Haun Ventures Raises $1 Billion for Crypto and AI Agent Funds
A crypto VC funds AI agents with $1B
Haun Ventures, a cryptocurrency venture capital firm, has secured $1 billion to invest in two new funds. The move marks an expansion from crypto into the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents and financial infrastructure.
Unveiling the Thesis: Finance Over Models
In a departure from traditional focus areas, Katie Haun is directing her funds towards AI agents with a unique thesis. She posits that these agents will require regulated financial systems to function optimally, and the firms initially involved in stablecoin development are ideally positioned to facilitate this transition.
From Crypto to Financial Infrastructure
The new funds will be deployed over the next 2-3 years, targeting early and later-stage crypto and blockchain companies. However, the significant shift lies not in fund size but in the strategic direction: AI agents and financial infrastructure. Haun emphasizes, "We’re not pivoting to an AI fund… We want to do AI that is in our lane—financial services."
Supporting Digital Banking and Financial Services
The investment strategy is evident through Haun Ventures’ backing of Erebor, a digital bank founded by Palmer Luckey with support from Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund. Erebor, insured by the FDIC and valued at $4.35 billion, caters to tech companies operating in digital assets, AI, defense, and manufacturing.
Building Financial Plumbing for AI Agents
The infrastructure necessary for AI agents to operate within the financial system is taking shape. Stripe has introduced a machine payments preview with stablecoin settlement for agent-to-agent transactions. Mastercard, PayPal, Google, and Visa are also developing relevant technologies, ensuring that the financial plumbing is in place for the next generation of autonomous software.