|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
- Coinbase Ventures is prioritizing RWAs, synthetic exposure tools and prop-AMMs for next-gen trading.
- DeFi innovation will center on capital efficiency and unsecured onchain credit powered by reputation.
- Agentic AI, DePIN networks and proof-of-humanity systems are expected to accelerate through 2026.
Coinbase Ventures, the investment arm of America’s largest crypto exchange, is sharpening its strategy for 2025 with a targeted push into real-world asset (RWA) trading, next-generation decentralized finance (DeFi) and agentic artificial intelligence (AI). The firm says these categories represent the next wave of breakout protocols as blockchain innovation enters a new maturity phase.
A New Investment Roadmap for Tokenized Finance
In a recent blog announcement, Coinbase Ventures confirmed it is scouting teams building asset-tokenization platforms, specialized trading exchanges, and advanced DeFi infrastructure. As the sector pivots toward real economic utility, the firm expects RWAs and synthetic exposure tools—such as perpetual futures tied to off-chain markets—to become mainstream.
Kinji Steimetz, an investor at Coinbase Ventures, highlighted the shift toward “prop-AMMs,” a new automated market-making design that shields liquidity providers from predatory bots. These models, he said, could underpin the next era of secure, capital-efficient decentralized trading.
DeFi 2.0: Capital Efficiency and Onchain Reputation
With DeFi total value locked still down from its 2021 peak, Coinbase Ventures sees room for reinvention. Investor Ethan Oak pointed to deeper integrations between perpetual exchanges and lending protocols, enabling traders to earn yield on collateral while keeping leveraged positions open.
Another key frontier is unsecured onchain credit. Investor Jonathan King predicts the rise of reputation-based lending systems that merge offchain data with verifiable onchain identities, tapping into what he calls “a trillion-dollar opportunity” in U.S. unsecured credit markets alone.
AI Meets Crypto: Agentic Systems and DePIN on the Rise
Coinbase Ventures also anticipates rapid growth in crypto-AI convergence. Steimetz noted a significant data gap in training embodied AI systems, a challenge decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) could help solve through distributed data capture.
The firm also expects breakthroughs in proof-of-humanity frameworks—tools blending biometrics and cryptography to distinguish human activity from AI-generated content, a critical need as synthetic media surges.
Also Read: Coinbase Acquires Solana DEX Vector in 2025 Expansion
Finally, agentic AI is poised to democratize onchain development. King predicts AI agents capable of launching smart contracts, performing audits and managing protocol operations—tools that could open the door for non-technical founders to build onchain businesses at scale.
With more than 600 investments already in its portfolio, Coinbase Ventures is positioning itself at the intersections of tokenized assets, smarter DeFi, and AI-driven automation. If its projections hold, 2026 may mark the beginning of a radically more efficient and interoperable crypto ecosystem.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
I’m your translator between the financial Old World and the new frontier of crypto. After a career demystifying economics and markets, I enjoy elucidating crypto – from investment risks to earth-shaking potential. Let’s explore!
