Author: BroLeon from Australia
While A16Z positions cryptocurrency as a key component of America's future century-long national strategic framework, on par with AI, many of us in the industry view the crypto sector as dirty, degenerate bullshit.
So, is A16Z—which just raised $15 billion, accounting for 18% of total U.S. venture capital—wrong, or are we?
Over the past three years, a16z has successfully transformed from a traditional financial VC into an investment giant with national strategic hue, managing assets worth $90 billion.
A look at @a16z's investments in the crypto space shows a broad coverage, including many well-known projects across various niches. They were relatively less active in 2025 but still made 33 deals.
While Crypto VCs in Asia have almost died out or pivoted, no longer investing in early stages, a16z has continued to make frequent moves recently.
So perhaps the Crypto world we see is quite different from the one they see? Just like during the 2018 bear market, when most saw desolation and silence, a few saw opportunities further in the future.
Another striking point in the article is:
Their core national strategic mission is 'ensuring the U.S. wins the technological competition of the next century,' with a clearly named adversary—China.
This also explains why A16Z is notoriously reluctant to invest in projects led by Chinese teams. They are not just a financial investment firm; they have become a company with strong national and ideological convictions.
'The fate of new technologies in America partly rests on our shoulders. Our mission is to ensure the U.S. wins the technological competition of the next 100 years'—resounding words.
I truly hope to see the day when Crypto is written into China's Five-Year Plan.
