Katie Haun’s path to the capital’s increased risk capital began with a prosecutor’s task that might query the conventional wisdom regarding the digital currency. As a federal prosecutor in San Francisco in 2012, her investigation in the Bitcoin case revealed unexpected observations about the potential and restrictions on blockchain technology.
During the decade in the Department of Justice, Search Specialist knowledge in the field of cybercrime, corruption and organized crime was built. She overcame Ramcleteer, influenced the murders of the organization, prison gangs and money laundering. Her work creating the first government task group for cryptocurrencies provided first -hand exposure to each criminal use and justified innovations in blockchain technology, an experience that might later inform her investment approach.
The Haun team traced cryptocurrency transactions that led to successful racing, including corrupt federal agents at Silk Road Task Force and Mt. Gox hack. These cases helped show the inseparable transparency of blockchain and calmed some concerns about the potential of technology, which is for use for corrupt purposes.
From racing to investments
Haun passage That Venture Capital would come from the invitation of Andreessen Horowitz. The company’s founders recognized the value of its rare combination of regulatory knowledge and a deep understanding of cryptocurrency technology. In 2018, they brought her as the company’s first general partner, which carried out cryptocurrency investments with Chris Dixon.
In A16Z, Haun showed how the traditional principles of investing the project can apply to cryptography, requiring latest frames for evaluation.
“One of the things I have learned in the last four years in the company is that I am an entrepreneur” Haun said . This implementation led her to the launch of Haun Ventures in 2022 with the capital of $ 1.5 billion, the largest debut fund collected by Solo -Kogita.
Haun ventures
Haun ventures It works with clear funds at an early stage and acceleration, but maintains a more compact team than typical Venture firms, currently in 10 people with a planned limitation around 15. This structure reflects the faith of Haun in maintaining agile, while providing focused support for portfolio firms.
“Internal operational teams scale very large, and sometimes you bounce,” says Haun. “Unlike other companies that bring their network and have an operational team, we like to have this wide outer network so that we can literally connect with global experts in any field.”
Haun emphasizes what he calls “heroes at times” – cases in which the company can provide key support for portfolio firms. “We want to be able to provide these heroic moments through our own team, a small but agile, but also through our extensive wide network,” he says. This may include challenges related to treasure management to regulatory issues or recruitment of technical talents.
The company is approaching cryptographic investments through many lenses. In addition to traditional indicators of the project, such as market capabilities and the quality of the team, assesses the aspects specific to cryptocurrency projects, including tokenomics, regulatory considerations and community adaptation.
“We put a cryptographic lens on it. We look at things such as tokenomics if we invest in a protocol. Are tokens intended to the ownership of the network?” Haun says.
Her prosecutor’s origin still shapes the company’s approach to assessing the regulatory risk, a process that determines questions such as “do they intend to follow the rules or do we want to shape latest regulations?
The Haun Ventures acceleration fund focuses on “what works now” in cryptography, primarily financial services and infrastructure. This includes direct investments in protocols such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, as well as firms building the needed services. However, Haun emphasizes that the definition of the company’s cryptography goes beyond financial applications, including distributed computing and border technologies.
Vision of prosecutor Web3
Haun maintains optimism as to the long -term crypto potential, while realistically recognizing some current challenges. It compares the development of the sector with early web, emphasizing the importance of assessment of fundamental technological progress, not short -term market movements.
“Web3 is a new era of internet and deserves a new era of investors” Haun said cnbc. This perspective shapes its company’s approach to investment at an early stage, as well as the possibility of accelerating the later stage. Instead of chasing market trends, they focus on projects building the needed infrastructure for the latest generation of digital services.
Haun’s profession development – from Bitcoin to investing in the future – reflects wider changes in how regulatory authorities and investors perceive cryptographic technology. Her experience in prosecution of crimes related to cryptocurrencies ensured each insight into the possibilities of technology and her need for thoughtful development. These lessons now inform about the approach of her company to build what she considers to be the next chapter of digital infrastructure.
“Every technology I knew has specific advantages and disadvantages,” Haun said Ezra Klein In a recent interview with podcast. “I think that the social benefits that I see in crypto prevail significantly over some disadvantages. But it is very important to talk around these flaws.”