A16z Raises $2.2B for New Crypto Fund
AI firms received a record $242 billion in venture funding in the first quarter of 2026, according to a Crunchbase released in April, with the technology capturing 80% of the record $300 billion in global venture funding during the quarter. Crypto Fund 5 is smaller than its predecessor, a record $4.5 billion crypto-focused fund that a16z Crypto launched four years ago in May 2022, just as the Terra blockchain imploded, causing a chain reaction of crypto company collapses and a regulatory crackdown. A16z said that crypto is in “one of those quieter moments” of the cycle, and it is seeking out “what people keep using when the hype fades.” It added that stablecoin use “has kept climbing even through downturns,” and it has also seen “meaningful growth” in crypto perpetual futures and prediction markets. “Traditional assets are starting to move onchain, and onchain finance is being used for assets beyond network tokens,” a16z added. “A new financial system is taking shape that runs continuously, settles nearly instantly, costs almost nothing, and is open to anyone with internet access.” It added that crypto has been buoyed by a US regulatory landscape that is “moving in the right direction,” with an array of supportive lawmakers and White