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ConsenSys
Joseph Lubin founded ConsenSys in 2014, building it into the dominant software engineering studio for Ethereum, incubating MetaMask and Infura.
ConsenSys
ConsenSys was founded in 2014 by Joseph Lubin, a co-founder of Ethereum and former Goldman Sachs VP. The firm started as a software development studio focused on building decentralized applications on Ethereum, leveraging Lubin's early involvement in the blockchain's creation. Its mission has been to accelerate the adoption of Web3 by creating tools and platforms that enable developers and enterprises to interact with the Ethereum blockchain. The firm's strategy spans multiple asset classes: it operates Infura, a leading blockchain infrastructure service; develops MetaMask, the most widely used self-custodial wallet; and offers enterprise blockchain solutions through ConsenSys Solutions. ConsenSys also runs a venture arm, ConsenSys Ventures (formerly ConsenSys Capital), and incubates startups via ConsenSys Mesh (formerly ConsenSys Labs). Confirmed investments and incubated projects include projects like Gnosis, uPort, and KPMG's blockchain practice (per public record). Its geographic footprint is global, with reported offices in New York, London, Paris, Singapore, and Bangalore, though exact operational details remain sparse. As of 2024, ConsenSys has not publicly disclosed total assets under management or total deployment figures, consistent with its profile as a private software and venture-building entity rather than a traditional fund. The firm employs a reported 500+ staff across multiple continents (per public record) and operates the Ethereum Foundation, the Ethereum Community Fund, and other related entities. Recent operational activity includes the launch of ConsenSys zkEVM in March 2024, a zero-knowledge rollup scaling solution (per the firm, March 2024). A key structural differentiator is ConsenSys's dual role as both a commercial software provider and a venture incubator, combining revenue from enterprise consulting and blockchain services with a portfolio of decentralized startups. This hybrid model separates it from pure venture capital firms or traditional software companies, as it generates recurring infrastructure revenue while also holding equity in incubated projects.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2014
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Brooklyn
Corporate office
Brooklyn, NY, United States
Principals
Joseph Lubin
Founder and CEO
Joe Lubin
Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at ConsenSys?
Joseph Lubin, the founder and CEO, has final authority over investment and incubation strategy at ConsenSys. The venture arm, ConsenSys Ventures, was led by Kavita Gupta until 2019; current leadership details are not publicly disclosed (per public record).
How does ConsenSys source proprietary deal flow?
ConsenSys sources deal flow primarily through its own incubation studio, ConsenSys Mesh, and its Ethereum ecosystem relationships. Because it builds a significant portion of the Ethereum infrastructure layer, the firm sees early-stage blockchain projects that rely on its tools (Infura, MetaMask) and can negotiate equity investments (per public record).
Is ConsenSys structured as a family office or a venture firm?
ConsenSys is not structured as a family office; it functions as a software development studio and venture builder, with a commercial arm selling enterprise blockchain solutions. It does not manage external capital like a traditional venture fund, though it maintains a venture incubator that makes equity investments in incubated projects (per public record).
Does ConsenSys participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
ConsenSys primarily incubates projects directly through its studio rather than committing to external funds. It also makes strategic equity investments in early-stage blockchain companies, but these are typically in projects that use its technology stack or are incubated in-house (per public record).
What investment stages does ConsenSys typically target?
ConsenSys primarily targets seed and early-stage blockchain projects through incubation and venture building. It has also invested in later-stage rounds for companies like OpenSea but generally focuses on pre-seed and Series A deals within its own ecosystem (per public record).
Which sectors does ConsenSys explicitly avoid?
ConsenSys does not invest in non-blockchain technology, real estate, or traditional financial services. Its portfolio is almost entirely within the blockchain and decentralized infrastructure space, avoiding industries unrelated to Web3 (per public record).
How is ConsenSys related to the Ethereum Foundation?
ConsenSys is a separate commercial entity from the Ethereum Foundation, a nonprofit that funds Ethereum protocol development. Joseph Lubin is also a co-founder of the Ethereum Foundation, but the two entities operate independently; ConsenSys builds commercial products on top of Ethereum, while the Foundation funds research (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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