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- IOTA’s recent MoveVM-powered delegated proof-of-stake (dPoS) upgrade, along with its Trust Framework, TWIN trade digitization network, and other initiatives, positions it ahead of the trends outlined by a16z.
- With active deployments in Kenya and Rwanda, IOTA is driving real-world blockchain adoption across emerging markets, offering a scalable, transparent, and asset-backed ecosystem.
The recently released a16z State of Crypto 2025 report underscores a fundamental shift in the digital asset industry, from speculative trading to real-world infrastructure and data-backed finance. Interestingly, many of the report’s themes point to developments already underway in the IOTA ecosystem.
This shows that the blockchain is still far ahead of its time, poised to support the next wave of transformative changes in the market.
IOTA Offers Programmable, Scalable Infrastructure, With Real-World Use-Case
Venture capital giant a16z has identified programmable, low-cost blockchains as key drivers of the next phase of crypto adoption. IOTA’s recent transition to a delegated proof-of-stake (dPoS) model powered by MoveVM has positioned it ahead of this curve.
The upgrade makes IOTA fully programmable and modular, enabling enterprise-grade applications with predictable transaction fees. Developers can even offer feeless transactions via “Gas Stations,” creating a frictionless user experience.
Furthermore, the State of Crypto 2025 report emphasizes the need for trusted identity and verification frameworks to bring real-world finance on-chain. IOTA’s new Trust Framework integrates digital identity, notarization, tokenization, and permissioning tools to enable secure interactions among governments, enterprises, and individuals, as mentioned in our previous report. This framework turns IOTA into a verifiable trust layer for global trade and commerce.
Additionally, in their report, a16z predicted the rise of tokenized trade and finance. IOTA’s ecosystem already has features with two live implementations.
The first is the TWIN infrastructure, a live, open-source platform digitizing global trade documentation, enabling secure, paperless cross-border transactions using distributed ledger technology, as reported by CNF.
Similarly, the other is the Salus platform that connects verified suppliers of critical minerals with investors through tokenized financing backed by real-world trade data and IoT-verified production metrics. Built on licensed processes that have supported over $4 billion in trades, Salus delivers data-backed yield — a model of what a16z calls “RealFi.”
Addressing Emerging Markets With On-Chain Inclusion
a16z also highlights Africa as a leader in crypto adoption, with real-world use cases driving growth. IOTA’s projects, including Salus and TWIN, are already active in Kenya and Rwanda, supporting trade transparency, financing, and digital identity for local industries.
The State of Crypto 2025 report validates IOTA’s long-term direction — a focus on programmability, trust, and real-world assets. With its MoveVM upgrade, Trust Framework, and platforms like TWIN and Salus, IOTA is already executing the vision of scalable, data-driven, and economically grounded blockchain adoption that a16z now defines as the industry’s future.
