Andreessen Horowitz Highlights Crypto’s Mainstream Growth in 2025
The 2025 State of Crypto report by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) marks a major shift in the crypto industry. Institutional adoption, stablecoin use, improved infrastructure, and clearer regulations have moved crypto into mainstream finance.
Chris Dixon, General Partner at a16z crypto, said, “Crypto has become a meaningful part of the modern economy.” The market cap has surpassed $4 trillion, with usage reaching record highs.
The report shows banks, asset managers, fintechs, and payment firms are fully integrating crypto. Traditional firms like BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Fidelity now offer crypto products. Tech companies such as PayPal, Robinhood, and Stripe are building blockchain infrastructure.
Stablecoins Reach Visa-Level Transaction Volume
Stablecoins have gained strong market acceptance. They power over $46 trillion in annual transactions, rivaling Visa’s volume. Circle’s IPO and increased SEC attention reflect growing institutional interest.
Blockchain throughput has exceeded 3,400 transactions per second, a 100-fold increase in five years. This boost supports more efficient onchain applications.
The report also notes growing links between AI and crypto. Use cases include identity verification and agent-based finance. a16z launched a dashboard tracking wallet usage, ETF flows, builder activity, and stablecoin volume.
Institutional Crypto Custody Expands
The report aligns with Citibank’s recent announcement to launch an institutional-grade crypto custody platform in 2026. The platform will focus on stablecoins and crypto ETFs, leveraging new regulatory clarity after the SEC rescinded rule SAB 121.
Citi will use its existing infrastructure, including tokenized dollar rails and CIDAP labs, to offer cross-border digital asset services.
a16z states, “2025 is the year of institutional adoption.” Citibank’s move shows how traditional custodians are entering a space once led by crypto-native firms. The gap between traditional finance and crypto is closing as post-trade systems evolve and stablecoins grow.
