Circle cofounder secures 18M for AI payments startup
Andreessen Horowitz leads funding round with Breyer Capital, Circle Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Tom Brady participating
Key Details:
- Funding Round: $18 million secured for new AI-focused payments startup
- Lead Investor: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
- Other Backers: Breyer Capital, Circle Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and NFL legend Tom Brady
- Founder: Co-founder of Circle (stablecoin issuer behind USDC)
Why It Matters
- The investment signals growing interest in applying artificial intelligence to payment systems
- High-profile participation from both traditional VC firms and crypto-native investors
- Football star Tom Brady continues expanding his tech investment portfolio
Industry Context
- AI adoption in fintech has accelerated in 2025
- Payments sector seeing particular innovation in fraud detection and transaction routing
- Circle's success with USDC gives founder strong credibility in payments space
What's Next
The startup has not yet disclosed:
- Official company name
- Specific AI applications
- Product launch timeline
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About the Author
Alex Thompson
AI Technology Editor
Senior technology editor specializing in AI and machine learning content creation for 8 years. Former technical editor at AI Magazine, now provides technical documentation and content strategy services for multiple AI companies. Excels at transforming complex AI technical concepts into accessible content.