15 Januari 2026
Sean Neville, Co-Founder of Circle, has raised a whopping $18 million for its new venture, Catena Labs, which focuses on developing an AI-native bank.
On May 20, Sean Neville revealed that Catena Labs raised $18 million in a funding round led by the cryptocurrency arm of Andreessen Horowitz. Investors also include Breyer Capital, Circle Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and legendary NFL player Tom Brady. This funding package includes both equity and token warrants, which are rights to a future cryptocurrency that the company has yet to release.
Sean Neville, who founded Circle and was responsible for issuing the second largest stablecoin USDC, will remain on the company's board of directors, but left his operational role in early 2020. He has since quietly focused on Catena Labs, along with co-founder Matt Venables, a former senior engineering executive at Circle.
Catena Labs was born out of a venture studio Neville and Venables founded in 2021 to explore emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and decentralized identity. In 2023, following the rapid rise of AI apps like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the team decided to focus solely on building infrastructure tailored for AI-driven finance.
Catena Labs has a clear vision: to create an “AI-native bank” designed for a future where financial transactions are increasingly managed by AI agents. Neville explains that Catena Labs develops software that integrates AI with financial systems, with a strong focus on payment automation and digital identity protocols.
While the company has yet to unveil a detailed product roadmap, it has already developed an open-source protocol for AI-driven payments and identity verification. “You should be able to meet your financial advisor and banker wherever you want to be,” Neville points out. As for blockchain and stablecoins, he notes that they will likely be incorporated into the systems, but they won’t be the only starting point.
With a team of nine, the young startup is still in its early stages, and there is currently no known timeline for product launch or token issuance. Neville chooses not to disclose the company’s valuation, which raises curiosity about the financials of this new venture.
Catena Labs’ development comes amid speculation that Circle, Neville’s previous company, may be acquired by Coinbase, which co-founded USDC and remains closely tied to Circle’s operations. While plans for an IPO are still in the works, Circle has reportedly held informal sale talks and is seeking a $5 billion valuation.
What is the focus of Catena Labs?
Catena Labs focuses on developing software that integrates artificial intelligence with financial systems for payment automation and digital identity protocols.
Who are the key investors in Catena Labs?
Key investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Breyer Capital, Circle Ventures, Coinbase Ventures and NFL legend Tom Brady.
What is the future vision of Catena Labs?
Catena Labs aims to establish an AI-native bank, where financial transactions are increasingly managed by AI agents.
The future of finance is here, and the possibilities are endless. Are you ready to discover what AI can do for your financial world?
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