Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, is now aiming to cure aging, and investors are backing him in a big way. His San Francisco-based biotech NewLimit has closed a $435 million funding round, pushing its valuation to $3.1 billion-triple its previous worth from just a year ago.
The company was co-founded in 2022 by Armstrong, Blake Byers, and scientist Jacob Kimmel, a former researcher at Alphabet's longevity lab Calico. NewLimit is focused on epigenetic reprogramming: reversing age-related changes in gene expression. Using transcription factors delivered via lipid nanoparticles, the same tech behind mRNA COVID vaccines, the company seeks to rejuvenate cells in the liver, immune system, and vasculature. No human trials have started yet, with the first expected in 2027.
The funding round, much larger than the $130 million Series B led by Kleiner Perkins last year, reflects strong institutional faith in NewLimit's approach-which aims to partially, not fully, reprogram cells to avoid cancer risks. For investors watching from the crypto world, this is a traditional biotech play, with no blockchain or token involved.