a16z Reports AI Growth Hindered by Economic Governance Infrastructure
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Jan 10 2026- AI Capability Advancement: a16z's research team highlights that AI models have rapidly progressed over the past year, now capable of handling complex problems akin to advanced graduate students, which enhances AI's role in academic research and financial tasks.
- Identity Verification Challenge: a16z emphasizes the growing identity issues for AI agents, noting that non-human identities now outnumber human employees in financial systems, yet the lack of verifiable identity mechanisms limits their ability to transact at scale.
- Blockchain Infrastructure: a16z positions blockchain as the necessary infrastructure for AI development, arguing that it can address deficiencies in identity, attribution, and compensation mechanisms, thereby facilitating the scalable application of AI systems.
- Invisible Tax on Open Web: Investor Liz Harkavy warns that AI agents impose an “invisible tax” on the open web by extracting value from content while bypassing existing ad and subscription revenue models, calling for real-time usage-based compensation systems to ensure contributors are fairly rewarded.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
