Framework Ventures Raises $400M for Frontier Tech Fund Beyond Blockchain

Framework Ventures has raised $400 million for its fourth fund, FVIV, which is already half-deployed and focused on investing in 'frontier technology' beyond digital assets. The firm's cofounders, Michael Anderson and Vance Spencer, explained that their investment strategy now spans artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and energy alongside blockchain.

The new capital will back a range of frontier-tech areas, including AI and robotics data startup Mecka AI, which Framework led a $60 million Series A round for in June. The firm has also invested in distributed energy network Daylight, indicating that its AI-and-energy thesis is operational rather than aspirational.

Framework's existing crypto positions include lending protocol Aave, oracle network Chainlink, perpetuals platform Hyperliquid, Jito Labs, and stablecoin project Plasma. The firm has leaned into stablecoins at scale, agreeing to finance up to $500 million through the Sky stablecoin ecosystem alongside mortgage company Better in February.

The fourth fund holds its capital base steady, given Framework raised $100 million for a second fund in 2021 and $400 million for a third in 2022. The firm's move mirrors a broader shift among crypto-native investors as rival firm a16z has spread across AI and other frontier sectors while holding large onchain positions.