Backed by Paradigm, decentralised startup reaches $1 billion valuation in bold push to redefine AI development
In a major step forward for the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, decentralised AI startup Nous Research has announced a $50 million Series A funding round led by crypto-focused venture capital firm Paradigm. The investment, confirmed by Paradigm to Fortune, marks a turning point for blockchain’s efforts to establish a meaningful foothold in the fast-evolving world of AI.
Nous Research, which operates on the Solana blockchain, has until now been quietly building its infrastructure over the past two years. With this new round of financing, the company emerges from stealth mode with a bold ambition: to revolutionise how open-source AI models are trained, shared, and coordinated using decentralised protocols.
The $50 million raise places Nous at a token valuation of $1 billion, according to a source familiar with the transaction who spoke on condition of anonymity to Fortune. The valuation underscores a growing confidence among investors that blockchain can play a pivotal role in the future development of AI.
The Series A follows earlier seed funding totalling $20 million, which came from notable investors including Distributed Global, North Island Ventures, and Delphi Digital. Those investments helped lay the foundation for Nous’s infrastructure and research efforts.
What sets Nous apart from many other projects in the crypto-AI space is its origin story. While numerous initiatives are spun out of crypto-native startups, Nous was founded by a team of artificial intelligence researchers who identified blockchain’s potential as a tool for decentralised coordination and incentives in model development.
“Nous is unique in that it blends cutting-edge AI research with the decentralisation ethos of blockchain,” said one source close to the company, speaking anonymously due to the private nature of the funding terms.
Using the Solana blockchain, Nous aims to build a platform where open-source models can be trained collaboratively, with contributors rewarded through token-based incentives. The company believes this decentralised approach will democratise AI development, moving away from the current landscape dominated by centralised tech giants.
As interest in generative AI continues to surge, the integration of blockchain into AI development is seen by some as the next frontier. With fresh funding and heavyweight backing, Nous appears well positioned to lead this convergence.
While the AI-blockchain intersection has long been a topic of speculation, Nous Research’s emergence marks one of the clearest signals yet that the space is beginning to attract serious capital and scientific credibility.
