Former a16z General Partner, Katie Haun, Encourages Investing in Crypto Industry
Katie Haun, former general partner at a16z, believes that now is a great time to invest in the crypto industry. During an interview at TechCrunch Disrupt, Haun expressed her optimism about the future of crypto despite the recent market correction. She stated that there is a misconception that the crypto market is stagnant, but she and her team have been busy and intentionally waited for the right time to make investments. Haun left Andreessen Horowitz two years ago to establish Haun Ventures, which has raised $1.5 billion across two crypto funds.
Haun Ventures Consists of Two Funds
Haun Ventures operates with an early-stage fund of $500 million that focuses on A, B, and C rounds, as well as an acceleration fund for later-stage crypto projects. Although Haun did not disclose their names, she mentioned closing deals with two rapidly growing “iconic brands” in crypto. Currently, only half of the larger fund has been deployed, while the early-stage fund remains significantly less utilized. Despite this, Haun expressed satisfaction with the $1.5 billion raised and stated that they do not plan to increase their size even in a bull run.
Haun Criticizes SEC for Regulatory Actions
When discussing regulatory concerns and the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Haun criticized the agency for its enforcement actions against crypto companies. She argued that laws and regulations should be determined by courts and Congress rather than independent agencies like the SEC. Haun also expressed concern about the current leadership of the SEC, claiming they have taken an overly expansive view of their jurisdiction in areas such as AI and climate. She believes this goes against how the system is designed and has led federal judges to question their actions.
Hot Take: Katie Haun Encourages Investing in Crypto Despite Market Correction
Katie Haun, former a16z general partner and founder of Haun Ventures, believes that now is an opportune time to invest in the crypto industry. Despite the recent market correction, Haun remains optimistic about the future of crypto. She emphasizes that there is a misconception that the crypto market is stagnant, but her team has been actively involved and deliberately waited for the right moment to make investments. Haun Ventures operates with two funds, one focused on early-stage rounds and another supporting later-stage projects. Although regulatory concerns exist, Haun criticizes the SEC for its enforcement actions and jurisdictional overreach. Overall, she encourages investors to consider the potential of the crypto industry.