a16z Crypto invests $33 million in the AI model evaluation platform 'Yupp'

a16z Crypto has invested $33 million (approximately ₩45.2 billion) in Yupp, a platform that evaluates artificial intelligence (AI) models through a virtual asset (cryptocurrency)-based reward system.

According to The Block, a crypto-specialized media outlet, a16z Crypto, the cryptocurrency investment division of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, announced that it led the seed round for the AI startup Yupp, investing a total of $33 million.

More than 45 angel and strategic investors also participated in this round, including Jeff Dean, Chief Scientist at Google, Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, Evan Sharp, co-founder of Pinterest, Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, and Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Coinbase.

Yupp is a platform where responses of various AI models—such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek—can be compared side-by-side and feedback can be provided. User feedback is rewarded through a crypto-based incentive system. Rewards are paid either as stablecoins on Base or Solana, or as cash via Stripe, PayPal, or Coinbase.

Regarding the background of the investment, a16z explained, "AI needs a reliable evaluation system based on large-scale human feedback," adding, "Blockchain is a technology that ensures transparency and ownership, while crypto provides rewards to users and trustworthy feedback data to developers."