Chris Dixon

Chris Dixon is a prominent figure at the intersection of technology and finance, recognized for his work in crypto and blockchain investing. Dixon earned a BA and an MA from Columbia University, majoring in philosophy, and holds an MBA from Harvard University. This combination of humanistic inquiry and business expertise has shaped his career, enabling him to articulate the philosophical foundations of emerging technologies to audiences beyond Silicon Valley.

Before entering venture capital, Dixon co-founded two startups: SiteAdvisor, an internet security company acquired by McAfee, and Hunch, a recommendation technology company acquired by eBay. Dixon joined Andreessen Horowitz as a general partner and has been a prolific seed investor, co-founding Founder Collective, a seed venture fund, and making numerous personal angel investments in technology companies. Before joining Andreessen Horowitz, Dixon made early investments in Kickstarter, Pinterest, Stack Overflow, and Stripe. At Andreessen Horowitz, he led early investments in Oculus, which was acquired by Facebook, and Coinbase, which went public.

Dixon is the founder and managing partner of a16z crypto, leading crypto and blockchain investing through five dedicated funds that have raised more than $9.8 billion. The division’s investments span decentralized finance, decentralized media, infrastructure, social media, and gaming. Its portfolio includes Coinbase, Uniswap, OpenSea, and Solana, all significant players in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. Dixon turned a $350 million crypto fund into an unrealized profit of $6 billion, representing a 17x gain. He was ranked number one on the Forbes Midas List of the world's best venture capital investors and was recognized by Fortune as a top crypto investor.

Dixon is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet." In the book, Dixon argues that the vision of an open network for creativity and entrepreneurship can be realized through blockchain networks, distinguishing this movement from cryptocurrency speculation. Drawing from a 25-year career in the software industry, Dixon outlines the evolution of the internet through the "read," "read-write," and "read-write-own" eras, highlighting how blockchain networks are shifting power and economic benefits to communities of users.

Dixon is known for articulating long-term theses around blockchains as open networks, developer platforms, and alternatives to centralized internet infrastructure. He has played a central role in shaping how founders, policymakers, and institutions understand the strategic importance of decentralized technologies. Dixon has been a vocal critic of regulatory approaches that lack clarity, emphasizing the need for clear regulation to retain crypto development in the United States and enable participation from traditional financial institutions. He frequently shares insights on crypto, blockchain, and NFTs with his substantial social media following. Through his writing, investing, and public advocacy, Dixon remains a significant voice in shaping the future of the internet.