Share this article
Most Influential 2021: Arianna Simpson
The a16z general partner is investing in the future of the internet, Web 3.
By CoinDesk
Updated May 11, 2023, 6:26 p.m. Published Dec 8, 2021, 5:31 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Arianna Simpson’s trip to Zimbabwe in 2013 changed her life. But it was the experience of using Western Union, and the platform’s extortionary fees, to send money to the family she sponsored that changed her mind on crypto. Now a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), she helps to manage the massively influential venture capital firm’s $2.2 billion crypto fund. Simpson previously spent time at Facebook and BitGo. She’s also run her own investment funds, Autonomous Partners, which focused on digital assets, and Crystal Towers Capital, which worked with early-stage startups.
The Complete List: CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2021
More For You
From Wall Street to Web3: This is crypto’s year of integration, Silicon Valley Bank says
From bank-led stablecoins to tokenized T-bills and AI-powered wallets, digital assets will move from pilot projects to financial plumbing this year.
What to know:
- Silicon Valley Bank's Anthony Vassallo says institutional adoption of crypto is accelerating, pushing bigger venture capital checks, more bank-led custody and lending, and deeper M&A consolidation.
- Stablecoins are emerging as the “internet’s dollar,” fueled by clearer regulation and enterprise demand for payments and settlement.
- Tokenized real-world assets and AI-driven crypto applications are shifting blockchain from speculation to core infrastructure, the bank said.
Top Stories
