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Dragonfly wants to raise $500 million for its fourth fund: report

Reported by The Block
Sep 17, 2024· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Dragonfly Capital, a San Francisco-based crypto venture firm, is raising $500 million for its fourth fund, with $250 million already committed and a target close by Q1 2025, according to Bloomberg.
  • • The firm has a track record of oversubscription: its third fund, closed in May 2022, raised $650 million against an initial $500 million target, with backing from institutional LPs including KKR, Tiger Global, Invesco, and Sequoia China.
  • • Dragonfly's fundraising progression shows consistent institutional appetite for crypto venture exposure, having raised $225 million for Fund II (2021) and $650 million for Fund III (2022), demonstrating resilience in crypto VC despite market volatility.
  • • Recent investment activity includes leading a $12 million seed round for stablecoin issuer Agora in April 2024, indicating active deployment across early-stage blockchain infrastructure and digital asset projects.
  • • The fourth fund's potential oversubscription signals continued institutional confidence in Dragonfly's deal sourcing and portfolio management capabilities within the crypto ecosystem.
Summary
Dragonfly Capital is targeting a $500 million raise for its fourth venture fund, having secured $250 million in commitments to date with an expected close by the end of Q1 2025, according to a Bloomberg report cited by The Block. The San Francisco-based crypto-focused venture firm's fundraising effort reflects ongoing institutional demand for exposure to early-stage blockchain projects, particularly as the cryptocurrency market stabilizes following recent volatility.

The firm's fundraising trajectory demonstrates strong institutional confidence. Its third fund closed at $650 million in May 2022—a 30% oversubscription relative to the initial $500 million target—with backing from prominent institutional limited partners including KKR, Tiger Global, Invesco, and Sequoia China. This oversubscription provides precedent for the fourth fund potentially exceeding its stated target, signaling that investor appetite for Dragonfly's investment thesis remains robust.

Dragonfly's historical fundraising shows consistent growth in the crypto venture space. The firm closed its second fund at $225 million in 2021, which deployed capital into DeFi, NFT, Ethereum Layer 2, and centralized finance projects. The progression from Fund II ($225 million) to Fund III ($650 million) reflects expanding LP confidence during a period of significant cryptocurrency market expansion and consolidation among institutional investors seeking crypto exposure.

Recent deployment activity underscores active capital allocation. In April 2024, Dragonfly led a $12 million seed round for Agora, a stablecoin issuer, demonstrating continued focus on digital asset infrastructure and early-stage projects. This activity, combined with the firm's stated Q1 2025 close timeline, indicates a firm actively sourcing and executing deals despite a market environment that has historically challenged venture capital deployment velocity in crypto.

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Sources

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The Block Dragonfly wants to raise $500 million for its fourth fund: report