New York-based startup Donut Labs has secured $22 million across pre-seed and seed funding rounds to build what it claims is the world's first agentic AI browser designed specifically for cryptocurrency trading. The funding was led by prominent investors including Bitkraft Ventures, Sequoia China, Sky9 Ventures, Matrix Partners, Makers Fund, and Altos Ventures, with additional support from industry leaders associated with Solana, Sui, Monad, Jupiter, and Drift.
Founded just six months ago by CEO Chris Zhu, Donut Labs aims to redefine how traders interact with the financial internet. Zhu explained that the idea emerged from frustration with existing platforms after his team's TikTok-based app was shut down. "Browsers haven't really changed in 30 years," Zhu told Decrypt. "We wanted to build the largest front end on the internet—but do that for crypto." The Donut browser integrates automation, market analysis, and security, allowing it to research, analyze, and execute trades autonomously across exchanges.
The browser uses an open router system that dynamically selects AI models for tasks ranging from simple token swaps to complex analysis, drawing liquidity and pricing data from sources like CoinGecko and Pyth. Security is modeled on Tesla's self-driving software, with layered authorization levels to prevent prompt injection attacks. Donut processes transactions on the backend and partners with key management firm Turnkey to safeguard private keys, ensuring agents never access user balances directly.
Demand for the browser is high, with over 160,000 traders on waitlists in the first quarter. Donut Labs plans to release a full suite of products, including a standalone browser, Chrome extension, web app, and mobile app, to cover the entire trading lifecycle. The development capitalizes on DeFi growth, where DEX daily on-chain spot volume exceeds $20 billion, and on-chain perpetuals trading hit over $1 trillion monthly in September 2025.
Zhu emphasized that AI browsers will enhance, not replace, human traders by providing personalized context and leveling the playing field. "Over a long enough time horizon, we do want to get to the point where it's just me, myself, and my hundred quants," he said, highlighting the potential for unique, individualized strategies.