Anchorage Digital Opens $3 billion Venture Unit for Onchain Protocols

- Anchorage unveils a $3 billion venture arm to advance crypto infrastructure. - Focus areas include Bitcoin DeFi, decentralized identity, and tokenized assets. Anchorage Digital, a $3 billion crypto bank pioneer, has launched a venture unit to back early-stage onchain projects, a strategic move that comes during a period of muted industry funding. Named Anchorage Digital Ventures, the unit aims to provide capital and guidance to build institutional-grade crypto protocols from the ground up. On August 25, 2025, The Block reported that Anchorage Digital Ventures will prioritize key areas, including Bitcoin DeFi, decentralized identity, and tokenized real-world assets. The initiative seeks to make projects institutionally ready from their inception, an approach that addresses fundamental hurdles many emerging protocols face, such as liquidity and market legitimacy. Selected teams will receive capital investment and direct mentorship from Anchorage Digital's experienced staff, in addition to gaining support for liquidity and strategic market positioning. With this launch, Anchorage joins major players like Coinbase and Circle Ventures, which have also started venture arms to accelerate institutional engagement and innovation in crypto markets. The application process for Anchorage Digital Ventures is now open, and participating teams can showcase their protocols at a demo day during Token2049 in Singapore this October. This move reinforces Anchorage Digital’s role as a frontrunner in institutional crypto adoption, a position it first established after becoming the first federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S. in 2017. Anchorage Digital Ventures will not only solidify the company’s presence in the evolving crypto ecosystem but also drive progress in foundational infrastructure projects, which are critical for building institutional momentum in the space.