a16z Crypto Opens Seoul Office as Asian On-Chain Activity Surges

• a16z crypto opens first Asia office in Seoul.
• Sungmo Park appointed to lead regional crypto operations.
• Expansion targets Korea, Singapore, and Japan for on-chain activity.
• Focus on partnerships, distribution, and community ecosystem growth.

a16z crypto has taken a major step in its global expansion strategy by opening its first Asia office in Seoul. The move demonstrates the fund’s growing focus on regions with high user engagement and rapidly expanding on-chain activity. The firm said the new hub will support founders across the continent. Its goal is to strengthen partnerships, build reliable distribution pathways, and lift community development efforts in key markets.

South Korea played a central role in the decision. The country is now the world’s second-largest crypto market by activity. Users trade high volumes every day, and local platforms often lead global rankings. a16z crypto views Seoul as a place where builders test products rapidly and gather real-time feedback. This direct link to active users made the city a natural choice for the fund’s first permanent presence in Asia.

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Regional Growth Driven by Community Strength

The new office will support projects working across several high-growth areas. Korea and Singapore both have unusually high rates of crypto ownership. This gives startups a broad base of early adopters. Japan’s on-chain activity is also rising as more local developers introduce new applications and services.

a16z crypto expects these trends to deepen as infrastructure improves. By being on the ground, the firm aims to help founders connect with partners faster and expand their distribution channels. This office also represents their faith in the long-term influence of this region in determining the worldwide cryptocurrencies.

Technology innovation is in no way the sole area of focus. Another area of focus would be community strength. South Korea has a very vibrant on-chain community that ranks among the most in the world. Upbit also remains a dominant spot for trading. A third of adults in the country now own some form of digital assets. Adopting this high promotes developers to make better products.

Leadership Under Sungmo Park

To manage its regional operation, a16z crypto appointed Sungmo Park. Before that, he was a leader of the Asia-Pacific operation in Monad Foundation, as well as a key personnel in Polygon Labs. His experience involved different regions, such as East Asia, Greater China, Southeast Asia, as well as India.

Park will focus on early teams and scaling companies. His experience in Go-to-Market Strategy and building ecosystems will help early teams tackle tough regional issues. a16z crypto now has a Seoul office, and this move will help it closely engage with developers in one of the most vibrant blockchain routes in the world.

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