Most Influential 2021: Arianna Simpson

Arianna Simpson’s trip to Zimbabwe in 2013 changed her life. But it was the experience of using Western Union, and the platform’s extortionary fees, to send money to the family she sponsored that changed her mind on crypto. Now a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), she helps to manage the massively influential venture capital firm’s $2.2 billion crypto fund. Simpson previously spent time at Facebook and BitGo. She’s also run her own investment funds, Autonomous Partners, which focused on digital assets, and Crystal Towers Capital, which worked with early-stage startups.

The Complete List: CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2021

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.