a16z Crypto Partner Sees Blockchain Expanding Financial Markets

Robby Petersen, a partner at a16z Crypto, argues that blockchain technology is revolutionizing financial markets by removing traditional barriers. In a recent company blog post, Petersen highlighted how blockchain simplifies the creation of new markets by eliminating the need for lengthy listing reviews, legal procedures, and regional restrictions. This shift allows anyone to issue assets and distribute them globally, significantly lowering entry barriers.

Petersen cited perpetual futures as a prime example of blockchain's impact. These financial instruments enable 24/7 trading of traditional risk assets, such as stocks and commodities, on-chain. He noted that the annualized trading volume for on-chain real-world asset (RWA) perpetual futures reached approximately $1.4 trillion in July 2026.

The a16z Crypto partner predicts that on-chain markets will eventually expand to cover macroeconomic indicators, including foreign exchange, indexes, computing power futures, and the consumer price index (CPI). This expansion would further integrate blockchain technology into mainstream financial systems, offering unprecedented accessibility and efficiency.