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Donut Labs Raises $22M to Build AI-Powered Crypto Trading Browser on Solana

Donut Labs Raises $22M to Build AI-Powered Crypto Trading Browser on Solana

Hey there, crypto enthusiasts! If you're knee-deep in the world of decentralized finance (DeFi) and always on the hunt for tools that make trading smarter and easier, you've got to hear about this latest buzz. Donut Labs just announced they've pulled in a whopping $22 million in funding across pre-seed and seed rounds—all in just six months since they started. This capital is set to fuel the development of Donut Browser, billed as the world's first "agentic" crypto browser specifically built for traders on Solana.

Donut Labs funding announcement with investors and backers

For those new to the term, "agentic" in AI lingo means the system isn't just reactive—it's proactive, like having a personal quant trader in your pocket. Donut Browser aims to revolutionize how we interact with the financial internet by embedding AI agents that can scout for better trades across websites, crunch risk numbers before you hit buy, and even automate returns on-chain while you're catching some Z's. Imagine typing a simple command and watching your browser handle the heavy lifting in DeFi.

The news broke via a tweet from SolanaFloor, highlighting the impressive 160,000 users already on the waitlist. That's some serious hype! Digging deeper into the press release on The Defiant, we see Donut Labs is based in New York and positioning itself as the go-to execution layer for the on-chain economy.

Backed by Heavy Hitters

What really stands out is the lineup of investors throwing their weight behind this project. Leading the charge are top-tier VCs like BITKRAFT, Makers Fund, HongShan (formerly Sequoia China), Sky9 Capital, MPCi, Hack VC, Altos Ventures, Orthogonal Labs, 10K Ventures, and Axia8 Ventures. These folks have a track record with big names in tech and crypto, including Sui, 0G, and Sahara.

On top of that, Donut has angel investors from major blockchain ecosystems—think Solana, Sui, Monad, BNB Chain, Injectives, Taiko, and Sonic. And let's not forget angels from powerhouse trading protocols such as Drift, Jupiter, DeFi App, NAVI, and Manifold. It's like a who's who of the crypto space, signaling strong confidence in Donut's vision.

What Makes Donut Browser Special?

Head over to the Donut Browser website, and you'll see it's all about making trading "smooth, smart, and fun." The browser integrates signal discovery (spotting market opportunities), risk analysis, strategy generation, and on-chain execution right at the browser level. No more juggling multiple tabs or apps—everything happens in one seamless interface.

The tech stack sounds cutting-edge: multi-model orchestration for smart routing and planning, real-time feedback loops, benchmarks grounded in on-chain data, and an API-first approach for data handling and audits. They're rolling out a full suite, including a Chrome extension, web app, mobile app, and even a custom Chromium-based browser.

Chris Zhu, the Founder and CEO, puts it perfectly: "Donut is your personal AI quant inside a browser — and the next generation of AI-powered trading terminal." He emphasizes how browsers provide the ideal environment for AI in DeFi, offering context for personalization and acting as a reinforcement learning playground for agents.

The Bigger Picture in DeFi

This funding comes at a pivotal time for DeFi. Over the last couple of years, on-chain spot volumes have exploded to over $20 billion daily across decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Perpetual futures trading hit a staggering $1 trillion monthly in September 2025—three times higher than at the start of the year. But challenges remain: uneven info quality, market makers snagging retail flows, and makeshift trading plans eating into profits.

Donut aims to level the playing field by giving everyday traders access to pro-level tools. With a team boasting experience from Meta AI, TikTok AI, Tencent AI, Primodium, SonicSVM, and Sahara AI, plus advisors like NYU Stern's Professor Xi Chen, they're well-equipped to deliver.

Early access is opening up to a select group, so if you're interested, hop on that waitlist via their site. Who knows—this could be the tool that turns your meme token hunts into calculated wins.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on innovative projects like this that are shaping the future of blockchain and meme tokens. If you're a trader looking to up your game, Donut Browser might just be the next big thing on Solana.

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