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“You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

startupsandecon.substack.com

11–20 of 65 posts

Re: “You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

#12
post #8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically all of crypto is strategems that would be illegal in conventional finance, but all participants pretend they’re legal due to crypto

I can't keep standing by as this continues to be parroted here. You see the same machinations by some percentage of bad actors to take advantage of regulation not existing yet in any and every industry , from fruit, to paper manufacturing. Yes, in many cases Coinbase doesn't list coins they don't like, and rushes to list ones it does. This just further highlights the important of knowing, to every depth possible, who…

Many industries, including the fruit and financial industries, are regulated to try to prevent this sort of abuse. The parent is merely pointing out that, absent regulation, abuse and corruption are inevitable.

Re: “You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

#13
post #8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically all of crypto is strategems that would be illegal in conventional finance, but all participants pretend they’re legal due to crypto

I can't keep standing by as this continues to be parroted here. You see the same machinations by some percentage of bad actors to take advantage of regulation not existing yet in any and every industry , from fruit, to paper manufacturing. Yes, in many cases Coinbase doesn't list coins they don't like, and rushes to list ones it does. This just further highlights the important of knowing, to every depth possible, who…

Frontrunning is a common practice wherever it is not explictly banned. most exchanges, opensea etc all have significant amount of insider activity.

Re: “You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

#14
Tracking performance relative to ETH and BTC seems flawed to me. Tokens/Coins can have investment properties that are more or less speculative so the relative price to other cryptos may be irrelevant. As an example FileCoin is a storage token and more of a utility coin rather than a value store.

I think the point around conflicts of interest is sound. A16Z should probably step down from the board.

Re: “You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

#15
> The “hits” in VC are supposed to be “100x” returns to make up for dozens of failures, but of a16z’s listings only one (Solana) managed to at least double in BTC terms.

The return on Solana from bear market to bull market is far in excess of 100x.

Re: “You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

#17
> You’re a nocoiner. Nope, I’m long BTC, ETH, and NEAR, with March ‘22 $26 puts on BITO to hedge some of the recent volatility.

Do people do this to feel smart? You’re already speculating by buying the actual asset. What’s the point of doing more?

Re: “You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

#19
post #8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically all of crypto is strategems that would be illegal in conventional finance, but all participants pretend they’re legal due to crypto

I can't keep standing by as this continues to be parroted here. You see the same machinations by some percentage of bad actors to take advantage of regulation not existing yet in any and every industry , from fruit, to paper manufacturing. Yes, in many cases Coinbase doesn't list coins they don't like, and rushes to list ones it does. This just further highlights the important of knowing, to every depth possible, who…

The comment is about the financial industry. And it's right. What happens in the fruit industry isn't relevant. The financial industry is heavily regulated (many say for good reason), and much of crypto seems to be created to avoid this regulation, or to claim that the thing created isn't subject to regulation.

Re: “You Don't Own Web3”: A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail

#20

Seems like a pretty reasonable analysis of what is going on. I'd be interested in hearing any rebuttals.

He’s comparing a very narrow range after listing but you can buy crypto at anytime using DEXs. He compares it to an IPO but it’s easy to buy crypto before it’s listed on a centralized exchange and much harder to buy equity in a private company.

So yes, retail had its shot before a major CEX listing.

If you bought Solana or Cardano in the bear market you are outperforming Bitcoin.

Solana was a few bucks in 2020 and close to $260 in 2021.

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