:1 Crypto Reserve Bill

A Florida lawmaker reintroduced a bill requiring exchanges and stablecoin issuers to maintain full asset reserves, aiming to restore public trust after earlier efforts stalled. (Cointelegraph)

🇦🇪 Dubai to Regulate Machine Economy

Dubai’s regulators are developing rules for DePIN networks, starting with peaq, to govern data, AI, and device-to-device payments in decentralized machine economies. (Cointelegraph)

🇦🇺 Australia Targets Unlicensed Crypto ATMs

Australia’s financial watchdog is seeking expanded powers to ban or restrict unregistered crypto ATMs under new AML-focused legislation. (Cointelegraph)

🇺🇸 Congressman Seeks to Codify Trump 401(k) Order

A U.S. representative proposed turning Trump’s crypto-friendly 401(k) executive order into law, formalizing retirement-plan access to digital assets. (Cointelegraph)

🇧🇹 Bhutan Moves National ID to Ethereum

Bhutan is migrating its national digital ID system onto Ethereum, marking a milestone in government adoption of public blockchains. (Cointelegraph)

🇺🇸 California Signs AI Safeguard Bills

Governor Newsom approved new laws requiring transparency and labeling for AI chatbots that simulate humans in elections, hiring, or public services. (Cointelegraph)

🇰🇷 Binance Cleared to Acquire GOPAX

South Korean regulators approved Binance’s acquisition of local exchange GOPAX, marking the exchange’s official return to the Korean market. (Decrypt)

🇯🇵 Japan Mulls Bank Access to Crypto Trading

Japan’s Financial Services Agency is considering letting domestic banks buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly to expand retail access and institutional liquidity. (The Block)

💴 Tokenized Treasuries Earn S&P’s AA+ Rating

OpenEden’s TBILL fund received an AA+ rating from S&P Global, becoming the first tokenized U.S. Treasury product recognized by a major credit agency. (The Block)

The takeaway:

Regulators are no longer trying to stop crypto, they are trying to define it.

Around the world, policymakers are shifting from enforcement to integration, building frameworks that connect stablecoins, tokenized assets, and decentralized infrastructure to traditional financial systems.

The next phase will test whether these rules can turn pilot projects into lasting market structure and move crypto from political debate to practical deployment.

✨ This week’s headlines tell a clear story.

Capital is flowing toward infrastructure, tokenization, and regulation that lasts. Builders like Jito, Securitize, and Daylight are proving that the next cycle will be powered by products, not promises.

The money is getting smarter, and it is building for permanence.✨