1kx
1kx is a research-driven crypto venture capital firm founded in 2018 that invests in early-stage blockchain and crypto infrastructure companies across DeFi, stablecoins, and onchain tooling, deploying capital from multiple fund vintages including a $75M Fund III anchored by a16z and Galaxy Digital.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 1kx does
1kx is a research-driven global venture capital firm founded in 2018 in Berlin by Lasse Clausen and Christopher Heymann. The firm invests in early-stage companies building blockchain-native infrastructure — protocols, networks, and applications that the firm argues "require a blockchain to exist" rather than treat the chain as a marketing veneer. Its investment thesis, codified as Cost of Trust 2.0, holds that the largest outcomes in technology accrue to networks and companies that compress the cost of trust in digital systems. The firm operates a horizontal investment approach across DeFi, stablecoin payments, IP management, onchain tooling, consumer, and infrastructure, with 168 investments to date spanning three market cycles.
The firm's intellectual property consists of proprietary research deliverables: the Cost of Trust 2.0 thesis, an annual Onchain Revenue Report (the 2025 edition forecasts $32B in onchain protocol revenue by 2026), and a live Onchain Revenue Dashboard tracking trailing 12-month protocol revenue. These artifacts function both as public thought leadership and as internal underwriting infrastructure. The team consists of two founding partners supported by an operating partner & COO, a CTO, a Partner (Wei Dai), and additional investment staff, with portfolio founders spanning 33 nationalities. The firm's distribution and GTM are research-led: it sources deals through its portfolio network, published research, and direct founder relationships, frequently taking lead-investor positions in early rounds (EarnOS, BLUFF, Camp Network, Giggles, Stackup, Reown) while participating in growth rounds led by others (Cryptio, ICN, Tally).
The revenue model is conventional for a venture fund: management fees on committed capital (most recent Fund III closed at $75 million in March 2024 with Andreessen Horowitz and Galaxy Digital as anchor LPs) plus carried interest on realized exits. The firm reports 19 profitable exits and 12 unicorns since founding, with the current 2024–2026 cohort numbering 25 active portfolio companies on top of an 84-company foundation/expansion base. No public pricing or fee schedule is disclosed, and financial revenue figures are not publicly available.
1kx firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 1kx
- Legal name
- 1k(x)
- Website
- http://1kx.capital
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 1kx is a research-driven crypto venture capital firm founded in 2018 that invests in early-stage blockchain and crypto infrastructure companies across DeFi, stablecoins, and onchain tooling, deploying capital from multiple fund vintages including a $75M Fund III anchored by a16z and Galaxy Digital.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
1kx industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Crypto Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tokenization Platforms (RWA, Securities, Funds) (FSAGAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury) (FSAGAMAD)
Keywords
Where 1kx is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
1kx business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Research, Operations, Marketing & Thought Leadership
Revenue model
- Investment Management: 1kx generates returns through equity and token investments in early-stage blockchain and crypto companies. The firm has achieved 19 profitable exits and 12 unicorns since 2018.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
1kx product offering
Product offeringCore offering
1kx is a research-driven global crypto investment firm that deploys venture capital into early-stage blockchain and crypto-native companies across decentralized finance, stablecoin payments, and crypto infrastructure. The firm underwrites on fundamentals, commits capital across market cycles, and partners with founders building configurations that require a blockchain to exist.
Product overview
1kx is a research-driven venture capital firm that provides investment services and produces thought leadership research for the blockchain/crypto ecosystem. The firm offers a unified investment platform backed by proprietary research including the Cost of Trust 2.0 thesis, the Onchain Revenue Dashboard live data tool, and annual revenue reports. Rather than a product company, 1kx operates as a fund that partners with founders building decentralized finance, stablecoin payments, and related protocol infrastructure. The research tools and publications serve as the primary intellectual property offerings that differentiate the firm's investment approach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Crypto Investment Funds (Fund III)
- Onchain Revenue Dashboard
- Cost of Trust 2.0 Thesis
- Annual Onchain Revenue Report
Quantifiable outcome
- 12 portfolio unicorns achieved
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use 1kx
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
1kx technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
1kx partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
1kx competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Paradigm: Crypto-native venture firm investing across DeFi, infrastructure, and consumer crypto at early and growth stages. Directly comparable to 1kx in thesis-led underwriting, token/equity hybrid structures, and focus on founders building blockchain-native configurations.
- Polychain Capital: One of the earliest and most prominent crypto-native VCs, deploying across tokens and equity. Closely comparable to 1kx in stage (early), asset class (tokens + equity), and thesis focus on decentralized infrastructure and DeFi.
- Pantera Capital: Long-running crypto/blockchain investment firm offering venture, liquid token, and early-stage funds. Comparable to 1kx as a multi-strategy crypto specialist with multi-cycle track record and dedicated crypto research.
- Multicoin Capital: Thesis-driven crypto investment firm investing in tokens and equity across DeFi, infrastructure, and Web3. Highly comparable to 1kx in conviction-driven underwriting, public research output, and stage of investments.
- Blockchain Capital: Long-standing dedicated crypto VC that has co-invested with 1kx on deals like Camp Network. Directly comparable in stage, thesis focus on protocol infrastructure, and multi-fund track record.
- Framework Ventures: Crypto-native VC focused on DeFi, infrastructure, and gaming. Comparable to 1kx in stage (seed/Series A), thesis focus on decentralized infrastructure, and active deal-making cadence.
Broad incumbents
- Andreessen Horowitz (a16z crypto): Large generalist VC with a dedicated crypto fund that is an LP in 1kx's Fund III. Comparable as a thesis-driven crypto investor but operates at materially larger fund scale and broader sector coverage.
- Galaxy Digital: Diversified crypto financial services and investment platform that is both an LP in 1kx's Fund III and an operator across trading, asset management, and venture. Comparable as a crypto investment peer but materially larger and broader in scope.
- Digital Currency Group: Crypto conglomerate operating early-stage venture, trading, and media. Comparable to 1kx in early-stage crypto venture activity, but operates as a diversified platform with material conflict-of-interest considerations.
Emerging players
- Coinbase Ventures: Exchange-affiliated investment arm of Coinbase that has co-invested with 1kx in multiple rounds. Comparable as an active early-stage crypto investor, though structurally tied to a CEX parent rather than independent.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
1kx social profiles
Digital presence1kx financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
1kx leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
1kx funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
1kx M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments183 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 1kx
What does 1kx do?
1kx is a research-driven global crypto investment firm that deploys venture capital into early-stage blockchain and crypto-native companies across decentralized finance, stablecoin payments, and crypto infrastructure. The firm underwrites on fundamentals, commits capital across market cycles, and partners with founders building configurations that require a blockchain to exist.
Is 1kx a public or private company?
1kx is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was 1kx founded?
1kx was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 1kx based?
1kx is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does 1kx make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Management.
Who are 1kx's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Paradigm, Polychain Capital, Pantera Capital, Multicoin Capital, Blockchain Capital and Framework Ventures. Broad incumbents are Andreessen Horowitz (a16z crypto), Galaxy Digital and Digital Currency Group. Coinbase Ventures is listed as an emerging player.
Does 1kx have an API?
No public API is recorded for 1kx.
What industry is 1kx in?
1kx's product category is Crypto Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAMAA, Tokenization Platforms (RWA, Securities, Funds), with a secondary code of FSAGAMAD, On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury). Its NAICS code is 523 and its SIC code is 6211.