TechFlow news, January 7th, according to The Block, Andreessen Horowitz's (a16z) crypto division stated in its latest report that privacy features will become the most critical competitive advantage for blockchain networks by 2026. a16z crypto general partner Ali Yahya emphasized that privacy is the key missing function hindering the complete on-chain transition of global finance and can create "privacy network effects" to lock in users.
The report also highlighted three major trends that will shape the next phase of development in the crypto space: decentralized messaging, "service-as-secret" privacy infrastructure, and a shift in security models from "code is law" to "norms are law." Experts believe these developments will help address the numerous security vulnerabilities faced by the DeFi sector in 2025.
