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.

Burniske, Christopher

Partner and Founder

Monegro, Joel

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Past deals in Smart Contracts

Celestia

Series B in 2024
Celestia is a modular blockchain network provider that facilitates the deployment of decentralized blockchains without the complexities of establishing a new consensus network. Founded in 2019 and based in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, the company offers a scalable data availability layer designed for decentralized applications and trust-minimized sidechains. This platform allows application developers to optimize data storage efficiently while enabling collective storage of block data. Through its innovative approach, Celestia aims to simplify blockchain development and enhance the scalability of decentralized solutions.

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.

Movement Labs

Series A in 2024
Movement Labs is a modular framework platform that builds and deploys move-based blockchains and applications in distributed settings. Its platform offers a composable and horizontally scalable network that provides unparalleled smart contract security and asset portability to help users solve the cold start problem with unprecedented interoperability.

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.

NFTFi

Series A in 2024
NFTfi is an NFT collateralized lending marketplace that can use NFT assets as collateral for a loan or lend to other users. It enables NFT holders to borrow cryptocurrency from lenders by using their NFTs as collateral. When they accept a loan offer, the NFT goes into a secure escrow smart contract and receives the wETH, DAI, or USDC from the lender directly to their wallet. To determine whether an NFT is worth a loan, users employ a common practice in the traditional art world in which banks, large galleries, or auction houses offer loans to artists.

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.

Saga.xyz

Seed Round in 2023
Saga.xyz gives visionaries the high-end tools and support they need to turn their blockchain dreams into reality.

Squads

Venture Round in 2023
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.

Monad

Seed Round in 2023
MONAD is a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain and decentralized computation platform that combines the best of performance and portability.

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.

Celestia

Series A in 2022
Celestia is a modular blockchain network provider that facilitates the deployment of decentralized blockchains without the complexities of establishing a new consensus network. Founded in 2019 and based in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, the company offers a scalable data availability layer designed for decentralized applications and trust-minimized sidechains. This platform allows application developers to optimize data storage efficiently while enabling collective storage of block data. Through its innovative approach, Celestia aims to simplify blockchain development and enhance the scalability of decentralized solutions.

Zerion

Series B in 2022
Zerion Inc. is a blockchain software company that provides a platform for accessing decentralized finance (DeFi) to invest, earn interest, and borrow crypto assets. Founded in 2015 and based in San Francisco, Zerion offers an application that allows users to manage their DeFi portfolios across multiple accounts from a single interface, with features such as real-time asset tracking and instant notifications. The platform aggregates data from major decentralized exchanges, enabling users to manage their digital assets easily and securely. As a non-custodial service, Zerion ensures that users retain control of their funds, reducing risks associated with centralization. Additionally, the company provides tools for tracking the crypto market through charts and alerts, supporting users in navigating the evolving landscape of digital finance.

Monaverse

Series A in 2022
Mona’s mission is to empower people around the world to create, collect, and share high quality immersive experiences on the blockchain, growing the Open Metaverse. Mona is the medium of the metaverse.

Matter Labs

Series B in 2021
Matter Labs is a company that focuses on developing blockchain solutions to enhance the scalability and privacy of decentralized applications. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, the firm utilizes zero-knowledge technologies to facilitate interactions between untrusted parties on its network. By implementing zero-knowledge proofs, Matter Labs aims to accelerate public blockchain adoption and provide a more efficient alternative to existing financial systems. Their innovations are rooted in a commitment to improving access to financial services through open and transparent technology.

Orca

Series A in 2021
Orca is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange built on the Solana blockchain, facilitating instant token swaps with minimal transaction fees. The platform is designed to handle thousands of transactions per second, ensuring low latency and capital-efficient trading. Users can exchange tokens while receiving fair pricing and have the option to provide liquidity to trading pools, allowing them to earn a share of the trading fees generated on the platform.

