- a16z opens its first Seoul workplace to strengthen its push for bigger Asian cryptocurrencies and Web3.
- New APAC head Sungmo Koo will assist founders construct native crypto communities throughout Asia.
- Excessive adoption in South Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan and Singapore helps a16z’s Asia guess.
Andreessen Horowitz, higher generally known as a16z, is increasing its crypto investing footprint in Asia with a brand new location in Seoul, South Korea. The enterprise capital agency mentioned the Seoul workplace shall be its first bodily location in Asia and a place to begin to assist crypto and Web3 founders constructing native communities throughout the area.
Sungmo Koo leads a16z in Asia Pacific focusing on key markets in Asia
Chief Working Officer Anthony Albanese mentioned Sungmo Koo will be a part of a16z as head of Asia Pacific and lead the corporate’s development in South Korea, Japan, components of China and the broader Asian market.
As well as, Mr. Koo brings expertise engaged on Asian methods for cryptocurrency tasks reminiscent of Monad Basis and Polygon Labs, and speaks a number of native languages. a16z believes these languages are necessary for navigating native laws and founder ecosystems.
“SungMo will work carefully with the founders of our portfolio, in addition to together with his community of corporations, to strengthen market connectivity and speed up the adoption of cryptocurrencies throughout the continent,” Albanese mentioned.
Information exhibits Asian crypto customers are already main world adoption
Mr. Albanese highlighted how the crypto group throughout Asia is rising quickly beneath a extra cooperative regulatory framework and lively buying and selling tradition. Based on a latest a16z report, practically one in three adults in South Korea personal digital belongings, a proportion that now exceeds the variety of inventory buyers within the nation, the corporate mentioned.
The enterprise additionally pointed to Japan, the place it estimates on-chain exercise has elevated by about 120% over the previous 12 months, supported by clearer guidelines round exchanges and token listings. In Singapore, a16z cited survey knowledge exhibiting that round 40% of Gen Z and Millennial customers at the moment personal cryptocurrencies, highlighting how youthful generations are treating digital belongings as a part of their common portfolio.
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In the meantime, India and Pakistan are ranked first and third respectively in Chainalysis’ 2025 International Adoption Index, which a16z reads as proof that Asia’s development is far-reaching and never confined to some monetary centres. The corporate views Seoul as a de facto base to serve founders throughout these fast-growing markets.
Seoul workplace anchors a16z’s long-term Asian crypto technique
A16Z positioned the opening of Seoul not as an unbiased outpost, however as step one in a broader Asian plan. “Over the following few years, we plan to develop our presence in Asia, add new capabilities to assist crypto corporations working in Asia, and proceed to discover new methods to increase our geographic footprint,” Albanese mentioned in a press release.
The enterprise capital agency goals to lift additional funding, reportedly in mid-October 2025. gather $10 billion Broaden your funding portfolio.
Asian growth goals to hyperlink capital, human assets, and laws
An growth bid in Asia could be mutually useful for the corporate and the native economic system. Moreover, Sungmo appealed to builders targeted on cryptocurrencies, Web3, and different frontier applied sciences within the APAC area in search of funding to attach with him and enterprise capital.
In the end, the worldwide Web3 area will see parabolic development within the coming years as extra institutional buyers give attention to connectivity by means of tokenization in a regulated setting.
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