Andreessen Horowitz plans to remove “crypto” from the name of its flagship blockchain investment fund, a16z crypto, as the venture capital firm considers expanding its investment scope beyond the sector.
According to a Thursday report by The Information, one of the firm’s early founding members is also expected to leave. It did not identify the individual or provide further details about the proposed name change. Andreessen Horowitz has not publicly confirmed the reported plans.
The move would mark a shift in branding for a firm that has built one of the largest dedicated crypto investment businesses in venture capital. Its digital asset arm, known as a16z crypto, has backed companies including cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (NASDAQ: $COIN), decentralized exchange Uniswap (CRYPTO: $UNI), and prediction market Kalshi.
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The reported change comes months after a16z crypto closed its fifth fund with $2.2 billion in commitments, bringing the firm’s total crypto fundraising to about $9.8 billion across five funds. The latest fund is less than half the size of its $4.5 billion vehicle raised in 2022.
The venture capital firm reported back in May that the fifth fund would remain dedicated to crypto investments, rather than expanding into artificial intelligence or robotics.
At the time, a16z crypto mentioned stablecoins, tokenized assets, perpetual futures and prediction markets as areas where blockchain technology is finding practical uses. The firm said it wanted to back products people continue using after market enthusiasm fades.
Other crypto-focused investors have also explored broader investment mandates. Paradigm has reportedly considered expanding into artificial intelligence and robotics, while Haun Ventures raised $1 billion for investments spanning crypto and businesses combining financial infrastructure with AI.