Zerion

Series A in 2021
Zerion Inc. is a blockchain software company that provides a platform for accessing decentralized finance (DeFi) to invest, earn interest, and borrow crypto assets. Founded in 2015 and based in San Francisco, Zerion offers an application that allows users to manage their DeFi portfolios across multiple accounts from a single interface, with features such as real-time asset tracking and instant notifications. The platform aggregates data from major decentralized exchanges, enabling users to manage their digital assets easily and securely. As a non-custodial service, Zerion ensures that users retain control of their funds, reducing risks associated with centralization. Additionally, the company provides tools for tracking the crypto market through charts and alerts, supporting users in navigating the evolving landscape of digital finance.

DELV

Seed Round in 2021
DELV is focused on advancing the safe adoption of decentralized financial systems through the development of a crypto-asset trading platform. This platform offers liquidity for yield and principal tokens, allowing users to buy and sell these assets without any minimum investment requirements. By integrating various protocols, DELV aims to facilitate the creation of a new financial system that enhances capital efficiency, enabling users to grow their savings at a fixed rate. The company's commitment to open-source infrastructure and research-backed solutions underscores its mission to support the evolving landscape of decentralized finance.

Matter Labs

Series A in 2021
Matter Labs is a company that focuses on developing blockchain solutions to enhance the scalability and privacy of decentralized applications. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, the firm utilizes zero-knowledge technologies to facilitate interactions between untrusted parties on its network. By implementing zero-knowledge proofs, Matter Labs aims to accelerate public blockchain adoption and provide a more efficient alternative to existing financial systems. Their innovations are rooted in a commitment to improving access to financial services through open and transparent technology.

API3

Seed Round in 2020
API3 is focused on developing a decentralized API infrastructure that connects blockchain applications with off-chain data providers. The company's platform addresses the API connectivity challenge by utilizing decentralized APIs, which are composed of first-party oracles. This approach allows data providers to operate as their own blockchain oracles, eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries. By aggregating data from reputable API providers through its innovative dAPI framework, API3 enables the creation of decentralized applications that utilize secure, quantifiable data feeds. This infrastructure empowers developers to effectively integrate real-world data into blockchain solutions, enhancing the functionality and reliability of decentralized applications.

Magic

Seed Round in 2020
Magic is a technology company that specializes in password-less authentication solutions, providing an alternative login method that enhances security and user experience. Its innovative technology employs a plug-and-play kit combined with blockchain infrastructure, enabling developers to easily integrate customizable password-less login features into their applications. With just a few lines of code, developers can implement this scalable solution, allowing users to access services without traditional passwords, thus streamlining the login process and reducing security risks associated with password management.

Zerion

Seed Round in 2019
Zerion Inc. is a blockchain software company that provides a platform for accessing decentralized finance (DeFi) to invest, earn interest, and borrow crypto assets. Founded in 2015 and based in San Francisco, Zerion offers an application that allows users to manage their DeFi portfolios across multiple accounts from a single interface, with features such as real-time asset tracking and instant notifications. The platform aggregates data from major decentralized exchanges, enabling users to manage their digital assets easily and securely. As a non-custodial service, Zerion ensures that users retain control of their funds, reducing risks associated with centralization. Additionally, the company provides tools for tracking the crypto market through charts and alerts, supporting users in navigating the evolving landscape of digital finance.

Matter Labs

Seed Round in 2019
Matter Labs is a company that focuses on developing blockchain solutions to enhance the scalability and privacy of decentralized applications. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, the firm utilizes zero-knowledge technologies to facilitate interactions between untrusted parties on its network. By implementing zero-knowledge proofs, Matter Labs aims to accelerate public blockchain adoption and provide a more efficient alternative to existing financial systems. Their innovations are rooted in a commitment to improving access to financial services through open and transparent technology.

Decred

Venture Round in 2018
Decred is a cryptocurrency that emphasizes community involvement, open governance, and sustainable development. It employs a hybrid mining system combining proof-of-work and proof-of-stake to prevent centralization and ensure that no small group can control transaction processes or implement changes without community consensus. Each unit of currency is referred to as a decred (DCR). To maintain the integrity of the currency and prevent fraud, Decred utilizes blockchain technology, which securely records all transactions. This approach enables users to engage in transparent and equitable trading within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

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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