A16z Crypto Expands Into Asia With New Office in South Korea

• A16z Crypto opens its first Asian office in Seoul, South Korea.
• The office is led by former Polygon Labs executive SungMo Park.
• Asia is a major region for global crypto adoption and onchain activity.
• A16z plans long-term expansion across the region.
• Asian investors show strong interest in crypto, with high ownership rates.

A16z Crypto, the crypto-focused arm of venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, has officially opened its first office in Asia. The new office is located in Seoul, South Korea, and marks a major step in the firm’s strategy to grow its presence in regions showing strong crypto adoption.

Why A16z Is Expanding Into Asia

According to a16z, Asia has a “particularly strong concentration” of onchain users. Countries like South Korea, India, Japan, and Singapore are rapidly growing their crypto communities, making the region a key driver of global digital asset adoption.

Anthony Albanese, a16z Crypto’s managing partner and COO, explained that the firm wants to support its portfolio companies more closely in Asia. The new office will help founders expand faster, build partnerships, and create strong, long-lasting communities across the region.

Albanese noted that almost one-third of South Korean adults now own digital assets, showing how deeply crypto is integrated into everyday life. India currently leads the world in crypto adoption rankings, Japan’s onchain activity has grown 120% in the last year, and Singapore has some of the highest crypto ownership rates globally. Chainalysis also reports that 11 of the top 20 crypto adoption countries are in Asia.

A16z’s Long-Term Plan for Asia

A16z confirmed that the Seoul office is only the beginning. The firm plans to expand further across Asia in the coming years. This includes increasing its team, adding new capabilities, and exploring new ways to support the fast-growing number of crypto builders and users in the region.

The move shows that a16z wants to be physically present where innovation is happening, not just investing from afar. By embedding itself in Asian markets, the firm hopes to better understand local needs and help projects scale faster.

Strong Crypto Adoption in Asia

The new office will be led by SungMo Park, formerly of Polygon Labs. Park said he plans to use his experience and network to help founders enter the Asian market with the right context and strategy.

Meanwhile, new data continues to show Asia’s strong interest in digital assets. A recent survey by Sygnum found that 60% of high-net-worth individuals in Asia plan to increase their crypto investments. The survey also showed that 87% of wealthy Asian investors already own crypto, and almost half have more than 10% of their portfolio in digital assets.

This combination of high adoption and long-term confidence makes Asia one of the most important markets for global crypto growth.

Final Thought

A16z’s decision to open an office in South Korea highlights the growing importance of Asia in the global crypto landscape. With strong adoption rates, active communities, and major growth potential, the region is becoming a key hub for blockchain innovation. The move shows that a16z wants to be closer to where the future of crypto is being built.