A16z Crypto opens office in South Korea as it bets on Asia

cointelegraphPublished on 2025-12-11Last updated on 2025-12-11

Abstract

Crypto venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is opening its first Asia-based office in Seoul, South Korea, as part of a broader strategy to expand its presence and portfolio across the region. The firm highlighted Asia's strong concentration of onchain users, with nearly a third of South Korean adults owning digital assets. According to Chainalysis, 11 of the top 20 countries for crypto adoption are in Asia, with significant growth, high ownership rates in countries like India, Japan, and Singapore. The expansion aims to support portfolio companies with growth, partnerships, and community building. Anthony Albanese, a16z Crypto managing partner, stated this is just the beginning, with plans to further grow their regional footprint. The Seoul office will be led by SungMo Park, formerly of Polygon Labs. A recent survey also found that 87% of affluent Asian investors hold crypto, with about half allocating more than 10% to digital assets.

Crypto venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is opening its first Asia-based office in South Korea with plans to expand its portfolio in the region.

The firm stated that there was a “particularly strong concentration” of onchain users in Asia, and the expansion aims to support portfolio companies with growth, partnerships, and community building across Asia.

“Our expansion will offer go-to-market support for portfolio companies seeking to accelerate growth, forge strategic partnerships, and build lasting communities across Asia,” said a16z Crypto managing partner and chief operating officer, Anthony Albanese.

Albanese said the region represents a significant share of global crypto activity, with nearly a third of South Korean adults owning digital assets.

India also leads global adoption rankings, Japan has seen onchain activity grow 120% in the past year, Singapore has one of the world’s highest rates of crypto ownership, and 11 of the top 20 countries for crypto adoption are Asian, according to Chainalysis.

A16z to expand further into Asia

“This is just the beginning,” said Albanese. “Over the coming years, we plan to grow our presence in Asia, add new capabilities to support our crypto companies operating there, and keep exploring new ways to expand our geographic footprint,” he added.

The move signals where one of the industry’s largest investors sees future growth; it is not just about capital deployment, but being embedded where the users and builders are.

Asian region has strong crypto adoption

The new Seoul office is being led by SungMo Park, who brings experience from Polygon Labs.

“Through the network, experience, and relationships I’ve built over the years in this industry, I’ll help a16z Crypto’s founders access not just a new market, but the regional context and knowledge they need to scale,” said Park on X.

Related: Robinhood set to enter Indonesia, targeting 17M crypto traders

This week, Sygnum reported that 6 in 10 surveyed Asian high-net-worth individuals were prepared to increase their crypto allocations based on a strong long-term outlook.

The survey also revealed that 87% of affluent Asian investors already hold crypto, and around half have an allocation of more than 10%

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