Decent Labs launches DAO with $10 million on‑chain funding at $56

Decent Labs announced the formation of Decent DAO, securing a $10 million on‑chain investment that places the venture studio’s valuation at $56 million, signaling a major commitment from leading crypto investors.

Funding and investor lineup

The DAO’s capital raise was led by crypto‑native firms BlockTower Capital and GSR Markets, with participation from Cumberland DRW, Digital Currency Group, 1kx and a slate of other crypto‑focused funds and angel investors such as Ryan McKillen and Vinny Lingham [1]. The $10 million injection translates to a $56 million post‑money valuation, a figure that reflects the market’s confidence in Decent Labs’ five‑year track record developing DeFi applications on Ethereum [2].

Structure and mission

Decent DAO will operate as a decentralized autonomous organization on the Polkadot network, positioning itself as a shared studio where venture funds, builders, and contributors collaborate on open‑source protocols that leverage tokenization [2]. The DAO plans biannual cohorts to select and fund projects, with core contributors providing development, design, product and marketing support. Compensation for contributors may be task‑based payments or non‑transferable NFTs that grant token earnings [3].

Early outlook

The launch coincides with a broader surge in DeFi activity, and Decent Labs’ shift from a traditional venture studio to a DAO model aims to keep the organization “nimble and flexible” as it builds needed infrastructure [2]. While the DAO does not employ full‑time staff, its network of investors and experts is intended to accelerate project development and reduce reliance on centralized decision‑making [3].

What to watch

• Funding milestones: Follow any additional on‑chain capital calls or follow‑on investments that could adjust the DAO’s valuation.
• Project cohort selections: The biannual voting rounds will reveal which protocols receive backing, offering insight into Decent DAO’s strategic focus.
• Polkadot integration: Track the DAO’s deployment progress on Polkadot, as network adoption could affect token utility and ecosystem impact.

Decent DAO’s $10 million seed round underscores a growing trend of crypto‑native capital preferring decentralized structures over traditional VC routes, raising questions about how such models will scale and compete within the broader Web3 ecosystem.