Haun Ventures Targets $1 Billion for New Crypto Funds, Expects Oversubscription

Yahoo24-03-2025

Haun Ventures, a venture capital firm led by former federal prosecutor Katie Haun, is aiming to raise $1 billion to invest in the cryptocurrency sector. The funds, expected to close by June 2025, will be split equally between early-stage and late-stage investments, with $500 million allocated to each. The goal of $1 billion is lower than the $1.5 billion Haun Ventures raised in 2022, which was deployed during the crypto market downturn, largely after the collapse of FTX. However, the firm anticipates the new round will be oversubscribed, despite the smaller target.
Haun Ventures, founded by Haun in 2022, is positioned to benefit from changing market conditions compared to the 2022 funding round. The firm was part of a wave of large venture capital investments in the crypto space, with major firms like Andreessen Horowitz backing its formation. Haun, who has a background as a Coinbase board member and a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, launched Haun Ventures to make significant investments in blockchain startups.
The firm's focus on the crypto sector has led to some notable investments, including in Bitwise's $70 million funding round, alongside investors such as Electric Capital and MassMutual. Haun Ventures' strategy remains to target both early-stage and more established blockchain projects. While the precise focus of the upcoming funds has not been publicly detailed, industry experts have suggested that stablecoins could continue to be a key area of interest in 2025, with stablecoin use having grown as a strong case for crypto in 2024.
Haun Ventures' first fund, raised in 2022, was deployed cautiously following the collapse of FTX and the overall downturn in the cryptocurrency market. Despite these challenges, the firm's capital was mostly kept in reserve until 2023, with about 60% of the funds unspent by the middle of the year. Some of Haun Ventures' key investments include NFT platform Zora and stablecoin protocol Bridge, which was recently acquired by Stripe for $1.1 billion.
Other venture capital firms, such as Paradigm and Pantera Capital, are also aiming to raise substantial funds in 2024. Paradigm closed an $850 million investment fund in June 2024, while Pantera Capital is looking to raise over $1 billion for a new blockchain-focused fund. Industry analysts predict that while crypto VC investment in 2025 may surpass 2024's funding levels, it will not reach the peak levels seen in the 2021 bull market when $33.8 billion was raised.
Despite the shifting landscape, Haun Ventures is optimistic about the future of the crypto market. The upcoming fundraising round is expected to be one of the largest in recent years, signaling strong confidence in the sector's long-term growth.

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Changes in U.S. Regulation Are Simplifying the Growth of Web3 Business

USA Today

17 hours ago

USA Today

Changes in U.S. Regulation Are Simplifying the Growth of Web3 Business

With regulatory changes gaining traction and Washington warming to digital assets, the U.S. is quickly reclaiming its place at the forefront of blockchain development. Story by OKX The United States has witnessed a remarkable revamp of its crypto industry in the past six months to become a fertile ground for innovation, startup growth, capital formation, and a founder's paradise. Read on to explore how regulatory changes are simplifying the growth of Web3 businesses. What's Fueling Business Growth? Various bills and acts have cleared the House, the majority of which are aimed at improving the regulation of virtual assets. One of those bills proposes a structured division of oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which hopes to build stronger clarity between startups and investors. In essence, this will streamline the process of achieving compliance while still innovating. Thanks to this, many founders and high-profile ventures who left the U.S. market are slowly returning. One of those, OKX, is relaunching in the U.S., while others like Deribit and Crossover Markets have already announced plans to set up operations in the country. The Best Time for Crypto Businesses to Thrive Seed rounds for Web3 infrastructure, AI-integrated blockchain platforms, RWAs, and tokenized finance startups are closing faster and becoming often oversubscribed. Insights suggest that blockchain-based startups raised $4.8 billion in Q1 2025, which is the highest amount since late 2022. The thaw is real, and investors are taking notice. The current administration has taken steps to refine policies for digital assets while implementing regulatory changes to how the federal government views the cryptocurrency sector. Moreover, the administration is engaging with digital asset firms and fintech leaders by opening communication lines with major players in the space, aiming to craft a national crypto strategy that is pro-business and globally competitive. The Ripple Effect New policies are expanding the definition of "dealers" to include certain DeFi participants. This time, regulation will come with dialogue. Recent testimony from SEC and CFTC leadership before Congress suggested a willingness to work within the scope of recently passed and upcoming bills, signaling a more cooperative stance. This has done the impossible quickly, translating into tangible ecosystem growth. The trend is consistent: founders are building, funds are deploying, and regulators are increasingly watching with open (not closed) eyes. The pivot is not without its critics. Some privacy advocates worry that regulation will compromise the ethos of decentralization. Others believe the sudden friendliness could evaporate with a single lawsuit or political scandal. But these voices acknowledge that, for now, the industry is experiencing renewed activity compared to levels observed prior to the Terra and FTX events. One exciting dimension of this resurgence is how it ties back to policy. The crypto sector is no longer a fringe issue and is slowly becoming embedded in national economic discussions, where policymakers now treat it accordingly. State governments across Nevada, California, Florida, and Colorado, among others, are experimenting with Web3 pilot programs that serve different sectors, ranging from land title registries to municipal stablecoins. The Return of Talent The United States has spoken of a 'crypto brain drain' for years as engineers, founders, and legal experts fled the U.S. for more welcoming environments. However, that trend has already reversed. Some of the biggest names in blockchain have announced U.S. headquarters, expansions, or relaunches in recent weeks. The crypto economy is returning—not just in capital, but in talent and infrastructure. Final Take The months coming are more critical too than the previous ones; the sector still expects the Senate to pass some more key legislation, and at the same time provide room for oversight authorities to be predictable. It's an important time in the history of crypto, a time when innovation is thriving across decentralized finance (DeFi), Real World Assets (RWAs), institutional adoption, and payments. The maturity of the industry will prove itself with time if it can demonstrate its resilience without veering away from its founding principles. Still, the crypto community has every reason to have faith in the industry. In the government, there is growing optimism, and for first-time founders and investors, they won't be waiting for permission but building with a clear purpose. While it cannot yet be called a victory lap, the developments are surely a restart not seen in years. OKX Exchange products are not yet available in the United States due to local laws and regulations. Investing in digital assets carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Potential investors should ensure that they have an understanding of the risks involved, seeking professional advice where appropriate.

CNBC

2 days ago

CNBC

Watch CNBC's full interivew with Haun Ventures CEO Katie Haun

Katie Haun, Haun Ventures founder and CEO, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the Senate's passage of the GENIUS Act, impact on the crypto industry, future of stablecoins, bitcoin price outlook, and more.

The really transformational crypto framework is the House Market Structure bill, says Katie Haun