Venice AI
Venice AI is a privacy-focused artificial intelligence app founded by Erik Voorhees, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange ShapeShift. Launched in May 2024, it gives users access to open-source AI models without content restrictions, and "does not store user data and can't see user conversations".[1]
Design
Venice describes itself as "private and uncensored AI". Users' conversations are "encrypted in your local browser and never stored on Venice's servers", and the service runs only open-source models.[2] Voorhees has acknowledged that the service is not fully anonymous, since requests still pass through its infrastructure.[1]
Token and funding
In January 2025, Venice launched the VVV token on Base, a layer-2 network built on Ethereum, airdropping half of its 100 million tokens to users and crypto-AI projects.[3] In July 2026, it raised $65 million in its first outside funding round, led by Dragonfly, at a $1 billion valuation; the company reported 3 million users that April.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nelson, Jason (May 11, 2024). "Why ShapeShift founder Erik Voorhees is pivoting to privacy-centric AI startup". Decrypt. Retrieved November 13, 2026.
- ↑ "About". Venice. Retrieved November 13, 2026.
- ↑ Hunt, James (January 27, 2025). "Erik Voorhees' AI platform Venice launches token on Ethereum layer-2 Base". The Block. Retrieved November 13, 2026.
- ↑ Nelson, Jason (July 1, 2026). "Venice raises $65 million". Decrypt. Retrieved November 13, 2026.