Investment management giant VanEck is launching a new multimillion-dollar venture fund focused on crypto and artificial intelligence (AI).
In a new press release, the exchange-trade fund (ETF) provider announces the launch of VanEck Ventures, a $30 million early seed fund focused on investing in firms that are “operating at the intersection of fintech, digital assets, and AI.”
As stated by Jan van Eck, CEO of the firm,
“From pioneering an approach to gold investing in 1968 to recognizing the disruptive potential of Bitcoin in 2017, embracing a long-term view on transformative opportunities has always been part of our investment philosophy. This fund extends that vision into the early-stage venture space.
We look forward to supporting founders of what we believe are some of the most disruptive companies in fintech-those building the future of finance.”
According to the press release, the fund’s focus will be on projects dedicated to tokenized assets, native on-chain marketplaces, and next-generation payments platforms.
Says Wyatt Lonergan, general partner at VanEck Ventures,
“Three inflection points core to our investment thesis are starting to reshape the foundation of the internet: stablecoins emerging as an open-source banking layer, the commoditization of blockspace, and AI breakthroughs.
The convergence of these is creating unprecedented opportunities for globally connected, user-centric financial experiences, and we are excited to back founders building on these innovations.”
Though the fund has made four investments already, they have yet to be disclosed. According to the press release, the fund plans on making 25 to 35 investments overall, each ranging from between $500,000 to $1 million.
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