Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z, has announced its plans to open its first international office in London. The decision was influenced by the favorable environment for crypto companies created in UK. The new office, set to open later this year, will be established by a16z's cryptocurrency investment arm, a16z crypto, and will be led by Sriram Krishnan, one of the firm's general partners.
This move by one of the influential backers of the crypto industry comes at a time when US regulators are increasing their scrutiny of the digital asset sector. The US Securities and Exchange Commission recently filed lawsuits against Binance Holdings Ltd. and Coinbase Global Inc. for alleged securities rule violations. In response, companies and investors in the crypto space are expanding or establishing their presence abroad. Coinbase, in which Andreessen was an early investor, had already announced plans to set up an international trading platform in Bermuda.
The UK, along with other jurisdictions such as France, Dubai, and Hong Kong, has taken a more accommodative approach to attract crypto businesses by implementing dedicated rules for this asset class.
Andreessen Horowitz will also collaborate with local universities to support the development of blockchain technologies and integrate the subject into curricula. The firm's accelerator program, Crypto Startup School, which offers funding and mentorship to young companies in the crypto space, will be held in London in spring 2024.
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