Dune Analytics Raises Crypto’s Latest Meme Round: $69,420,000

One of Ethereum’s most popular analytics platforms is looking to expand cross-chain after nabbing a $1 billion valuation.

AccessTimeIconFeb 2, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 4:05 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

One of Ethereum’s most popular data visualization and analytics platform is gearing up for expansion with a massive fundraising round.

On Wednesday, Dune Analytics announced the close of a $69,420,000 round at a $1 billion valuation. (The meme-flavored sum follows crypto exchange FTX raising $420,690,000 last October.)

  • What's the Biggest Misconception People Have About Bitcoin Mining?
    00:39
    What's the Biggest Misconception People Have About Bitcoin Mining?
  • Is Crypto at the 'Mercy' of Fed Rates and Macro Conditions Now?
    08:53
    Is Crypto at the 'Mercy' of Fed Rates and Macro Conditions Now?
  • Traders Bet on Ether's Drop; Sen. Lummis, Gillibrand Take on Stablecoin Legislation, Again
    01:47
    Traders Bet on Ether's Drop; Sen. Lummis, Gillibrand Take on Stablecoin Legislation, Again
  • Crypto Fee War Intensifies in South Korea
    01:02
    Crypto Fee War Intensifies in South Korea
  • The round was led by Coatue, a venture behemoth that, until recently, hasn’t been active in the cryptocurrency space. However, according to Dune CEO Fredrik Haga, the investment firm – which has big bets on OpenSea, Alchemy and Dapper Labs – was aggressive in courting the platform.

    “We had not made a single slide or Excel sheet – they simply came to us, had extreme conviction in what we were doing, and had done a lot of outside-in research, and gave us an offer we couldn’t refuse,” he said.

    The Dune team is now plotting expansion with the goal of becoming “the only place you need to go for data in the space” – a potentially lucrative niche, given the inherent data-richness of blockchain technology.

    "What we have here is a public back end where anyone in the world can deploy applications, and that creates data," Haga noted. "And then with Dune, anyone in the world can analyze that data. That’s why the opportunity is big, and that’s why we’ve gone down the open route."

    Expansion plans

    On the immediate roadmap are plans to expand to other blockchains, adding additional tooling such as application programming interface (API) access and the launch of a new data platform that will allow users to compare datasets across chains.

    Haga envisions the company developing much in the mold of Github, a popular freemium software development platform.

    “You take open access as the core and free product, and then you add on premium services for closed organizations on top of that,” he said.

    Data platforms have been a particular target for venture capital funds as of late. In December, Nansen raised $75 million, and in January, The Graph raised $50 million.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

    Andrew Thurman

    Andrew Thurman was a tech reporter at CoinDesk with a focus on DeFi.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.