a16zcrypto Raises $2.2B Fund as Crypto Cools and Rivals Turn to AI
2026年5月6日
Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm, a16zcrypto, has announced a new $2.2 billion fund—its fifth in a series whose total commitments now top $9.8 billion.
The timing is striking. On the same day, Coinbase announced layoffs of about 14% of its workforce, and crypto trading volume in March fell to its lowest level since November 2023.
Inside the $2.2 Billion Fund
The new fund is a16zcrypto’s fifth and stands at $2.2 billion. The firm promoted CTO (chief technology officer) Eddy Lazzarin to general partner (GP), bringing the GP team to four members alongside Chris Dixon, Ali Yahya, and Guy Wuollet.
Past investments include some of the most prominent crypto companies, such as Coinbase, Kalshi, and the Solana Foundation. A spokesperson told TechCrunch that the new fund will be “100% dedicated to crypto entrepreneurs.”
Coinbase Lays Off 14% on the Same Day
The fund’s announcement coincided with rough market conditions. On the same day, Coinbase announced layoffs of about 14% of its staff. According to industry data site CoinGecko, March’s crypto trading volume was the lowest since November 2023.
VC (venture capital) investment in crypto startups has also slowed. The first quarter of 2026 saw roughly $5 billion in funding, down from about $6 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.
Other Crypto VCs Are Turning to AI
Other major crypto-focused funds are shifting their focus toward AI. Paradigm is reportedly expanding into AI and robotics with a new $1.5 billion fund. Y Combinator, which has accelerated many crypto startups over the years, recently dropped crypto from its “Requests for Startups” list.
Haun Ventures, run by former a16z partner Katie Haun, also raised a new $1 billion fund—but with an eye on AI agents and the intersection with fintech.
Why a16zcrypto Stays “100% Crypto”
Against this backdrop, a16zcrypto chose to stay focused on crypto.
In a blog post, the partners acknowledged that “we’re at one of those quieter moments now,” but argued that “what gets built during a downtime is usually more useful than it looked at the peak, and more durable than it looked at the trough.”
By resisting the temptation to pivot toward higher-return AI bets, a16zcrypto signals to founders that this investor will not walk away from the space.
Key Takeaways
・a16zcrypto raised a $2.2 billion fifth fund, bringing the firm’s total commitments to over $9.8 billion.
・The announcement came as crypto trading volumes hit a multi-year low and Coinbase laid off 14% of its staff.
・While other crypto-native VCs shift toward AI, a16zcrypto has explicitly committed to staying “100% crypto.”
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