Placeholder

Placeholder is a venture capital firm founded in 2017 and based in New York City. The firm focuses on investing in decentralized information networks and the web3 services sector. Placeholder employs a thesis-driven approach to identify and support innovative projects within these domains. As a Registered Investment Adviser, Placeholder is dedicated to fostering the growth of technologies that enhance decentralization and network efficiency.

Christopher Burniske

Partner and Founder

Joel Monegro

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Past deals in Ethereum

Tally

Series A in 2025
Tally is a frontend for DAOs running on Ethereum and other EVM blockchains. Tally gives users real power in their decentralized organizations. On Tally, users can delegate voting power, create or pass proposals to spend DAO funds, manage a protocol, and upgrade smart contracts—all onchain.

Squads

Series A in 2024
Squads is a developer of a decentralized program that enables the establishment of better and easier decentralized autonomous groups. The company's application combines all of the key components of a decentralized autonomous organization, such as deployment, treasury, vault management, on-chain voting, and chat, into a single portal with an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to streamline daily operations using a decentralized autonomous organization structure.

Botanix Labs

Seed Round in 2024
Botanix Labs is a fully Ethereum-equivalent second-layer virtual machine built on top of Bitcoin. It unites Bitcoin's market cap with Ethereum's dApp ecosystem to meet its diverse applications, igniting a new frontier.

Eclipse

Series A in 2024
Eclipse is building Ethereum's first Solana Virtual Machine Layer 2. While other L2 networks on Ethereum focus on providing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, Eclipse leans into performance improvements developed by the Solana Layer 1 and adds additional verification features to deploy the blockchain as a rollup. The Eclipse team includes veterans from dYdX, Uniswap, Citadel, and Airbnb. Eclipse Labs is backed by top investors including Polychain, Placeholder, and DBA.

Polymer Labs

Series A in 2024
Polymer Labs is building the fabric of web3. We're working on an IBC based multi-cluster routing/roll-up protocol providing E2E IBC connectivity across ecosystems.

Rated

Series A in 2023
Rated Labs is a Web3 infrastructure project that focuses on providing detailed data on validators and node operators. By offering an API-based platform, it delivers independent ratings and comprehensive datasets, particularly for Ethereum. This service allows users to easily compare the performance of various node operators, enhancing transparency and understanding of Web3 infrastructure data. Through its robust data pipelines, Rated Labs aims to empower developers to effectively navigate and utilize Ethereum's base layer, making the complex landscape of blockchain infrastructure more accessible and informative.

Across Protocol

Venture Round in 2022
Across is a cross-chain bridge secured by UMA's optimistic oracle for L2s and rollups. It also optimized for capital efficiency with a single liquidity pool, a competitive relayer landscape, and a no-slippage fee model.

Rated

Seed Round in 2022
Rated Labs is a Web3 infrastructure project that focuses on providing detailed data on validators and node operators. By offering an API-based platform, it delivers independent ratings and comprehensive datasets, particularly for Ethereum. This service allows users to easily compare the performance of various node operators, enhancing transparency and understanding of Web3 infrastructure data. Through its robust data pipelines, Rated Labs aims to empower developers to effectively navigate and utilize Ethereum's base layer, making the complex landscape of blockchain infrastructure more accessible and informative.

Async Art

Seed Round in 2021
Async Art operates an innovative online platform that connects artists and collectors, enabling them to buy, sell, and trade programmable art on the Ethereum blockchain. Founded in 2019 and based in Fort Bragg, California, Async Art allows users to create and engage with multi-layer artworks. Each artwork consists of a Master piece and various Layers, which can be independently owned and controlled by different individuals. This unique structure empowers users to actively participate in the evolution of the art, as they can modify their respective Layers within parameters set by the original artist. For example, one user may control the sky in a landscape painting while another owns a character, allowing for dynamic collaboration and interaction in the creative process. This platform represents a new frontier in the art world, merging technology and creativity in the 21st century.

