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Exclusive: Crypto veteran Meltem Demirors raising two venture funds totaling $75 million

Reported by Fortune
Aug 7, 2024· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Meltem Demirors, former Chief Strategy Officer at CoinShares, is launching Crucible Capital to raise $75 million across two separate venture funds ($30 million Fund I and $45 million Fund 1-A).
  • • Crucible Capital is Delaware-based and will focus on digital asset investments, leveraging Demirors' extensive track record in crypto venture investing and portfolio management.
  • • Demirors brings proven experience scaling crypto portfolios, having previously helped grow Digital Currency Group's portfolio from 40 to 200 companies while raising $25 million for that initiative.
  • • The fund launch represents significant institutional capital commitment to crypto venture investing, positioning Demirors to deploy substantial capital across digital asset opportunities.
  • • Demirors has demonstrated deep experience across the crypto ecosystem, having invested in over 250 companies while at CoinShares, where the firm manages $4 billion in assets under management.
Summary
Meltem Demirors, a veteran cryptocurrency executive and former Chief Strategy Officer at CoinShares, is establishing Crucible Capital to raise a combined $75 million across two distinct venture funds. The two funds—Crucible Capital Fund I and Crucible Capital Fund 1-A—are structured with an intended size of $30 million and $45 million, respectively, and are incorporated in Delaware.

Demirors brings substantial credentials to the venture initiative. At CoinShares, a digital asset investment firm currently managing $4 billion in assets under management, she has been instrumental in building and deploying a diversified portfolio across the cryptocurrency sector. Her investment experience encompasses over 250 company investments in digital assets and related technologies. Prior to her tenure at CoinShares, Demirors was part of the founding team at Digital Currency Group, where she raised $25 million and scaled the company's portfolio from 40 companies to 200 companies—demonstrating proven operational capacity in building venture programs within crypto infrastructure firms.

The launch of Crucible Capital signals continued institutional capital allocation toward digital asset venture investments. The $75 million fund target reflects confidence in the crypto market despite historical volatility, and positions Demirors to deploy meaningful capital across blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and emerging crypto technologies. The establishment of two separate funds with distinct capitalization levels suggests a tiered investment strategy, potentially targeting different company stages or investment thesis categories within the digital asset ecosystem.

This fundraise underscores the maturation of crypto venture capital as an asset class, with experienced operators like Demirors able to raise substantial sums independent of larger crypto conglomerates. Her background navigating Digital Currency Group and CoinShares—organizations that themselves manage billions in digital assets—provides her with deep network access, deal sourcing capabilities, and operational understanding necessary to deploy venture capital effectively in the crypto sector.

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Sources

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Fortune Exclusive: Crypto veteran Meltem Demirors raising two venture funds totaling $75 million