VanEck Launches PurposeBuilt Fund to Back Real-World Avalanche Blockchain Apps

VanEck, a leading U.S. asset manager with over $116 billion in AUM, is doubling down on the crypto economy by launching the PurposeBuilt Fund—a dedicated investment vehicle aimed at supporting real-world applications within the Avalanche blockchain ecosystem.

As U.S. asset manager VanEck continues to expand its footprint in the crypto industry, it has announced the launch of a new fund named PurposeBuilt to support real-world applications within the Avalanche blockchain ecosystem.

This move marks a significant institutional endorsement of Avalanche’s long-term utility and relevance in driving on-chain GDP.

VanEck, known for its vast experience in traditional markets and recent foray into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, is applying that expertise to the evolving crypto domain.

PurposeBuilt, set to launch in June 2025, will be managed by the same team behind the successful VanEck Digital Assets Alpha Fund (DAAF) which has over $100 million in AUM.

Unlike traditional crypto funds which often chase short-term hype, PurposeBuilt is focused on scalability, utility, and real-world token economics.

The fund will invest in liquid tokens (spot exposure) and also early-stage ventures—especially those approaching or just completing a Token Generation Event (TGE). Sectors of focus for the fund include:

* Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

* Web3 consumer and enterprise applications

* Infrastructure and scaling solutions

* Interoperability protocols

* Emerging technologies like AI and robotics

The PurposeBuilt Fund also plans to optimize idle capital by deploying it into Avalanche-native RWA products, reinforcing on-chain liquidity and utility.

Avalanche, currently valued at nearly $50 billion, has quickly become a preferred chain for serious builders deploying real-world blockchain solutions. Its high throughput, low latency, and custom Layer 1 architecture make it ideal for enterprises looking to scale applications without compromising decentralization.

Institutional interest in Avalanche has grown steadily due to:

* A lack of progress on U.S. crypto regulation has limited broader institutional inflows.

* Many institutions prefer to engage with established and proven crypto projects over new, unfunded startups.

* Lack of appropriate investment vehicles to support the long-term token utility of projects.

According to Ava Labs’ Chief Business Officer John Nahas, the PurposeBuilt Fund is a turning point for the Avalanche ecosystem.

“This signals a shift away from speculation and toward sustainable token economies. It’s a huge step in supporting founders who are building meaningful businesses on-chain.”

While many crypto projects struggle to differentiate from speculative noise, VanEck’s approach is long-term and fundamentals-driven.

PurposeBuilt isn’t just a capital injection—it’s a strategic move to reshape how crypto businesses are funded. The fund gives credible projects the opportunity to raise strategic capital that aligns with long-term token design and real product-market fit.

“We’re not here for the next meme coin,” said Pranav Kanade, Portfolio Manager at VanEck. “We’re here to back projects solving real-world problems—Avalanche has become the platform of choice for these builders.”

The fund will also act as a strong signal to other institutional players, who often await credible market moves before deploying capital. VanEck’s position could help unlock a broader wave of institutional investment across Avalanche-native applications.

This launch of PurposeBuilt fits into a growing thesis among crypto insiders: that blockchain technology will be a foundational layer for the global economy. This includes on-chain identity, AI-integrated logistics, tokenized capital markets, and permissionless finance.

The “GDP on-chain” narrative is gaining momentum, and PurposeBuilt provides the capital and credibility to accelerate that transition. Avalanche’s role at the center of this thesis highlights its position as one of the few L1 blockchains with the infrastructure—and now institutional backing—to make it a reality.

As the crypto market matures, the spotlight is shifting from infrastructure to applications. With PurposeBuilt, VanEck isn’t just investing in projects—they’re investing in the future economic backbone of Web3.