Haun Ventures has raised $1 billion to back crypto startups across early and late stages, marking a strategic expansion into artificial intelligence for the first time. The fund centers on three pillars—crypto financial infrastructure, tokenization, and AI agents—an approach founder Katie Haun calls part of the “new economy.”

In a blog post published on Monday, Haun, a former U.S. government prosecutor turned crypto executive, said this is the most dynamic period in technology and finance she has witnessed. “The foundations of capital, commerce and trust are undergoing meaningful structural changes,” she wrote, adding that founders who can see across all of it—and build accordingly—will define the entrepreneurs of this era.

Key takeaways

• Haun Ventures raises $1 billion to support crypto startups and expands into artificial intelligence for the first time, focusing on crypto infrastructure, tokenization, and AI agents.
• The firm frames these three areas as components of the “new economy,” signaling a broader cross‑disciplinary strategy.
• AI agents are already moving toward autonomous economic activity; analysts project a massive growth trajectory for related payments in the coming years.
• The funding environment for AI remains exceptionally strong, with venture capital for AI surpassing other sectors in early 2026 and signaling momentum for cross‑sector investments.

Haun’s cross-border bet on AI-enabled crypto infrastructure

Haun emphasized that AI agents—software that autonomously performs tasks—will increasingly conduct economic activity on users’ behalf. She argued that new products and services must be designed for a world where computers are the customers. As she put it, “Every supporting layer will need to be rearchitected for this world: fraud prevention, credit, insurance, identity, privacy, provenance, reputation, and verification all require native versions designed for how agents transact, and cryptographic tools will be important here.”

Haun also highlighted tokenization as a technology capable of rendering traditional assets—such as gold or oil—borderless, always on, and programmable. She described the shift in “the core plumbing of global finance” as moving toward an always-on digital world, with crypto-native layers playing a central role in enabling these capabilities.

Bloomberg reported Haun saying the fund would focus on the intersection of AI agents and crypto infrastructure, aiming to invest in “AI that is in our lane.”

Tokenization and AI agents at the core of the “new economy”

Identity, privacy, provenance and verification are among the domains Haun argues will need native, cryptographic solutions tailored for agent-driven transactions. The fund’s emphasis on AI agents follows a broader industry trend: software that autonomously acts in economic contexts, potentially redefining how value is created and exchanged.

Haun’s framing positions tokenization not merely as a way to tokenize securities or commodities, but as a foundational technology that could enable programmable, borderless access to a wide range of assets. The combination of AI agents with tokenized infrastructure may drive a new class of products and services designed for automated, machine-enabled commerce.

Market backdrop: AI funding surge shapes crypto investor strategy

The investment move arrives amid a striking shift in venture capital toward AI. Crunchbase data show AI companies attracted a record $242 billion in venture funding in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for roughly 80% of total global venture funding in the period, which totaled about $300 billion.

Analysts have projected dramatic growth for AI-enabled commerce. The Boston Consulting Group has suggested that payments managed by AI agents could reach around $2.4 trillion per year by 2029, illustrating the scale at which autonomous software could participate in economic activity. Haun has repeatedly stressed the importance of backing “AI that is in our lane”—AI aligned with crypto and financial-infrastructure expertise—as a driver of portfolio value.

Haun’s expansion into AI signals a broader trend among cryptocurrency-focused funds seeking to diversify into adjacent technologies that promise to reshape how finance and commerce operate. The coming quarters will reveal how quickly AI agents can integrate with tokenized rails and what regulators will permit as the technology matures.

Going forward, observers will watch regulatory clarity, security protocols, and cross‑chain interoperability as key factors shaping adoption. The convergence of AI agents with tokenized crypto infrastructure could redefine how value is created and moved across digital ecosystems, but real-world deployment will hinge on robust risk management and practical use cases.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on May 4, 2026, that Telegram will replace the TON Foundation as the main force behind The Open Network. 

He also said Telegram will become TON’s largest validator. Durov linked the move to lower network fees and a stronger technical roadmap. He wrote: 

“Fees in TON have dropped 6× — to nearly zero.” He added that Telegram would shift TON’s focus to “tech superiority.”

