Donut Labs Raises $7M for AI-Powered Crypto Browser, Challenging Brave and Opera

Donut Raises $7M For AI Agent Crypto Browser - A New Challenger to Brave and Opera?

A team lead by ex-Meta AI Data Scientist and Mirrow World Founder is working to build a crypto browser based on AI Agents. See What it means Donut Browser:- In simple words, the browser is the medium that brought you to this story. Nearly half of the Web2 internet would collapse if browsers ceased to exist. Now, a new project is reimagining this essential tool for the Web3 era. Donut, founded by Chris Zhu, has raised $7 million in pre-seed funding to build what it calls the world's first "Agentic Crypto Browser." Named as "Donut Browser", the browser being developed by the team aims to simplify the end user experience. As AI agents increasingly integrate with crypto workflows -- from trading to yield farming -- Donut's browser aims to automate these actions seamlessly within a single interface. Donut's vision has received support in funding by Hack VC, BITKRAFT, and Hongshan (formerly Sequoia China). The lead investor of this round, Hack VC described Donut as "the answer to the increasing complexity in crypto, leveraging the exponential day-to-day progress in agent capabilities to simplify and enrich the end-user's experience." What is the Donut Crypto Browser? Donut browser is built on the concept of crypto browser. At its core, crypto browsers also function like web2 browsers such as Chrome or Firefox. However, they differ by integrating crypto tools. Crypto browsers embed these tools such as wallets and dApps - from NFT marketplaces to DeFi protocol - directly into the browsing experience. While Opera was the first to launch web3 browser, the race has seen many competitors popping up including Brave and Phantom Browser (Beta). Also Read: Phantom Introduces Social Feeds However, what sets apart the Donut browser is its agentic layer. It will embed AI agents in the browser so that they can autonomously execute complex on-chain operations. These include token swaps or deciding yield strategies or portfolio rebalances. It will perform all these tasks on behalf of the user by having an understanding of token charts and related tools. In order to enable this, it will include wallets, DEXs and other networks under one agentic interface. Initially, Donut will generate revenue through premium agent subscriptions, swap-fee sharing with DEX partners and enterprise licensing of its agent SDK. According to the reports, a native DONUT token is also planned for late 2025. AI Agents Is The Hot Field for Brave, Opera Too There has recently been many happenings in the crypto browser segment. Opera on May 28 also launched its browser for the agentic web - Opera Neon. However, it is only focused on chatting and surfing and doesn't automate capital transfers like Donut does. Brave Browser has also announced its AI assistant Leo to craft smart answers. Thus, while many players are innovating in the AI-centric web browser segment, Donut might stand out by "automating capital". Its focus is not only on surfing and clicking but on crypto transactions. Interestingly, its broader founding team pulls expertise from top AI and crypto outfits (Meta AI, TikTok AI, Tencent AI, SonicSVM, Sahara AI. Thus, as Donut unfolds and launches its beta "planned soon", it will also work as stimuli for more innovations in crypto web browsers.

AI Meets Blockchain: Donut Labs Secures $7M for Crypto-Native Browser Project

Donut Labs, a New York-based company, has secured $7 million in pre-seed funding to build the world's first agentic crypto browser. The browser, called Donut, uses AI and blockchain to connect users to various Web3 applications, crypto trading, and decentralized finance tools within a single interface. The funding round was led by HongShan (formerly Sequoia China), BITKRAFT, and HackVC, with participation from Sky9 Ventures, Matrix Partners, Makers Fund, and SonicSVM. Angel investors from the Solana ecosystem also participated. Donut plans to use the funding to accelerate development, hire staff, and expand the platform's reach ahead of its public rollout.