Eleni | Loop Crypto

We’re excited to announce a new strategic funding round for @loopcrypto_xyz led by @fabric_vc & @vaneck_us with additional first-time investment from @mert (Helius) & @maxwolfj (Plug and Play) and with continued support from @a16zcrypto, @archetypevc, a_capital, & others. This brings Loop Crypto’s total funding to over $6M. 🚀

I got to talk stablecoins inside a regulated bank — what's actually working, what's not, and where the gaps still are. 🎙️ Catch my full conversation with @amiravalliani on Apple or Spotify! 🔗 Thanks so much for having me! 🙏

New episode of Bits to Bricks: @amiravalliani talks with @EleniThinks, Head of Stablecoins at Lead Bank, about what stablecoins can actually do inside a regulated bank, and where the technology still falls short. Listen on Apple or Spotify 👇

@AriannaSimpson Congratulations! Any founder would be lucky to have you as an investor!

Some news! After 6 incredible years, I’m going to be transitioning out of a16z. I’m starting a fund of my own to do what I love most, which is investing in great founders as early as I can find them, with a broader aperture across the many verticals where great companies are being built today. I learned a huge amount during my time at a16z. @cdixon is widely known as a legendary investor and having the opportunity to work closely with him for the past 6 years has been an honor. I am extremely grateful for his mentorship, the opportunities he gave me here, and for the capital and responsibilities he entrusted me with. His frameworks will shape how I think about investments for the rest of my career. When I joined, the crypto vertical was 7 people (it’s now north of 80), and the firm, while already successful, was nowhere near the scale or scope it has today. At the time I thought the firm’s moves to dominate the industry had mostly unfolded, but I underestimated how much the lead could widen in a few short years. @bhorowitz and @pmarca have built an institution, and I am glad to have had the chance to play a small role on the team. I’m sure I’ll be looking back 6 years from now and see the firm in a position  that’s  hard to even imagine from today’s vantage point. Most of the best people I’ve worked with in my career to date have been at a16z – there are too many to name. I’m very grateful to have worked with so many incredible folks here, and I know that I am leaving the crypto team and the investing practice in extremely capable hands with @cdixon, @alive_eth, and @guywuolletjr. I’m also really going to miss working with @jasonrothenal and @eddylazzarin every day in Menlo Park — I’ve learned so much from both of them. I’m very proud of the work I did here, and most importantly, of the founders I had the privilege of working with. They are the reason why I love being an investor. Sometimes it takes dozens of meetings, but every time you find a star, it makes you fall in love with the job all over again. a16z’s passion for and commitment to founders and their companies is what made me love this job in particular. I’m excited to keep doing that in my next chapter — and if you’re building, I’d love to meet!

@Lead_Bank @vc_shane @loopcrypto_xyz Thank you! We’re so excited to be joining such an amazing team!

We're excited to welcome @EleniThinks @vc_shane and the rest of the @loopcrypto_xyz team to Lead! Together, we’ll build the programmable banking foundation needed to unlock the next phase of stablecoin payment products. More here: lead.bank/blog-posts/loo…

Yesterday, @TheBlock__ covered our big news that @loopcrypto_xyz is joining @Lead_Bank to build the regulated & programmable banking foundation this next phase of payments will require. Stablecoins are no longer fringe—they’re a fast-growing force that’s already transforming how money moves around the world. Both Loop and Lead share a vision for modernizing payments built on blockchains. We could not be more excited to bring real stablecoin applications to market alongside this first-class team. More below ↓

@dberenzon Thank you! We have loved having you and the entire @archetypevc team supporting us throughout this journey. You are truly wonderful!

Massive congrats to Eleni and Shane!!

Read more here: loopcrypto.xyz/blog/loop-cryp…

Exciting news: @loopcrypto_xyz is joining @Lead_Bank Our team will now work to drive stablecoin adoption at a much larger scale. Huge thanks to our clients, investors, and friends for 4 years of support. Special shoutout to my co-founder @vc_shane and our incredible team—this is just the beginning! 🚀 More details below ↓