Durov said TON should receive a new website, new developer tools and performance upgrades within “2-3 weeks.” That places the expected changes in late May 2026, based on the May 4 announcement.

The details remain limited. Telegram has not yet explained how its validator role will work. It has also not disclosed its planned validator stake or how the TON Foundation’s role will change after the shift.

Toncoin rallies after the announcement

Toncoin (TON) moved higher after Durov’s comments. TON climbed from about $1.35 to nearly $1.80 after the announcement, placing it among the top 25 crypto assets during the rally.

Crypto.news data showed TON trading near $1.82 at press time, with a 28.10% gain over 24 hours. The token also posted about $632.75 million in daily trading volume and a market cap near $4.8 billion.

Telegram links deepen around TON

The latest move follows Telegram’s wider push into TON-based products. As highlighted in our February 20, 2026 article, TON has used Telegram’s wallet, digital gifts and social NFT tools to support consumer use across the messaging app.

That report also said TON’s approach focuses on Telegram’s reach instead of only technical features. It noted that TON gives developers access to Telegram’s large user base through wallet features, payments, gifts and asset transfers.

As featured in our April coverage, Wallet in Telegram also added perpetual contract trading across metals, stocks, oil and crypto. The product used Lighter’s infrastructure and offered more than 50 markets inside Telegram.

• Kresus and Canton aim to accelerate institutional blockchain deployment.
• Focus shifts from pilot projects to full-scale production systems.
• Hanwha partnership targets tokenized private market assets.

Kresus and the Canton Network are joining forces to push institutional blockchain use beyond the pilot stage and into production, in a collaboration aimed at making deployment easier for enterprises and financial firms.

Announced Monday in San Francisco, the effort centers on a familiar challenge in digital assets: many institutions have explored blockchain through proofs of concept, but far fewer have moved live systems into full operation.

Kresus says the new collaboration will help organizations design, build and deploy blockchain applications “from first integration to full-scale launch,” combining its implementation capabilities with Canton’s institutional-grade infrastructure.

The companies said they are already working on several projects, with additional developments expected in the coming months.

Focus shifts from experimentation to execution

The collaboration is built around a practical problem that has slowed institutional blockchain adoption: implementation.

According to the companies, the aim is to reduce friction for enterprises and organizations that want to move from strategy to deployment.

That means helping clients navigate the technical and operational demands of production-grade blockchain systems rather than stopping at trials.

Kresus said the arrangement is designed to support institutions across industries, not just financial firms, as they look to deploy live blockchain solutions.

Canton’s infrastructure is positioned as the foundation for that effort, while Kresus brings delivery capabilities intended to bridge the gap between planning and production.

Hanwha partnership highlights real-world asset push

Kresus said it is already working with leading global financial institutions to bring next-generation blockchain applications into production on Canton.

One of those efforts is its partnership with Hanwha Investment & Securities, which is aimed at supporting the development of a tokenized digital asset platform focused on private market assets.

The platform is expected to enable the issuance, management and distribution of tokenized financial instruments aligned with real-world asset, or RWA, use cases.

That places the project squarely in one of the most closely watched areas in digital finance, where institutions are testing how traditional assets can be represented and managed on blockchain infrastructure.

Kresus also said it is bringing its core product stack to the Canton ecosystem. That includes enterprise-grade wallet infrastructure, tokenization systems and its secure middleware layer, KITE.

The company said these tools are designed to integrate into existing financial environments and support production deployments across payments, tokenized assets and digital asset management.

Institutional infrastructure remains the central pitch

The strategic message from both companies is clear: institutions need systems that are secure, reliable and scalable before blockchain can reach broader adoption.

“Financial institutions are moving beyond trials and toward actual blockchain applications,” Trevor Traina, founder and CEO of Kresus said.

The CEO added:

Success in regulated markets requires more than technology; it requires the ability to design, build, and deliver systems that meet real-world requirements. Kresus works directly with clients to bring these applications into production on Canton.

“Institutions need secure, reliable, and scalable systems to advance digital asset adoption,” Yuval Rooz, CEO of Digital Asset and co-founder of Canton said.

