Share this article
A16z Chooses London as Destination for First Office Outside U.S.
The venture capital firm plans to use the office, which will open later this year, to fund growth in the crypto and startup ecosystems in the U.K. and Europe.
Updated Jun 12, 2023, 7:01 p.m. Published Jun 12, 2023, 9:07 a.m.
Venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) chose London as the site for its first office outside the U.S., saying the U.K. government is willing to create policies that encourage startups to pursue decentralization.
Menlo Park, California-based A16z plans to use the office, which will open later this year and be led by Sriram Krishnan, to invest in the crypto and startup ecosystem in the U.K. and Europe, it said Sunday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
The firm also cited its recent investments in U.K.-based companies, including leading a $43 million Series A funding round into blockchain-based computing resources for artificial intelligence platforms (AI) provider Gensyn, which was also announced on Sunday.
A16z's move comes as the U.K.'s crypto regulatory outlook is gaining clarity. The government plans to bring crypto into the realms of existing financial services regulation, an approach that is supported by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for crypto assets. There is some disagreement, however, from the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, which says crypto should be treated like gambling. That proposal has met with backlash by those in the industry.
"While there is still work to be done, we believe that the U.K. is on the right path to becoming a leader in crypto regulation," a16z said. "It is home to more 'unicorns' than Germany, France, and Sweden combined; to some of the world’s largest financial markets and pools of capital; and to highly-sophisticated, world-class regulators."
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the decision, saying: "We must embrace new innovations like Web3, powered by blockchain technology, which will enable start-ups to flourish here and grow the economy."
A unicorn is a privately owned startup with a value of at least $1 billion.
A16z said it remains heavily invested in the U.S., where it will continue to push for regulatory clarity for crypto startups.
Read More: UK Lawmakers Call for a Dedicated Government Role to Oversee Crypto Regulation
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Tom Lee urges BitMine shareholders to approve share increase ahead of January 14 vote
The chairman of the former bitcoin miner-turned-ether treasury firm reiterated his view that Ethereum is the future of finance.
What to know:
- Tom Lee, chairman of Bitmine Immersion (BMNR), urged shareholders to approve an increase in the company's authorized share count from 500 million to 50 billion.
- Lee assured shareholders that the increase is not intended to dilute shares, but instead to enable capital raising, dealmaking, and future share splits.
- Shareholders have until January 14 to vote on the proposal, with the annual meeting scheduled for January 15 in Las Vegas.
Top Stories
