Andreessen Horowitz 周四宣布，将其数字资产部门从 a16z Crypto 更名为 a16z Frontier，显示加密货币和区块链聚焦型投资的重要性已有所下降。
In a sign that crypto and blockchain-focused investing has receded in importance, Andreessen Horowitz announced Thursday that it is renaming its digital asset unit from a16z Crypto to a16z Frontier.
该业务由 Chris Dixon 掌舵，自 2018 年成立以来，已在五只基金中募集近 100 亿美元，投中了 Coinbase 等该领域一些最大的成功案例。然而多年来，a16z 和竞争对手风投机构一直难以推动加密货币的实用性超越金融轨道、交易应用和投机性资产。
The practice, helmed by Chris Dixon, has raised nearly $10 billion across five funds since launching in 2018, backing some of the sector’s biggest wins, including Coinbase. Yet for years, a16z and rival venture firms struggled to push crypto’s utility beyond financial rails, trading applications, and speculative assets.
在新名称下，团队正在拓宽授权范围，聚焦新兴技术，无论是 AI、机器人技术，还是连接人与机器的“新型网络”。不过，该团队并未放弃加密货币。Dixon 在一篇博客文章中写道，区块链技术能够“赋予新网络原生的经济能力”。除了 Dixon，a16z Frontier 的普通合伙人还包括 Eddy Lazzarin 和 Guy Wuollet。据《The Information》报道，2017 年作为首位投资人加入加密货币战略团队的 Ali Yahya 已离开公司。
Under the new name, the team is broadening its mandate to focus on emerging technologies, be it AI, robotics or “new kinds of networks” connecting humans and machines. Yet, the group isn’t abandoning crypto. Dixon wrote in a blog post that blockchain technology could “give new networks native economic capabilities.”Alongside Dixon, a16z Frontier’s general partners include Eddy Lazzarin and Guy Wuollet. Meanwhile, Ali Yahya, who joined the crypto strategy as its first investor in 2017, has left the firm, according to The Information.