Nexus Mutual

Venture Round in 2021
Nexus Mutual Limited operates a decentralized insurance platform built on the Ethereum blockchain, enabling users to share insurance risk collaboratively without involving traditional insurance companies. Founded in 2017 and based in London, Nexus Mutual allows members to purchase coverage and participate in decision-making processes that are recorded and enforced through smart contracts. The platform aims to replicate the mutual insurance model on a large scale, providing an innovative solution for risk sharing. Initially, Nexus Mutual launched with a product offering earthquake cover, highlighting its focus on addressing specific insurance needs within the emerging blockchain landscape. Through its technology, the company facilitates the identification of security risks and potential bugs in smart contract code, reinforcing its commitment to transparency and member empowerment in the insurance sector.

3Box

Seed Round in 2019
3Box Inc. is a New York-based company founded in 2018 that provides innovative solutions for decentralized identity and open data management. Its primary offerings include 3box.io, a social profiles application designed for Ethereum users and communities, and 3box.js, an API that facilitates user onboarding and data management for web3 developers. Additionally, the company provides 3box-dapp, which enables users to create and manage their social profiles, sign in to decentralized applications (dApps), interact with other users, build a reputation, and securely store data. The 3Box platform prioritizes simplicity, security, and privacy, allowing applications that utilize its services to be more trustworthy and reduce data management liabilities.

MakerDAO

Venture Round in 2019
Maker is a decentralized autonomous organization on the Ethereum blockchain seeking to minimize the price volatility of its own stable token — the Dai — against the IMF’s international currency basket SDR. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California.

OpenZeppelin

Venture Round in 2017
OpenZeppelin specializes in developing tools for creating and securing decentralized applications, crucial for the rapidly expanding blockchain ecosystem. It is renowned for its Open Source library, OpenZeppelin Contracts, which supports over 3,000 public projects and is backed by a vibrant community of more than 180 contributors. The company conducts comprehensive security audits for major organizations, including the Ethereum Foundation and Coinbase, establishing industry benchmarks for security in decentralized systems. In addition to its auditing services, OpenZeppelin offers consulting and development services to facilitate the creation of robust applications. By providing these resources, OpenZeppelin aims to lower the barriers to secure system development, empowering a growing number of developers to build applications that can achieve widespread adoption.

0x

Venture Round in 2017
0x is an open protocol that enables seamless peer-to-peer exchange of tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. It serves as a foundational standard for decentralized exchanges, promoting interoperability among various decentralized applications that feature exchange capabilities. By providing a common framework, 0x allows users to convert a wide range of assets into cryptographic tokens, facilitating efficient and decentralized trading.

Ethereum Foundation

Venture Round in 2017
The Ethereum Foundation is dedicated to supporting the development and promotion of the Ethereum platform, which enables the creation and deployment of decentralized applications and smart contracts. Founded in 2014 and based in Baar, Switzerland, the foundation facilitates a decentralized ecosystem that allows users to securely manage digital assets and engage in a variety of activities such as crowdfunding, decentralized governance, and the creation of new cryptocurrencies. By providing tools and resources for developers, the Ethereum Foundation aims to foster innovation in areas like voting, intellectual property, and financial services. Its commitment to a decentralized infrastructure promotes resilience and security, making it easier for developers to build on the platform.

Agoric

Agoric is a developer of a framework designed to enhance the programming of smart contracts for the blockchain ecosystem. The platform facilitates the creation and deployment of smart contracts using JavaScript, making it accessible to millions of programmers. By emphasizing composability, Agoric enables rapid development and offers a competitive advantage in creating decentralized applications. Its framework allows for secure execution of transactions, the establishment of new markets, and the creation of innovative exchange patterns without centralized control. The Agoric team comprises experienced technologists, economists, and business leaders who have collaborated on smart contracts technology for over three decades. They aim to revolutionize how smart contracts are developed and utilized, fostering unprecedented global cooperation and enabling entrepreneurs to explore new business opportunities with digital assets. Agoric has partnered with notable projects within the blockchain space and received support from various investors, further solidifying its mission to advance smart contract technology.
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