a16z crypto banked €2050M ($2.2B) for its fifth growth-stage fund dedicated to the blockchain and digital asset sectors. This latest vehicle brings the firm’s total capital raised for the asset class to approximately €9.1B ($9.8B). The raise coincides with a leadership change, as the firm promotes Eddy Lazzarin to general partner alongside Chris Dixon, Ali Yahya, and Guy Wuollet.
The UK-based operation focuses on backing entrepreneurs building infrastructure and applications within the decentralized web. Its existing portfolio includes high-profile names such as Coinbase, Solana Foundation, and Kalshi. While broader venture activity in the sector declined to roughly €4.6B in the first quarter of 2026, the firm maintains that infrastructure built during quiet market cycles often proves the most durable.
The announcement follows a shift in the venture landscape where several competing funds are diversifying into robotics and artificial intelligence. This fund remains strictly committed to the crypto ecosystem, avoiding the trend of pivoting toward AI-centric models unless they directly intersect with blockchain technology or fintech infrastructure.
This massive liquidity injection signals a continued appetite for seasoned UK-based investment teams to drive the commercialisation of Web3, even as consumer interest in retail trading fluctuates.
Originally reported by TechCrunch.