Michele Korver has joined a16z Crypto as its new Head of Regulatory.
According to a note from a16z, Korver has a reputation as the DOJ [Department of Justice] “crypto czar” having spent more than 25 years in government and law enforcement. Korver started her career in the Secret Service – the agency that pursues counterfeiters becoming one of the foremost federal prosecutors in crypto.
Korver is said to be the U.S. Department of Justice’s first dedicated subject matter expert in cryptocurrency-related prosecutions and forfeitures and created and managed the Criminal Division’s Digital Currency Initiative. During the past year, Korver has served as Chief Digital Currency Advisor at the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and worked across the US Department of Treasury, advising on digital asset-related policy matters.
Korver issued the following statement on her new position:
“It’s clear to me that web3 and its underlying crypto technology can solve critical challenges of national importance. I’ve devoted much of my career to helping policymakers understand the power and potential of this technology. I’m now excited to join a16z crypto and work directly with web3 projects to help them thrive in a rapidly developing regulatory environment. a16z crypto was an early supporter of crypto and web3, and I’ve long admired their team and the visionary entrepreneurs they’ve backed.”
On LinkedIn, Korver noted that her last day at FinCEN was this weekend:
“I’m now excited to join @a16z crypto and work directly with web3 projects to help them thrive in a rapidly-developing regulatory environment. a16z crypto was an early supporter of crypto and web3, and I’ve long admired their team and the visionary entrepreneurs they’ve backed.”
In a blog post, Anthony Albanese, Managing Partner and the Chief Operating Officer of a16z Crypto, said that Korver recognizes that “regulators need a balanced approach that allows innovation to flourish, so we can build a better internet.” Her new role will be part of making that a reality.
Albanese said, “it is hard to imagine someone better positioned to navigate and help shape the rapidly evolving web3 regulatory landscape.”