VanEck, a leading global asset management firm overseeing $116.6 billion in assets, has unveiled plans to launch its VanEck PurposeBuilt Fund in June 2025. This new private digital assets fund is specifically focused on investing in projects within the Avalanche (AVAX) ecosystem. The fund aims to support Avalanche-based businesses that develop real-world applications across sectors such as gaming, financial services, and artificial intelligence.
Managed by VanEck's Digital Assets Alpha Fund team, the PurposeBuilt Fund will prioritize long-term value investment rather than chasing short-term market trends or hype. It will deploy capital into scalable businesses and liquid tokens related to Avalanche, particularly those that align with the firm's thesis of on-chain GDP—projects core to economic and financial systems.
The fund will invest in projects with market capitalizations over $100 million, engaging in opportunities including real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, decentralized finance (DeFi), and enterprise-grade blockchain solutions. It also complements growing institutional interest, with Grayscale having launched an Avalanche Trust in August 2024 and filing for a spot ETF pending SEC approval.
VanEck's strategic move follows its recent filings for Avalanche and Binance Coin (BNB) ETFs, reflecting confidence in attracting institutional capital to altcoins with sustainable utility. John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs, describes the initiative as critical for reinforcing Avalanche as a hub for serious builders focused on meaningful on-chain adoption.
At the time of announcement, AVAX trades near $22.65, showing short-term gains despite a longer-term decline from its 2021 all-time high. VanEck’s fund is expected to bring financial backing and strategic conviction supporting the shift from speculative crypto assets to projects with lasting utility and growth potential.