Origins Network Secures $8M to Develop Modular Blockchain for AI

Origins Network has successfully raised $8 million in strategic funding to create a modular blockchain specifically designed for artificial intelligence (AI) agents. The project aims to establish a verifiable computing system, which is seen as essential for ensuring trust in the next generation of autonomous systems. This funding round, announced on March 23, 2026, includes backers such as Animoca Brands, TBV, Candaq, Castrum Istanbul, and Coinvestor Ventures, showcasing a diverse group of investors from Web3, AI, and cloud-based platforms.

Key Takeaways

Origins Network has raised $8 million to develop a modular blockchain for AI agents focused on verifiable computing.
The project introduces Proof of Computation (PoC) to ensure that AI processes are auditable.
Significant funding is flowing into modular AI blockchains, indicating a shift toward deeper technical infrastructure.
Animoca Brands is a key investor, advocating for digital property rights within Web3.
The aim is to create a transparent blockchain for AI transactions that allows for verification and accountability.

Katana Perps and IDEX acquisition DeFi graphic

In a recent statement, Origins Network emphasized its goal of making AI "auditable, not mystical." This means that users should be able to verify the processes by which AI agents reach their conclusions, rather than simply accepting results as black-box outputs. To achieve this, the network will introduce a feature known as Proof of Computation (PoC). This design allows heavy AI computations to be processed offchain using GPU-powered infrastructure while still verifying the work on-chain. “We’re not trying to turn a blockchain into a data center,” the team explained. “We’re transforming blockchains into auditors of AI behavior.”

How Proof of Computation Works

Using the PoC model, AI agents will submit their workloads to an offchain execution layer, utilizing resources from cloud partners like AWS, Tencent Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud. After computations are completed, cryptographic proof of these operations will be posted back to the Origins blockchain. This system enables applications to confirm that a model executed specific prompts or data processes without requiring every full node to re-process the entire workload. The project positions itself as a balanced alternative between fully centralized AI APIs and resource-intensive “AI on L1” operations, which could overload standard blockchain networks.

The Growing Interest in Modular AI Blockchains

There is an increasing trend of investment in modular AI blockchains. In 2024, 0G Labs successfully raised $35 million in pre-seed funding to create a modular AI data availability layer, stating the need to establish core infrastructure before current centralized AI solutions can integrate into the Web3 ecosystem. More recently, networks like Hemi have secured significant funding to act as modular execution and settlement layers connecting Bitcoin and Ethereum. This indicates that investors are becoming more confident in supporting sophisticated infrastructure projects rather than just consumer-focused applications. Similarly, Origins is setting out to enhance the AI landscape, with a strong emphasis on verifiable agent tasks.

Strategic Backing from Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands, the lead investor, has been actively building a vast Web3 portfolio with over 600 investments in sectors like gaming, NFTs, and infrastructure. Its chairman, Yat Siu, has frequently articulated that the true potential of Web3 lies in "digital property rights at internet scale." Origins Network aligns well with this vision by striving to make AI-generated outputs both audit-able and ownership-capable, rather than temporary. In a recent interview, Siu described Animoca as “a gateway to the utility tokens of Web3,” focusing on robust infrastructure that instills institutional-level transparency and accountability in crypto markets.

Conclusion: A New Foundation for AI and Crypto

The objective for crypto markets is straightforward yet ambitious: if AI agents are set to manage investment portfolios, underwrite loans, or engage in trades on decentralized exchanges, they require a blockchain that allows for scrutiny and, when necessary, challenge. Origins Network aspires to become that fundamental blockchain.