# a16z Crypto to Drop "Crypto" From Its Name, Rebrand as a16z Frontier: The Information

*Author: David Christopher*
*Published: Oct 22, 2026*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/a16z-crypto-to-drop-crypto-from-its-name-rebrand-as-a16z-frontier-the-information*

---

Andreessen Horowitz's a16z crypto has told some of its limited partners that it plans to rename itself a16z frontier and broaden its investment strategy beyond crypto, [The Information reports](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/andreessen-horowitz-drop-crypto-name-flagship-blockchain-fund), citing a person briefed on the matter. 

## What's the Scoop?

- **The Exit:** General partner Ali Yahya has also told some investors he is leaving the firm to work on his own startup. Yahya [joined a16z in 2017](https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/ali-yahya/) as the crypto team's first full-time member and was promoted to general partner in 2021. 

- **Already Drifting:** a16z crypto has [already backed](https://x.com/leomschwartz/status/2113226514569351212) non-blockchain startups such as Kalshi and AI compute marketplace Ornn. The rename would come five months after the firm [raised $2.2B](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/a16z-raises-2-2b-for-fifth-crypto-focused-fund) for its fifth crypto fund, less than half the size of its record $4.5B fourth fund from 2022. 

- **Not the First:** Paradigm made the same turn in July, when its [$1.2B fourth fund](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/paradigm-raises-1-2b-fourth-fund-expands-into-ai) expanded into AI and robotics, as Framework Ventures and Haun Ventures also widened their mandates. [Schwartz called](https://x.com/leomschwartz/status/2113226514569351212) a16z's move "a symbolic shift for one of the most prominent crypto venture operations," given that Chris Dixon has long been a public face for the Web3 movement. 

- **Still Unconfirmed:** a16z, Dixon, and Yahya hadn't commented publicly as of Thursday morning. Dixon's [a16z crypto bio](https://a16zcrypto.com/team/chris-dixon/) still lists him as founder and managing partner of a16z crypto.
---

*This article is brought to you by [NEAR](https://www.bankless.com/sponsor/near-1785257427?ref=read/news/a16z-crypto-to-drop-crypto-from-its-name-rebrand-as-a16z-frontier-the-information)*