Seychelles-based crypto exchange MEXC has launched a $300 million fund, via its investment arm MEXC Ventures, to support “early-stage crypto innovation and ecosystem growth.” The platform announced the initiative at Token2049 in Dubai, as it celebrated its seventh anniversary. The fund marks its pivot from a pure trading venue to a Web3 ecosystem builder.
MEXC Debuts $300M Fund
MEXC Ventures will allocate the $300 million pool over five years, with annual investments of approximately $50 million to $60 million, depending on how well the projects align with its priorities. The fund will focus on blockchain underlying technologies, particularly public chains (Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks) that enable decentralized applications and smart contracts.
The fund will also prioritize stablecoin initiatives to enhance market liquidity and pricing stability. Complementary investments will target wallets and media platforms designed to drive user adoption and education, as well as DeFi infrastructure, including decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, and yield-generation tools.
Notably, the fund departs from the open-call approach common in the industry. It will operate on an invitation-only basis, with the firm’s investment team identifying and engaging high-potential projects. Selection criteria and partnership frameworks are expected to be detailed in the coming weeks, leveraging the momentum generated by Token2049.
Highlighting the platform’s emphasis on strategic alignment and long-term resilience, the exchange’s COO, Tracy Jin, said, “A project that can’t make itself known or find a way to present to MEXC’s investment team is unlikely to earn our attention.”
Crypto Firms Support Startups
Crypto exchanges have long adopted venture-style programs to back promising blockchain startups. In September 2024, the crypto exchange Bitget partnered with Web3 investment firm Foresight Ventures to invest $30 million in the TON blockchain. Its main aim was to accelerate the development of Telegram-based decentralized applications.
Similarly, RockawayX, an early institutional backer of Solana, closed its second crypto venture fund at $125 million in late April 2025. The fund dedicated the majority of its capital to early-stage Solana-based startups focused on DeFi, infrastructure, and yield-generating protocols.
Meanwhile, the Token2049 conference in Dubai has attracted around 15,000 attendees, including Binance CEO Richard Teng. Historically, the event announcements have often unveiled new alliances and product launches. For example, CTW reported that Ethena Labs chose TOKEN2049 as the platform to unveil its strategic partnership with TON Foundation.
