Key Takeaways
- • Brian Mehler directs venture investment strategy at EOS VC, the venture-capital arm of Hong Kong-based blockchain company Block.one, focusing on projects built on EOS technology and positioning games as a gateway to mainstream blockchain adoption.
- • Block.one raised $4 billion via ICO in early 2018 and allocated $1 billion specifically for venture capital deployment, with Mehler establishing partnerships through which the capital is invested (Mike Alexander, CEO of EOS VC, oversees the overall $1 billion fund).
- • Block.one strategically converted most of its cryptocurrency windfall to fiat currency before the broader crypto market collapse in late 2018, protecting capital from digital asset volatility while maintaining a diversified investment portfolio.
- • Galaxy Asset Management is identified as a key investment partner in Block.one's venture capital distribution strategy, indicating a shift toward partnership-based venture deployment rather than direct-only investment models.
- • Mehler's investment thesis emphasizes games as market catalysts, citing mobile gaming successes like Candy Crush as proof-of-concept that games drive mainstream adoption of digital platforms—a pattern he views as repeatable for blockchain technology.
Summary
Brian Mehler, who joined Block.one in early 2018, runs the internal venture-capital division at EOS VC, the investment arm of the Hong Kong-based blockchain company. His role centers on deploying Block.one's venture capital into projects leveraging EOS technology. While Mehler established the foundational partnerships and investment strategy before Mike Alexander joined as EOS VC CEO in July 2018 (Alexander previously served as Asia CEO at brokerage Jeffries), Alexander now oversees the $1 billion venture fund. Mehler's background as an experienced private-equity investor and operator proved instrumental in structuring Block.one's investment approach.
Block.one achieved prominence in early 2018 with a landmark $4 billion initial coin offering conducted through Ethereum-based ether tokens. The company subsequently allocated $1 billion of that capital specifically for venture investment. Critically, Block.one converted the majority of its cryptocurrency holdings into fiat currency before the digital asset market collapsed later that year—a strategic move that insulated the fund from the broader crypto downturn while maintaining capital stability.
Mehler's investment philosophy emphasizes games as a stepping stone to mainstream blockchain adoption. Drawing parallels to mobile phone gaming, he notes that titles like Candy Crush drove mass consumer adoption of mobile applications and payment systems, ultimately conditioning users to input personal financial data into their devices. Applying this logic to blockchain, Mehler views gaming as a mechanism to introduce mainstream audiences to EOS-based applications before moving toward broader financial services integration.
The venture deployment structure reflects a decentralized partnership model rather than direct investment exclusively. Galaxy Asset Management is cited as a key partner in this architecture, suggesting Block.one leverages established asset managers to distribute capital while maintaining strategic oversight of the EOS technology ecosystem. This approach allows Block.one to scale venture activity while managing operational complexity and risk across a diversified portfolio.
Block.one achieved prominence in early 2018 with a landmark $4 billion initial coin offering conducted through Ethereum-based ether tokens. The company subsequently allocated $1 billion of that capital specifically for venture investment. Critically, Block.one converted the majority of its cryptocurrency holdings into fiat currency before the digital asset market collapsed later that year—a strategic move that insulated the fund from the broader crypto downturn while maintaining capital stability.
Mehler's investment philosophy emphasizes games as a stepping stone to mainstream blockchain adoption. Drawing parallels to mobile phone gaming, he notes that titles like Candy Crush drove mass consumer adoption of mobile applications and payment systems, ultimately conditioning users to input personal financial data into their devices. Applying this logic to blockchain, Mehler views gaming as a mechanism to introduce mainstream audiences to EOS-based applications before moving toward broader financial services integration.
The venture deployment structure reflects a decentralized partnership model rather than direct investment exclusively. Galaxy Asset Management is cited as a key partner in this architecture, suggesting Block.one leverages established asset managers to distribute capital while maintaining strategic oversight of the EOS technology ecosystem. This approach allows Block.one to scale venture activity while managing operational complexity and risk across a diversified portfolio.
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