Attended Y Combinator founder dinner last week. Didn't say much. Just listened.
Topic of conversation: Infrastructure costs killing startups.
What I overheard:
Founder 1: "Our AWS bill hit $95K last month. We're running out of money."
Founder 2: "Same. Migrating to Walrus next week. Friend saved $70K monthly."
Founder 3: "Already on @walrusprotocol. Costs dropped 78%. Extended runway by 14 months."
Founder 4: "What's Walrus?"
10 FOUNDERS explained simultaneously.
Everyone knew about it. Most already migrating or migrated. Few holdouts asking questions.
By end of dinner 17 out of 20 founders committed to Walrus migration within 30 days.
This is WAVE happening real-time at YC.
YC is most important startup accelerator. What happens there predicts mainstream 12-18 months later.
When 85% of YC dinner table is migrating to same infrastructure that's not coincidence. That's consensus forming.
Reasons they cited:
"Unit economics finally work"
"VCs asking if we use Walrus during diligence"
"Actually decentralized not just marketing"
"Saves $50-100K monthly depending on scale"
"Can't get shut down by one company"
EVERY REASON makes sense.
Also heard: "YC partners are quietly recommending Walrus to all portfolio companies now."
When YC institutional guidance says use Walrus that's 1000+ startups getting same advice.
$WAL becoming default infrastructure for YC companies. That's how technologies reach critical mass.
@Walrus 🦭/acc isn't alternative anymore. It's STANDARD for cost-conscious well-advised startups.
Not financial advice but YC founder consensus is leading indicator.
What YC does in 2025 everyone else does in 2026.
Position accordingly.
