a16z crypto shifts focus to blockchain infrastructure beyond transaction speed

As blockchain throughput has increased over 100-fold in five years, venture capital firm a16z crypto argues that the industry's focus must shift from raw transaction speed to fair and predictable execution. In research published on September 3, 2026, the firm highlights risks like unfair transaction ordering and front-running, which have cost Ethereum users over $686 million. To address these issues, a16z supports cryptographic solutions and predictable ordering rules. Meanwhile, the a16z-backed startup OpenReserve secured preliminary approval for a national bank charter on September 2, 2026, aiming to build a 24/7 blockchain-powered bank.

Blockchain execution predictability requirements

• ▪The Bank of International Settlements warned in June 2022 that blockchain transaction validators could use transaction sequencing to perform front-running and sandwich trades.
• ▪In on-chain order books, a delay in executing a transaction cancellation can allow arbitrageurs to profit from outdated prices before a market maker's new order is placed.
• ▪a16z crypto's 'Strong Chain Quality' concept proposes giving participants guaranteed access to parts of each block to limit the influence of individual block proposers.
• ▪A September 2026 research paper on fair ordering reports that unfair transaction ordering and maximal extractable value have cumulatively extracted over $686 million from Ethereum users.
• ▪According to a16z crypto's September 3, 2026 research, blockchain predictability requires that valid transactions are included in execution and ordered according to rules understood in advance by participants.

a16z crypto infrastructure research

• ▪In August 2026, a16z crypto supported a Securities and Exchange Commission proposal to rescind Rule 611 of Regulation NMS to provide blockchain-based trading venues more flexibility.
• ▪In July 2026, a16z crypto argued that traditional financial institutions are primarily interested in blockchain infrastructure for tokenization and settlement rather than adopting decentralized finance as a whole.
• ▪a16z crypto's September 3, 2026 research suggests that cryptographic approaches like timelock encryption and threshold encryption can protect pending transaction details from early disclosure on public blockchains.
• ▪In a blog post published on September 3, 2026, a16z crypto stated that combined blockchain throughput increased over 100-fold between 2020 and 2025, reaching over 3,400 transactions per second.

OpenReserve blockchain bank charter

• ▪Led by MoneyLion co-founder Dee Choubey, OpenReserve is building a 24/7 federally licensed bank powered by blockchain technology to bridge traditional banking with digital-asset services.
• ▪The banking startup OpenReserve, backed by a16z crypto, received preliminary approval for a national bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on September 2, 2026.

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