- Crypto VC firms continue to pour huge amounts of funds into startups with a renewed interest in “Professor Coins” despite concerns.
- Institutional investors are showing a renewed interest in these coins, which are virtual asset projects ignited by University professors.
- This comes amid centralization concerns from several critics.
Crypto VC firms are investing heavily in startups, particularly those focused on “Professor Coins”, despite concerns about centralization. This article explores the trend and its implications.
Increased Investment in Crypto Startups
Crypto VC firms have increased their investment in the market this year despite foundational blockchain concerns. A new Bloomberg report shows an inflow of funds into “Professor Coins,” virtual asset projects ignited by University professors. According to the report, firms launched by academics have received millions from VC firms as the market rebounds. The inflows come on the heels of renewed investment in Q1 2024 after Bitcoin (BTC) ballooned to an all-time high above $72,000.
Restaking and Professor Coins
The turn to professor coins has seen significant inflows to firms that offer restaking services. Restaking allows validators to rely on already staked assets, making room for new projects to get a head start by borrowing resources. Crypto VC firms gained interest in EigenLayer and Babylon, seeing recent flows of $118 million to both projects. EigenLayer, founded by Sreeram Kannan, a professor at the University of Washington, secured $100 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz. Babylon, founded by Stanford University Professor David Tse, raised $18 million.
Centralization Concerns
The move to professor coins by crypto VC firms isn’t without industry criticisms as many cite reduced decentralization. This comes after EigenLayer’s token launch plan, which will distribute 1.67 billion tokens with over 50% going to early participants and investors. The coins will also be nontransferable, causing slight concerns. The team explained that making it non-transferable provides time to improve decentralization.
Conclusion
While the trend towards professor coins and restaking services is clear, it’s not without its critics. Concerns about centralization and nontransferable tokens are valid and will need to be addressed as these projects move forward. However, the significant investment from VC firms indicates a strong belief in the potential of these academic-led projects.
