🚀 a16z Crypto Plants Its Flag in Seoul

Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm — a16z Crypto — has officially entered the Asian market by launching its first regional office in Seoul. The move signals clear conviction: Asia is now one of the strongest forces shaping the future of global crypto adoption.

With rapid user growth, institutional participation, and developer momentum across the continent, a16z’s presence aims to:

• accelerate portfolio company expansion,
• forge regional partnerships,
• support founders with go-to-market strategy,
• and build long-term crypto communities across Asia.

👤 Leadership: Sungmo Park Takes the Helm

a16z Crypto COO Anthony Albanese announced that Sungmo Park will lead APAC Go-to-Market from Seoul. Park is one of Asia’s most seasoned crypto operators, fluent in Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and English.

His career blends enterprise strategy with deep Web3 experience:

• 2016–2020: Product and strategy roles at Nomura, IGA Works, ST Unitas, Naver.
• 2021: Co-founded OnePlanet, a Polygon-based NFT marketplace backed by Animoca Brands and Hashed.
• 2022: Joined Polygon Labs — Korea Business Lead → APAC Head of Business Development.
• 2023–2025: Monad Foundation APAC Lead — shaping a high-performance L1 capable of 10,000+ TPS.

Now at a16z, Park will guide:

• market entry for portfolio companies,
• corporate partnership development,
• regional expansion strategy,
• and community-building across Asia’s fast-growing crypto hubs.

🌐 Asia: The Strongest Crypto Market on the Planet

ATH.LIVE analysts emphasize that Asia is not just “important” — it is central to crypto’s global trajectory.

Key structural signals:

• $2.36T regional on-chain value over 12 months (69% growth).
• South Korea: second-largest global crypto market; 1 in 3 adults hold digital assets.
• Japan: 120% spike in on-chain engagement.
• Singapore: 40% of Gen Z and Millennials invest in crypto.
• India: #1 in global crypto adoption, driven by mobile-native finance and emerging regulatory clarity.

ATH.LIVE notes that Asia’s blend of retail participation, mobile-first culture, and increasing institutional entry creates fertile ground for venture-backed ecosystems.

📈 Why a16z Chose This Moment

According to ATH.LIVE, the timing is strategic: institutional expansion and clearer regulations across Asia-Pacific align directly with a16z’s thesis of backing markets at the beginning of structural growth curves.

Four dynamics stand out:

• Regulatory clarity improving across South Korea, Japan, Singapore, India.
• Institutional channels expanding as banks and asset managers grow their crypto offerings.
• Developer ecosystems strengthening with new L1s and enterprise integrations.
• Retail demand rising due to mobile-native economies and high digital penetration.

In other words: a16z is entering at the precise moment Asia is structurally set to scale.

🎯 Strategic Goals of the Seoul Office

a16z outlined four core objectives for its Asia hub:

1. Support portfolio companies entering Asian markets.
2. Forge strategic corporate and institutional partnerships.
3. Build sustainable crypto communities across the region.
4. Accelerate crypto adoption in both enterprise and retail sectors.

As Albanese stated:

“This is just the beginning. We plan to grow our presence in Asia, add new capabilities, and keep expanding our geographic footprint.”

🧠 ATH.LIVE Editorial Take

ATH.LIVE analysts frame a16z’s move as part of a broader structural trend: Asia is driving global crypto growth — both retail and institutional.

The combination of:

• high adoption rates,
• mobile-first engagement,
• deepening institutional channels,
• and increasingly clear regulations

creates the ideal environment for venture-backed ecosystems to scale.

“Coverage by ATH.LIVE shows that Asia’s markets are evolving rapidly, with institutional adoption complementing strong retail engagement — creating a perfect environment for venture-backed projects to thrive.”

In short: a16z is positioning itself exactly where the next global crypto wave will be built.