A Sequoia Capital partner explains why he's not scared of blockchain startups and how it's changing the VC business

Sequoia"Cryptocurrencies and blockchains are a really high-potential new technology" said Matt Huang, a partner at Sequoia Capital.Venture capitalists are supposed to be on the front lines of new technology.

But when it comes to cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups, VCs have been gun shy.

The wariness is understandable to Matt Huang, a partner at Sequoia Capital. After all, investing in blockchain startups means betting on complex, new technology and putting your faith, and capital, into largely unproven alternatives to equity.

Despite the risks, and the fears of a "bitcoin bubble," Sequoia and Huang are jumping in. The storied VC firm, which made a name for itself with early bets on companies like Oracle and Google, has invested millions in two blockchain startups - Orchid Labs and Filecoin - and two different cryptocurrency hedge funds, MetaStable and Polychain Capital.

We checked in with Huang to find out what gives him confidence to invest in this emerging industry, and how crypto is changing both the tech landscape and the business of VC investing.