From a comms perspective, this is genius for a few reasons:
- It was filmed at Tosca, the exact bar where the famous 2007 Fortune photo of the PayPal Mafia was shot.
- Tech has a branding problem: many of these players are accused of being shadowy, lying manipulators. So, FF lets you watch them be shadowy, lying manipulators... in a game.
- In the game they deceive within bounded rules, for fun. Everyone is in on it, playing the game together. This is in contrast to what they're accused of: deceiving behind closed doors.
- The video converts this mysterious power into visible social dynamics. You get to watch and play along.
- Because it's a game format, watching them deceive becomes humanizing. You laugh along instead of being afraid. And indeed, the video implicitly suggests that the same traits required to win Mafia are similar to the traits required to build companies: reading people, keeping cool under pressure, taking measured risk. Deception stops looking like malice and starts looking like what it takes to win.
The digital revolution is upon us, and it has presented a clear opportunity to support small businesses, generate wealth, spur innovation, and support younger Americans who want to be part of this revolution. And this digital revolution is happening with us or without us—we have a responsibility to regulate it to create rules of the road.
That is why I’ve been at the table. I’ve been in negotiations for over nine months, working toward regulating digital assets in a way that protects consumers and reduces the risks of deposit flight and deceptive marketing. I have negotiated in good faith with colleagues on both sides of the aisle willing to meet this critical moment. I’ve worked to make this bill better.
Let me be very clear: my vote today is a vote to keep working in good faith. It does not mean I will be voting for the passage of the CLARITY Act on the floor. We still have work to do.
We need to find a workable way to address law enforcement’s concerns about financial crimes. I am a former prosecutor and know how important that is. We also need to include an agreement on ethics—that would apply not just to the President and Vice President but to all of us. The American people—especially my constituents—expect that from us.
I will keep working with my colleagues to get this done. Americans—from every background and every community—deserve to benefit financially from this digital revolution and be protected from the risks that come with it. If we don’t act, we will be left behind. I won’t let that happen.
Comment from @Sen_Alsobrooks after the bipartisan vote to advance Clarity out of the Senate Banking Committee:
"I have a 20 year-old daughter and she and her peers have made it abundantly clear to me they are interested in this innovation, that they believe that the digital revolution is important and they want not only to be able to participate in it safely, but they want what every American wants: true and growing economic opportunity, the opportunity to become wealthy, to have generational wealth, and so that is why I am at the table."
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At @phantom, we'll keep doing our part. Engaging with the CFTC, SEC, and Treasury to inform common-sense regulations, and showing up in DC to advocate for policies that protect self-custody, DeFi users, and the software developers who make crypto work. Not slowing down.
Huge thanks to Senate Banking for advancing the Clarity Act out of committee today. Real momentum behind a comprehensive federal framework for digital assets, and a clear, important signal that responsible builders can keep building in the U.S. with confidence.
Congratulations to Phantom on reaching $20M in builder code revenue on Hyperliquid in under a year. Users can trade 200+ markets in the Phantom app, including crypto, indices, commodities, and more.
To date, 100+ teams have integrated via builder codes, earning a share of fees on every trade their users make.
1/ Today, @BlockchainAssn and @crypto_council, joined by a broad coalition of more than 120 organizations from across the digital asset ecosystem, urged the Senate Banking Committee to move forward with a markup on market structure legislation.
Years of bipartisan work have brought Congress to an important moment. The U.S. needs clear, durable rules that protect consumers, provide certainty, and reinforce American leadership in digital asset innovation.
1/ Today, @BlockchainAssn and @crypto_council, joined by a broad coalition of more than 120 organizations from across the digital asset ecosystem, urged the Senate Banking Committee to move forward with a markup on market structure legislation.
Years of bipartisan work have brought Congress to an important moment. The U.S. needs clear, durable rules that protect consumers, provide certainty, and reinforce American leadership in digital asset innovation.