a16z Crypto Rebrands as a16z Frontier

Andreessen Horowitz is renaming its digital asset investment unit from a16z Crypto to a16z Frontier, broadening its focus to emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, robotics and new kinds of networks connecting people and machines.

The firm announced the change Thursday. The practice, led by Chris Dixon, has raised nearly $10 billion across five funds since launching in 2018. Its investments include Coinbase, one of the sector’s major successes.

For years, a16z and rival venture firms have struggled to expand crypto’s use beyond financial services, trading applications and speculative assets. The rebrand signals a wider mandate, but the team is not leaving crypto behind.

In a blog post, Dixon wrote that blockchain technology could give new networks “native economic capabilities.” The unit’s general partners include Dixon, Eddy Lazzarin and Guy Wuollet.

Ali Yahya, who joined the firm’s crypto strategy as its first investor in 2017, has left the firm, according to The Information.