Through this collaboration, we are combining Canton’s institutional-grade blockchain with Kresus’ ability to implement production-ready applications that meet the needs of financial institutions.

According to Santiment, in early May large holders acquired more than 140,000 ETH within 96 hours. This demand is forming against a backdrop of growing corporate interest in Ethereum as a reserve asset: Bitmine Immersion Technologies holds over 5 million ETH. At the same time, an opposing trend is emerging: total assets under management in ETH-focused ETPs and ETFs amount to around $16 billion; however, at the beginning of 2026 the ETF segment experienced a period of subdued activity, with interest only starting to recover by April (source: CoinLaw).

Technical Picture

On the daily chart, an extended downward structure is evident: since early October 2025, the price has been declining within a descending channel, reaching a culmination in early February 2026 near the $1,750 level. Vertical volume during this period showed peak values, signalling the exhaustion of selling pressure. This was followed by a rebound: the price broke above the upper boundary of the channel and, during subsequent trading, formed a horizontal volume zone in the $1,920–$2,240 range, where the bulk of transactions over the period was concentrated. The point of control (POC) of this volume zone lies around $2,050–$2,100.

The price is currently trading above this zone, indicating a shift in favour of buyers. Support at $1,800 coincides with the February low from which the reversal began. Above current levels lies a resistance area near $2,500 — a zone the price approached in April but failed to consolidate above the round level. The RSI + MAs indicator shows readings of 57, 54 and 54: the oscillator is positioned above neutral, while the moving averages remain broadly neutral.

Key Takeaways

The technical profile reflects a transition from a prolonged downtrend to a consolidation phase above the volume zone. Further movement will depend on whether corporate demand for ETH can provide a sufficient basis to sustain a move towards the resistance area.

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Key Takeaways

• Apple is in preliminary discussions with Intel and Samsung regarding US-based manufacturing of core device processors
• No manufacturing contracts have been finalized; negotiations remain in exploratory phases
• CEO Tim Cook highlighted semiconductor supply limitations during the recent Q2 earnings presentation
• Partnering with Intel may enhance Apple’s standing with the Trump administration, which supports Intel’s domestic operations
• Apple presently sources semiconductors from TSMC in Taiwan, expecting 100 million units from TSMC’s Arizona facility by 2026

According to a Bloomberg report released Tuesday, Apple is investigating potential partnerships with Intel and Samsung to produce critical device processors domestically. These discussions remain exploratory, with no formal purchase agreements established.

Shares of Apple showed minimal movement during premarket hours Tuesday. Intel’s stock surged up to 4% following the report, while Samsung’s Seoul-traded shares climbed more than 5% before the close of Korean markets.

Apple Inc., AAPL

For over ten years, Apple has depended exclusively on TSMC for semiconductor fabrication. TSMC’s Taiwanese manufacturing plants produce cutting-edge 3-nanometer processors that drive current-generation iPhones and Mac computers.

The challenge? Capacity constraints are intensifying. AI data center requirements have consumed available production capacity, while demand for AI-enabled Mac systems exceeded Apple’s projections.

During last week’s Q2 FY26 earnings discussion, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that semiconductor shortages were limiting revenue growth. “Our supply chain flexibility is more restricted than typical circumstances,” Cook stated.

Cook identified advanced processor capacity — rather than memory components — as the primary limitation. Mac mini and Mac Studio products have experienced the most significant impact. “Achieving supply-demand equilibrium will require multiple months,” he indicated.

Apple representatives have toured a Samsung manufacturing site currently under construction in Texas designed for advanced semiconductor production. Regarding Intel, preliminary discussions about utilizing its foundry capabilities have occurred.

The Strategic Value of Intel and Samsung

Securing Apple as a foundry client would represent a significant achievement for Intel. CEO Lip-Bu Tan is working to revitalize Intel’s manufacturing operations following prolonged challenges. Apple’s business could serve as validation to attract additional customers.

Samsung currently ranks as a distant competitor to TSMC in foundry services, but Apple’s endorsement would carry substantial industry influence. Samsung currently produces various iPhone components, including power management systems.

