NEW YORK CITY, NY – 10/02/2026 – () – EV3 Ventures has announced the final closing of its second investment fund, securing $61.74 million in committed capital to support early-stage startups focused on building crypto-enabled infrastructure. The oversubscribed fund enables the firm to lead pre-seed and seed rounds for founders developing innovative models of ownership, coordination, and service delivery powered by decentralized technologies.
Established and headed by Mahesh Ramakrishnan and Salvador Gala, EV3 Ventures concentrates on what it sees as a long-term structural transition toward user-created and community-owned infrastructure. The firm’s core belief is that crypto networks allow individuals to directly own, run, and profit from real-world services—instead of merely serving as contributors to centralized platforms.
EV3 cites the fast expansion of the gig economy as proof of both potential and inequity. Although a large share of the U.S. workforce engages in platform-based services, the firm contends that many current models funnel value to corporate entities, leaving workers with little say or potential for gain. On the other hand, crypto-powered coordination tools are viewed as a means to align capital, labor, and incentives via transparent, network-led systems.
One of EV3’s key investment priorities is the rise of community-powered infrastructure across sectors like telecommunications, energy, computing, logistics, and advertising. The firm is of the opinion that these industries are ideally suited for disruption via decentralized ownership frameworks and community involvement.
EV3’s inaugural fund, launched in 2022, backed companies including Daylight in renewable energy, Dawn in fixed wireless broadband, and Opacity in verifiable digital identity. Collectively, these portfolio companies have raised over $50 million in follow-up funding from investors such as a16z Crypto, Framework Ventures, and Dragonfly Capital. Additional investments cover areas like extended reality, drone services, and influencer marketing.
Beyond providing capital, EV3 Ventures has embraced an open-research methodology, releasing comprehensive investment analyses to the public. The firm considers this transparency a strategic benefit, aiding in the attraction of founders who are pursuing non-traditional ideas and exploring new frontiers in crypto-powered services.
The new fund is being launched at a time when crypto markets present a mixed outlook. While overall market capitalization has recovered toward previous highs, venture fundraising in the sector remains slow. New fund creation has decelerated since 2022 as limited partners implement stricter standards, favoring disciplined strategies and execution-focused teams.
EV3 is of the view that these conditions benefit investors with strong conviction and experience across various market cycles. Having launched its first fund during an extended downturn, the firm positions itself as a partner to founders who are ready to build through market volatility and question widely held assumptions.