Global investment firm VanEck has launched VanEck Ventures, a $30 million fund aimed at supporting innovative startups in fintech, digital assets, and artificial intelligence sectors, focusing on early-stage companies.

Expanding into Early-Stage Ventures

VanEck, which manages over $118 billion in assets, is extending its innovation focus with VanEck Ventures. The fund will be led by Wyatt Lonergan and Juan Lopez, seasoned investors with backgrounds in crypto and fintech from their tenure at Circle Ventures.

Focus on Fintech, Digital Assets, and AI

The newly launched VanEck Ventures fund targets startups at the intersection of fintech, digital assets, and AI, particularly those building infrastructure and applications to transform the financial ecosystem. They are keen on blockchain innovations, including tokenized assets and stablecoins. Juan Lopez emphasized the significance of these innovations, mentioning that stablecoins will serve as an 'open-source banking layer,' providing scalable, near-instant payment solutions for businesses.

VanEck’s Long History in Crypto

VanEck was one of the first major asset managers to enter the crypto space, filing for a Bitcoin-linked ETF as early as 2017. The VanEck Ventures fund will focus on investing in 25-35 pre-seed and seed-stage startups, providing a mix of financial and strategic value with a strong emphasis on fintech and blockchain applications. Four unannounced investments have already been made as part of the fund.

The launch of VanEck Ventures aligns with VanEck's ongoing commitment to fostering future leaders in fintech and crypto, reinforcing their long-term focus on innovation.