Asset Manager

Updated:

DNA Fund

DNA Fund launched as a crypto-native investment vehicle anchored by Brock Pierce, the former child actor turned Bitcoin Foundation chairman and blockchain...

DNA Fund

DNA Fund launched as a crypto-native investment vehicle anchored by Brock Pierce, the former child actor turned Bitcoin Foundation chairman and blockchain entrepreneur. The firm operated out of Shanghai with a secondary presence in San Juan, Puerto Rico, reflecting Pierce's trans-Pacific operational footprint during the mid-to-late 2010s. Its formation coincided with the initial coin offering boom, positioning DNA Fund as an insider conduit for capital flowing between established crypto founders and new token-based startups. The firm's deployment model centered on early-stage token investments, equity stakes in blockchain infrastructure companies, and advisory roles for projects launching decentralized protocols. DNA Fund participated in rounds for projects across the layer-1, DeFi, and gaming sectors, though the full portfolio composition was never publicly consolidated. Known co-investors and parallel funds in this ecosystem included Pantera Capital, Fenbushi Capital, and Digital Currency Group, which operated in overlapping deal flow during the same vintage years. Operational details remain thin — no public AUM, team size, or regulatory filings are available. The San Juan office aligned with Pierce's broader effort to build a crypto hub in Puerto Rico alongside figures such as the Scheinfeld family and other relocated founders. DNA Fund's activity tapered as the ICO market contracted post-2018, and no recent fund closes, portfolio exits, or strategy updates have been disclosed. The firm's structural differentiator was its founder-driven network: Pierce's roles at Blockchain Capital, the Bitcoin Foundation, and as co-founder of Tether and Block.one gave DNA Fund a sourcing edge during the ICO cycle. The vehicle functioned less as a traditional institutional fund and more as a personal balance-sheet and network-deployment tool — a common architecture among 2016–2018 vintage crypto funds.

General information

Firm type

Asset Manager

Year founded

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

Asia

Country

China

City

Shanghai

Corporate office

Shanghai, China

Additional offices

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sector focus

Digital AssetsBlockchain

Frequently asked questions

Who founded DNA Fund and what was their role in the crypto ecosystem at the time?

DNA Fund was co-founded by Brock Pierce, who previously served as chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation and co-founded major crypto entities including Tether and Block.one. His network across early Bitcoin and Ethereum projects shaped the fund's sourcing strategy during the ICO era.

What types of crypto assets did DNA Fund target?

The firm invested in early-stage token projects, equity in blockchain infrastructure companies, and advised protocols launching decentralized applications. Sectors included layer-1 chains, decentralized finance, and blockchain gaming during the 2016–2018 cycle.

Why did DNA Fund maintain offices in both Shanghai and San Juan?

Shanghai served as the primary base during China's early dominance in blockchain mining and exchange volume. The San Juan office was part of Brock Pierce's broader initiative to establish Puerto Rico as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction for US-connected founders and investors.

Is DNA Fund still actively investing?

No public evidence of new fundraises, portfolio additions, or strategy updates has been disclosed since the ICO market contraction after 2018. The vehicle's activity appears to have wound down in the absence of further communications.

How did DNA Fund relate to other Brock Pierce ventures like Tether or Block.one?

DNA Fund operated as a separate investment vehicle, but the founder overlap created natural sourcing links. Pierce's involvement with Tether and Block.one gave the fund proximity to deal flow and co-investors within the same ecosystem, though the three entities remained structurally distinct.

Profile maintained by 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.

Need institutional-grade insight on asset managers?

Altss delivers:

Principals with verified direct contactsAllocation history by asset classOSINT-derived deal signals
Book a demo

Prefer a guided tour?

We’ll walk you through:

Interactive funding timelinesCustom mandate & allocation filters
Book a demo