Political considerations also factor into these discussions. The Trump administration has positioned Intel as America’s domestic semiconductor manufacturing leader, and certain Apple leadership members believe collaboration could strengthen relations with Washington.

Nevertheless, Apple maintains legitimate concerns. Neither Intel nor Samsung currently matches TSMC’s manufacturing consistency or production volume. Apple may ultimately maintain its TSMC relationship without pursuing alternative suppliers.

Apple’s Component Sourcing Approach

Apple typically maintains relationships with at least two suppliers for critical components, providing negotiating power and protection against supply interruptions.

Taiwan presents particular geopolitical concerns. Cook has consistently identified Taiwan’s concentrated chip production as a strategic liability, considering China’s territorial assertions regarding the island.

TSMC is currently expanding operations in Phoenix, Arizona. Apple projects receiving 100 million processors from that location in 2026 — though this represents just a portion of its complete annual device requirements.

The iPhone 17 Pro series has also encountered supply chain difficulties. Apple has deployed operations personnel to prevent constraints from affecting AirPods and Apple Watch production lines.

Wall Street analysts rate TSMC a Strong Buy, Apple and Samsung a Moderate Buy, and Intel a Hold as they evaluate its recovery efforts.

Coinbase Australia has launched support for self-managed super funds, giving trustees a new way to add crypto exposure to retirement portfolios. 

The service focuses on self-directed investors who already manage their own superannuation funds.

According to the company, the offering includes downloadable data aligned with local accounting standards. It also added a verification process built for Australian fund structures. Coinbase APAC Managing Director John O’Loghlen said: 

“With growing regulatory clarity in Australia and institutional adoption of digital assets, we see SMSFs as a core area of potential growth in Australia.”

Retirement funds hold large asset base

Self-managed super funds, or SMSFs, are private retirement funds regulated by the Australian Taxation Office. They give members direct control over investment choices, including shares, property and crypto assets.

Official data showed at least 664,000 SMSFs in Australia at the end of 2025. These funds held about AU$1.06 trillion, or $758.2 billion, in assets. That makes SMSFs a major target for crypto firms seeking long-term investors.

Crypto.news reported in September 2025 that Coinbase and OKX were moving into Australia’s pension market through SMSF-focused crypto products. The report said SMSFs form part of Australia’s wider retirement system and allow more flexible investment choices than traditional funds.

License backs Coinbase’s local push

Coinbase’s SMSF launch follows its Australian Financial Services License approval. Crypto.news reported in April 2026 that Coinbase secured the license and planned to expand into crypto and equity perpetuals, followed by futures, options and other financial products.

The license places Coinbase under conduct, disclosure, governance and consumer protection rules used by traditional financial firms in Australia. O’Loghlen said Coinbase planned to compete with traditional finance across stock trading, payments and other products.

Australia has also moved toward stricter rules for digital asset platforms. Crypto.news reported that draft laws would require many crypto platforms and custody providers to hold an Australian Financial Services License. The rules also cover conduct standards and possible penalties for breaches.

OKX adds pressure in SMSF market

Coinbase is not alone in targeting Australian retirement investors. As previously reported, OKX launched a regulated SMSF-focused crypto platform in Australia in September 2025. The product included compliance tools, custody features, portfolio dashboards and end-of-year reporting.

OKX Australia CEO Kate Cooper said trustees often rely on spreadsheets, generic portals or offshore support that does not understand SMSF rules. She said OKX wanted to make digital asset use through SMSFs more direct and easier to report.

Meanwhile, the launch also comes as the U.S. expands crypto’s role in retirement systems, after President Donald Trump signed an order in August allowing crypto in 401(k) plans and Indiana passed a law permitting crypto allocations in certain state retirement plans.

Bitmine chairman Tom Lee has said the crypto market may be entering an early recovery phase even as investor sentiment remains cautious.

According to Bitmine Immersion Technologies chairman Tom Lee, recent market trends resemble past cycle transitions where prices begin to recover while investor sentiment remains subdued. 

In a note on Monday, Lee said “crypto spring…has commenced,” adding that sentiment has stayed cautious even as prices strengthen.