Why are wallet companies getting acquired? And why does it matter? - @stripe bought @privy - @monad_eco bought Portal - @FireblocksHQ bought @dynamic_xyz These deals reveal something important about the future of crypto infrastructure. Here's the core insight: wallets aren't just products — they're the foundation of every blockchain interaction. Trading, stablecoin transfers, dApp interactions — everything needs a wallet. A quick wallet primer "Wallet" means two different things: - Your wallet address (like a bank account number) - Wallet software (like your banking app) The magic happens in how you manage the private key — that password proving you own the account. Different approaches serve different needs: - Non-custodial wallets (MetaMask, Phantom) give users complete control - Custodial wallets (Anchorage, Fireblocks) let trusted parties manage keys - MPC wallets (Privy, Dynamic, Portal, Para) split the key across multiple parties So why the acquisitions? It comes down to stickiness - specifically, the stickiness of non-custodial wallet infrastructure. If you can move money on behalf of users, stickiness disappears. But if users must take action themselves to move funds, you have a truly sticky product. For companies like Stripe, Fireblocks, and Monad serving the developer ecosystem who want non-custodial wallet services — you can't afford to depend on a third-party wallet provider who controls a core part of your customers' experience and could extract rents at will. Owning wallet infrastructure isn't just about adding a feature - it's about controlling your destiny in what could become a trillion-dollar market. I break down the wallet landscape, key management approaches, and M&A strategy here: lnkd.in/eb_9DBDm

And to add to the update below, we've added a subscription feature that allows you to get MANA at a lower price and download content with the watermark removed! You can also pay with Crypto using @loopcrypto_xyz's solution!

Messages like this make the grind worth it. Great way to start a Friday. 🥳

Excited that @loopcrypto_xyz is a finalist for Boldest in Fintech Innovation at @Money2020! 🏆 We've helped hundreds of merchants process millions in onchain payments. We recently opened our APIs so payments companies, platforms, and large merchants can unlock stablecoin payments with recurring billing + multi-chain support. If you're attending Money2020, let's connect! I'd love to chat about all things stablecoins and where the industry is headed. 📄 Read more about Loop in the @CBinsights report: cbinsights.com/reports/CB-Ins… 📰 Full announcement: businesswire.com/news/home/2025…

Did Google just kill Calendly?

Fintech leaders aren’t asking if they should use stablecoins. They’re asking how fast can they get to market. Introducing Stablecoin Playbook v2. This expanded guide covers: - The rise of stablecoin chains - Privacy and security - Insights from 12 fresh voices Plus real-world use cases, regulation, tech stack, and how to scale from launch. Reply PLAYBOOK for the free guide in your DMs.

World-changing products come not from established institutions, but from visionary founders and fast-moving startups looking to challenge the status quo. We’re beyond excited to announce Archetype III today, a $100M fund dedicated to accelerating a founder-led future. At Archetype, we’ve never been more excited about the future of crypto: + technical innovations in blockchain performance have enabled onchain applications to become sleek mobile-first experiences + blockchain throughput and capabilities are finally reaching parity with web2 + stablecoins are creating a $250B (and counting) global payments network + onchain social networks are emerging as a new way for people to connect while owning and leveraging their own data + and crypto is credibly proving it can contribute to foundational innovation in AI while unlocking a new generation of enterprise and consumer use cases With this $100M of fresh capital, we’re continuing to foster relationships with maniacal founders, operate as their most dedicated advocates, and expand on the deep network and community we’ve built with Funds I and II. We’ve already begun deploying capital from our third fund into several startups still in stealth. These will join a portfolio that includes @privy_io, @monad, @Hut8Corp, @farcaster_xyz, @RemixGG_, @ritualnet, @RelayProtocol, and other category-leading companies. Archetype has always been a very high-touch partner to the entrepreneurs we back, putting our relationships and commitment to collaboration front and center. We bring early conviction and perspective to teams of risk takers working to bend the future to their will. Where most funds bring safety and scale, Archetype offers edge and inevitability. Massive thanks to our investors for placing your trust in us, and to all of the founders who have allowed us to build alongside you. We're honored to play a part in crypto's future and continue accelerating the programmable future with you all.

Had a great time speaking with @dr3wrogers on @stabledash as part of the @dynamic_xyz Stablecoin Playbook series. As companies increasingly go global from day 1, stablecoin payments are becoming a key part of enabling that global expansion unlocking faster, cheaper ways to get paid.

Thanks @byKatherineRoss & @blockworks for covering our raise!!

@rish_neynar @loopcrypto_xyz @fabric_vc @vaneck_us @mert @maxwolfj @a16zcrypto @archetypevc Thank you!

@EleniThinks @loopcrypto_xyz @fabric_vc @vaneck_us @mert @maxwolfj @a16zcrypto @archetypevc congrats!

We’re excited to announce a new strategic funding round for @loopcrypto_xyz led by @fabric_vc & @vaneck_us with additional first-time investment from @mert (Helius) & @maxwolfj (Plug and Play) and with continued support from @a16zcrypto, @archetypevc, a_capital, & others. This brings Loop Crypto’s total funding to over $6M. 🚀