a16z Crypto Expands into Asia. Hong Kong Base Fuels Regional Web3 Push

Quick Breakdown

• a16z crypto opens Hong Kong office to lead Asia investments in crypto startups.
• Focus targets high-net-worth individuals with 17% average crypto allocations.​
• Move strengthens firm’s global reach amid Sygnum report showing 87% Asia HNWI crypto exposure.​

 

a16z crypto targets Asia’s crypto surge

On December 10, 2025, venture capital giant a16z crypto announced a major expansion into Asia, establishing a new base in Hong Kong. This strategic move is intended to fuel investments in regional blockchain and Web3 projects.

Chief Operating Officer Anthony Albanese stated that the firm aims to leverage the significant regional demand, noting that high-net-worth individuals in the area allocate approximately 17% of their portfolios to digital assets . This initiative, which aligns with the trend of institutional inflows into tokenized assets, positions a16z to actively support startups building on key networks like Ethereum and Solana.

Excited to announce that @a16zcrypto is expanding into Asia and opening our first office in Seoul, South Korea. As part of this, we’re thrilled to have @sungmo_apac16z join our team as Head of APAC go-to-market to lead the Seoul office and start building our presence in the… pic.twitter.com/KBljioBCqx

— Anthony Albanese (@AAlbaneseNY) December 10, 2025

Hong Kong’s regulatory clarity underpins the choice, offering a bridge between East and West for crypto innovation. a16z plans to hire local talent for deal sourcing and portfolio support, echoing Kraken’s EU push with MiCA-compliant services. The expansion follows Asia’s lead in crypto adoption, with platforms like Binance thriving despite global scrutiny.​

Asia operations will prioritize DeFi protocols, AI-blockchain hybrids, and real-world asset tokenization. This mirrors SoFi’s U.S. bank pivot to crypto trading after OCC eased rules, signaling banks and VCs converging on digital finance. a16z’s move could accelerate funding for projects like those in recent Taurus-Everstake staking partnership 

Hong Kong Base, strategic gateway for deals

Hong Kong serves as Asia headquarters, leveraging its pro-crypto stance post-2023 virtual asset rules. a16z crypto partners with local firms to scout deals, focusing on seed and Series A rounds for protocols enhancing scalability . The office will host founders from Japan, Singapore, and mainland China, building on a16z’s $7.2 billion crypto funds.​

This expansion counters U.S. regulatory hurdles, where firms face SEC delays on products like Grayscale’s Chainlink ETF. Regional growth supports broader Web3 maturity, with Kraken’s xStocks tokenized equities gaining EU traction. a16z eyes 2026 listings on Hong Kong Exchange for portfolio firms.