This Week in Startups

Wisdom of the $TAO: the future is decentralized AI

136 snips
Mar 6, 2026
Mark Jeffrey, investor and Stillcore Capital co-founder focused on BitTensor and decentralized AI. He walks through BitTensor’s TAO-powered subnets, token-driven incentives, and his favorite subnet projects. Short takes on mining agents, wallet allocation, and how tokens reward contributors. Fast-paced tour of programmable mining and what decentralization unlocks.
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INSIGHT

BitTensor Turns Mining Into AI Subsidy

  • BitTensor makes mining programmable so the network subsidizes real AI products instead of useless hashwork.
  • The chain issues TAO to reward 128 subnets that build AI services, creating ~$100M/year in emissions as a growth subsidy.
ADVICE

Evaluate Subnets With Startup Due Diligence

  • Evaluate subnets like startups: check TAM, product competitiveness, team, and marketing.
  • Mark highlights Ridges (subnet 62) as a cheaper, high-performing coder product launched via BitTensor emissions versus huge VC raises.
INSIGHT

Miners Provide Talent Not Wasteful Compute

  • Subnet contributions come from permissionless miners worldwide who compete to improve products and earn subnet tokens.
  • Miners can be independent developers (e.g., in Turkey) who earn meaningful payouts by winning contests rather than joining big companies.
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