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Exclusive: Crypto vet Meltem Demirors raising $75 million for two venture funds under Crucible Capital

Reported by Fortune
Aug 7, 2024· 3 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Meltem Demirors, former Chief Strategy Officer at CoinShares, is launching Crucible Capital with a combined target of $75 million across two venture funds ($30 million and $45 million), according to SEC filings dated August 6, 2024.
  • • Demirors brings substantial industry credibility to the new venture, with 263,000 followers on Crypto Twitter and a track record of investing in hundreds of companies at CoinShares and as an angel investor in the digital assets sector.
  • • SEC filings indicate both funds have yet to receive outside capital, though this does not preclude informal commitments or funding through other corporate vehicles; Demirors declined to comment on specific fundraising status.
  • • The fund launch signals continued institutional appetite for crypto venture capital despite market volatility, as the sector experiences a recovery after an extended drought in deal activity, with median deal sizes climbing from $3 million in Q1 2024 to $3.2 million in Q2.
  • • Crucible Capital's fundraising arrives as major crypto-focused venture firms secure substantial capital—Paradigm announced an $850 million fund in June 2024—and as political fortunes for digital assets improve in the U.S.
Summary
Meltem Demirors, a recognized figure in the blockchain and digital assets industry, has filed SEC forms to establish Crucible Capital, a new venture capital firm targeting $75 million in committed capital across two separate funds. The Delaware-based entity will operate Crucible Capital Fund I ($30 million) and Crucible Capital Fund 1-A ($45 million), with Demirors serving as managing member of the general partner. The filings, submitted on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, represent a formal step toward launching an independent investment vehicle after her tenure at CoinShares, where she held the position of Chief Strategy Officer.

Demirors brings established credentials to the venture. Her prominence in the digital assets industry has been built through CoinShares, a publicly listed digital asset investment firm managing $7 billion in assets, where she was instrumental in hundreds of investment decisions. Additionally, she maintains a substantial following of 263,000 on Crypto Twitter, positioning her as an influential commentator and decision-maker within the sector. Her decision to launch an independent fund reflects growing confidence in the venture capital market for digital assets after an extended period of contraction.

The timing of Crucible Capital's launch coincides with a notable recovery in crypto venture activity during 2024. Despite significant market volatility—including a sharp decline on August 5, 2024, described as the worst market day since 2022—the broader venture landscape for digital assets has stabilized and expanded. Galaxy Research data shows median deal sizes growing from $3 million in the first quarter to $3.2 million in the second quarter of 2024. Larger firms have also secured substantial capital commitments; Paradigm announced an $850 million fund in June, signaling institutional confidence in the sector despite cyclical headwinds.

According to the SEC filings, neither fund has yet received outside capital, though this disclosure does not preclude informal commitments or funding secured through alternative corporate structures. Demirors declined to comment beyond the public filings. The $75 million target, while more modest than mega-funds in the space, reflects sustained investor appetite for digital assets, particularly as the regulatory and political environment for crypto appears increasingly favorable in the United States. Crucible Capital's emergence underscores the venture industry's broader re-engagement with the digital assets sector after years of diminished activity.

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Sources

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Fortune Exclusive: Crypto vet Meltem Demirors raising $75 million for two venture funds under Crucible Capital