a16z launches Seoul hub to support crypto and tech expansion in Asia

Andreessen Horowitz, commonly known as a16z, has opened a Seoul office and designated South Korea as a strategic base for its expansion across Asia, with crypto set to be the firm’s first area of focus.

According to a Chosun report, the new office will help portfolio companies enter South Korea and other Asian markets. The launch comes about six months after the firm revealed plans to expand its presence in the region.

Managing roughly $100 billion in assets, the Silicon Valley investment firm said it selected South Korea because of the country’s strength in sectors such as artificial intelligence, manufacturing, defense, crypto, content, and consumer products. The company also cited the availability of skilled talent and strong adoption of new technologies.

From its Seoul base, a16z plans to support portfolio companies with hiring, business development, policy engagement, media outreach, and partner networks. Crypto-related initiatives will take priority in the early stages before activities expand into additional sectors.

Seoul office begins with crypto focus

Leading operations from the new office will be Park Sung-mo, a16z Crypto’s Asia-Pacific go-to-market lead. Park, who was appointed when the firm’s Asia expansion plans were announced in December, previously worked at Naver and the Monad Foundation.

Park said the firm focuses on helping portfolio companies grow and enter new markets rather than providing capital alone. He added that the Seoul office will actively support portfolio companies seeking opportunities in South Korea and across Asia.

The opening adds another step to a16z’s increasing activity in technology sectors across the region. In May, Bloomberg reported that a16z led a $250 million funding round for AI search startup Exa Labs, valuing the company at $2.2 billion. Exa develops search infrastructure designed for AI systems and positions its platform as a search engine built specifically for artificial intelligence applications.

Interest in financial infrastructure has also remained a priority for the firm. Earlier this month, a16z Crypto invested $100 million as part of a $355 million funding round for Digital Asset Holdings, the company behind Canton Network. Other participants included Citadel Securities, Apollo, BNP Paribas, HSBC, CME Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Optiver, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

Digital Asset said the funding will support ecosystem growth, partnerships, and acquisitions. The company has promoted Canton Network as a blockchain platform for tokenized assets and institutional finance, with reported support for more than $6 trillion in tokenized issuance.

Alongside investments in AI infrastructure and tokenized finance, a16z said it intends to contribute to South Korea’s startup ecosystem by creating opportunities between its portfolio companies and local businesses, using Seoul as a gateway for expansion across Asia.