In a significant move for the intersection of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, USD.AI has successfully secured $13 million in Series A funding. This round was spearheaded by Framework Ventures, with the funds aimed at expanding USD.AI’s innovative GPU-backed stablecoin lending platform. As of today, August 14, 2025, this development marks a pivotal moment for emerging AI firms seeking quick and efficient financing solutions.
Pioneering AI Financing
USD.AI, an initiative by Permian Labs, has carved a niche by providing credit to artificial intelligence companies, utilizing GPU hardware as collateral. This approach not only slashes loan approval times by over 90% compared to traditional financial institutions but also promises to revolutionize how AI startups access necessary capital. “We’re treating GPUs like commodities,” stated USD.AI CEO David Choi. This perspective enables programmatic loan approvals, bypassing the conventional financial red tape that often stymies innovation.
The platform operates on an on-chain system featuring USDai, a dollar-pegged token, and sUSDai, a yield-bearing variant supported by income-generating compute assets. These tokens represent a fusion of stablecoin stability with the burgeoning AI sector’s dynamic growth, creating a unique product in the market.
The AI and Crypto Convergence
Framework Ventures’ Vance Spencer has compared the burgeoning demand for capital in the AI industry to the historic oil boom, suggesting that USD.AI could democratize funding while offering investors yields linked to AI growth. This is no small feat, considering the $50 million in deposits USD.AI has already amassed during its private beta phase. This trend mirrors recent developments in the stablecoin sector, such as Transak’s $16M raise to scale their payment network, highlighting the growing interest in stablecoin-backed financial solutions.
The public launch is on the horizon, featuring an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) and an intriguing game-based allocation model. This launch strategy is designed to engage a broad audience, tapping into both the crypto-savvy and those intrigued by AI’s potential.
The synergy between stablecoins and AI represents more than just a financial innovation; it hints at a future where AI agents can transact autonomously using a stable, reliable currency. This could enhance financial automation, security, and risk management across numerous applications, from payments to decentralized finance (DeFi).
Historical Context and Future Implications
Stablecoins have been front and center in the regulatory discussions surrounding digital assets, largely due to their potential to offer a stable medium in the volatile crypto market. Meanwhile, AI has surged into mainstream consciousness, driven by advances in machine learning and data processing capabilities. The marriage of these two technologies in USD.AI’s model could herald a new era of financial systems—more intelligent and efficient than ever before.
Yet, it’s not without challenges. The regulatory landscape for both stablecoins and AI is still evolving, raising questions about how these innovations will be governed. As USD.AI moves towards its public debut, it will have to navigate these murky waters carefully, balancing innovation with compliance. This is reminiscent of BTSE’s strategic investment in Stable, which aims to advance blockchain innovation and support stablecoin adoption.
What lies ahead is a tantalizing prospect: a financial ecosystem where transactions are not only faster but also smarter. Will USD.AI’s model be the blueprint for future convergence between digital assets and AI? Only time will tell. For now, the $13 million investment is a vote of confidence in their vision, and the crypto and AI communities will be watching closely.
Source
This article is based on: USD.AI Raises $13M to Expand GPU-Backed Stablecoin Lending
Further Reading
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Steve Gregory is a lawyer in the United States who specializes in licensing for cryptocurrency companies and products. Steve began his career as an attorney in 2015 but made the switch to working in cryptocurrency full time shortly after joining the original team at Gemini Trust Company, an early cryptocurrency exchange based in New York City. Steve then joined CEX.io and was able to launch their regulated US-based cryptocurrency. Steve then went on to become the CEO at currency.com when he ran for four years and was able to lead currency.com to being fully acquired in 2025.
