Y Combinator (YC) just dropped a bombshell on X, announcing we're stepping into Fintech 3.0. In a video chat between YC's Harj Taggar and Base/Coinbase's Jesse Pollak, they break down why now's the prime time for crypto builders. Regulatory hurdles are clearing up, consumers are jumping on board, and cheap blockchains like Base are making it easier than ever to innovate. They're even teaming up for a "Build Onchain" Request for Startups (RFS) to fund the next wave of projects.

Breaking Down Fintech Evolution

Pollak lays out the fintech timeline simply: Fintech 1.0 was the '90s era, think PayPal getting folks comfy with online payments. Fintech 2.0 built nicer interfaces on old banking rails over the last decade. Now, Fintech 3.0 is about rebuilding everything on programmable blockchains, where money itself is code.

What changed? Chain costs plummeted. Five years ago, a simple transaction might set you back $5 in fees—useless for consumer apps. Today, on layers like Base (an Ethereum Layer 2) or Solana, it's pennies. Pollak compares it to the internet's dial-up to broadband shift: suddenly, wild new experiences become possible.

Layer 2s (L2s) are key here. They're like express lanes on Ethereum's highway, bundling transactions for efficiency while keeping the main chain's security. Base, for instance, compresses millions of ops and posts them back to Ethereum, slashing costs by thousands of percent.

Stablecoins: The Killer App

Stablecoins steal the show as the bridge to real-world use. With nearly $200 billion in circulation, they're programmable dollars anyone can access globally—instantly and cheaply. Pollak highlights how they solve pain points in emerging markets, where local currencies inflate wildly, but folks couldn't easily hold USD before.

Exciting twist: beyond USD stables like USDC, local currency versions are emerging—Brazilian real, Nigerian naira, you name it. This lets builders create lending, payments, or savings apps in native currencies, all onchain. For meme token enthusiasts, this means easier on-ramps for global traders, fueling viral launches on low-fee chains.

Tokenization and New Assets

The convo dives into tokenization: moving real-world assets (RWAs) like stocks, bonds, or real estate onto chains. Imagine trading a fraction of a property deed instantly, no middlemen. But Pollak's hyped on brand-new assets too, like creator economies. On Base, every post can become a tradable token, turning content into investable assets. Creators earn from trades, not just ads—flipping the script on platforms like X or TikTok.

This ties directly to meme tokens. Memes thrive on community and speculation, but onchain tools amplify that. Low costs mean anyone can launch a token around a viral idea, and tokenization lets memes evolve into full ecosystems with utilities like governance or rewards.

Regulation: From Roadblock to Runway

Regulation's been crypto's bogeyman, forcing startups to blow budgets on lawyers instead of code. But things are shifting with bills like the Genius Act for stables and the Clarity Act for tokens. Clear rules mean less fear, more building—especially in the US.

For meme creators, this could mean safer launches without SEC worries, as long as they play by emerging guidelines. Replies to the tweet echo this buzz: one user quips about meme coins being the real treasure hunt, while another plugs $USDUC as an "anti-stablecoin" where users profit.

AI Meets Crypto

They touch on AI too—crypto's verifiability could combat deepfakes, and onchain money is perfect for AI agents transacting autonomously. Meme tokens could benefit here: AI-generated memes tokenized instantly, traded in real-time markets.

Advice for Builders

Taggar and Pollak urge founders to apply to YC's next batch (ycombinator.com/apply) and check the RFS (ycombinator.com/blog/build-onchain). Start simple: build a swap interface or your own automated market maker (AMM) to grasp the tech.

For meme insiders, this signals big: low-cost chains like Base are meme-friendly, enabling pump-and-fun without gas wars. As Pollak says, we're in crypto's broadband moment—time to build experiences that spread like wildfire.

The thread's replies show community hype, from Base's "fintech is gonna be based" to calls for onchain innovation. If you're eyeing meme tokens, this YC-Coinbase push could supercharge the space with better tools and funding.