Lee tied that outlook to policy developments in the U.S., stating that the outcome of the CLARITY Act, whether it is passed or rejected, would confirm the return of favourable conditions for digital assets. His note came after more than six months of weak pricing following the October 2025 market downturn, a period that analysts have tracked closely for signs of reversal.

According to the company’s latest disclosure, Bitmine purchased over 101,745 Ether worth about $242 million in the past week, pushing total holdings beyond 5.1 million ETH. The firm said this represents roughly 4.29% of Ethereum’s circulating supply of about 120.7 million tokens.

Lee said the company is “continuing our aggressive accumulation,” pointing to a faster pace of purchases over the past four weeks.

Earlier updates from the company showed holdings around 5.07 million ETH, while on-chain data tracked by Arkham indicated that more than 4 million ETH has already been deployed into staking programmes. 

Valued at roughly $9.3 billion, the stash accounts for roughly 10.5% of the total staked Ethereum supply, according to the same data.

Company disclosures show the strategy combines continued purchases with staking, allowing Bitmine to generate yield while reducing liquid supply in the market. Internal targets cited in reports indicate the firm is working toward securing up to 5% of Ethereum’s total supply over time.

Ethereum outlook tied to institutional and AI demand

Lee said Ethereum’s positioning remains supported by institutional adoption trends, noting that “Wall Street tokenizing on the blockchain” continues to drive demand. He added that emerging AI systems are increasingly relying on neutral public blockchains, which he said strengthens Ethereum’s role in the ecosystem.

Performance data cited by Lee shows ETH has outperformed the S&P 500 by 1,380 basis points since the start of the war referenced in his note, placing it among the strongest performing assets alongside crude oil.

On-chain data and company filings indicate Bitmine remains one of the largest holders of Ether, with its growing allocation placing it among the most active institutional participants shaping supply dynamics in the Ethereum market.

Moscow Exchange plans to publish four more crypto indexes from May 13, widening its benchmark list beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The new indexes will track Solana, XRP, Tron and BNB under the tickers MOEXSOL, MOEXXRP, MOEXTRX and MOEXBNB. 

The exchange plans to calculate prices with data from Binance, Bybit, OKX and Bitget. Binance will carry a 50% weight. Bybit will provide 20%, while OKX and Bitget will each provide 15%.

Crypto benchmarks move closer to live pricing

From May 13, Moscow Exchange also plans to update all digital currency indexes more often. Existing benchmarks, including MOEXBTC and MOEXETH, are expected to update every 15 seconds during trading hours and extra weekend sessions.

The shift may make the benchmarks more useful for products tied to digital asset prices. However, the exchange has not presented the new altcoin indexes as tradable products yet. It said they “could become” underlying assets for future instruments, leaving timing and terms open.

Meanwhile, the planned indexes fit Russia’s controlled route for crypto-linked market products. Crypto.news reported in June 2025 that Moscow Exchange listed a Bitcoin ETF futures contract tied to BlackRock’s IBIT product, but access stayed limited to qualified investors. The exchange said: “Trading in this new product will begin on June 4, 2025, and will be exclusively available to qualified investors.”

That model remains central to Russia’s approach. The country allows crypto exposure through selected financial products, but it has not opened broad spot crypto trading on local regulated venues. Crypto.news also reported that Russia had explored a trading pilot for top-tier investors, led by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Russia.

Regulators target activity outside formal channels

The index launch comes as Russian officials try to move crypto activity into supervised channels. Crypto.news reported in February 2026 that Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov estimated Russian crypto turnover at about 50 billion rubles per day, or more than 10 trillion rubles per year.

Moreover, Chebeskov said much of that activity remained “outside the regulated zone, outside our control.” The Bank of Russia has also called for penalties against transactions outside approved rules. Crypto.news cited Governor Elvira Nabiullina, who said: “Fraudsters are taking advantage of the gray market.”

More crypto indexes may follow

Moscow Exchange plans to expand its benchmark list to ten crypto assets. Possible additions include Dogecoin, Cardano, Hyperliquid and Chainlink, based on the current list under review.

The exchange has also discussed futures tied to crypto indexes, including possible perpetual futures on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Direct cryptocurrency trading remains a separate goal. The current roadmap points to early 2027 for that step.