a16z Opens First Asia Office: Park From Naver and Monad to Lead
a16z crypto, the crypto-focused enterprise arm of Andreessen Horowitz, has formally entered the Asian market with the opening of its first regional workplace in Seoul, South Korea.
The Silicon Valley-based enterprise fund appointed Sungmo Park as Head of APAC go-to-market to lead the Seoul operations. Park brings in depth regional experience from his earlier roles at Monad Foundation and Polygon Labs.
Asia Emerges as Global Crypto Powerhouse
Chief Operating Officer Anthony Albanese made the announcement. The determination to set up a bodily presence in Asia displays the area’s rising dominance in world crypto adoption. Chainalysis reviews that Asia-Pacific accounted for $2.36 trillion in on-chain worth over the 12 months to June 2025. This determine represents a 69% improve from $1.4 trillion within the earlier yr.
South Korea stands as the world’s second-largest crypto market, with practically one in three adults holding digital belongings—a price that surpasses inventory possession. Japan has seen on-chain exercise surge 120% over the previous yr. Singapore has one of many highest crypto possession charges on this planet. About 40% of Gen Z and Millennials within the nation put money into digital belongings.
India leads the Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index, pushed by mobile-first expertise adoption and restricted entry to conventional banking. Notably, 11 of the highest 20 international locations in Chainalysis’s Global Crypto Adoption Index are situated in Asia.
The Seoul launch follows different main enterprise and crypto corporations boosting their Asian presence. Competition for offers, expertise, and progress is intensifying because the area’s affect expands. Gaming and social blockchain apps are particularly well-liked in Asia’s mobile-first tradition, presenting distinctive alternatives for a16z’s portfolio firms.
The Seoul workplace will assist a16z’s portfolio firms as they enter Asian markets. It may also forge strategic partnerships throughout the area. The staff goals to construct lasting communities all through Asia. Park will work immediately with founders to strengthen market connectivity and speed up crypto adoption all through the area.
“This is just the start,” Albanese said. “Over the approaching years, we plan to develop our presence in Asia, add new capabilities to assist our crypto firms working there, and preserve exploring new methods to increase our geographic footprint.”
From Naver to a16z: Park’s Journey Through Web3
Park, born in 1993, started his profession at Nomura in 2016. From there, he moved to IGA Works, ST Unitas, and Naver, the place he labored as a product supervisor. In 2021, he entered the Web3 area and co-founded OnePlanet, a Polygon-based NFT market backed by Animoca Brands and Hashed. He joined Polygon Labs in 2022 and rose to Korea Business Lead, then APAC Head of Business Development. At Monad Foundation, he served as APAC Lead. He helped construct a Layer 1 blockchain able to processing 10,000 transactions per second.
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