Jake Brukhman, CEO and Founder of CoinFund, a prominent crypto-native investment firm, announced on social media on July 23, 2025, that the cryptocurrency industry has moved beyond its foundational "Why" phase and is now firmly focused on the "How." This declaration underscores a significant shift towards practical applications and implementation, particularly within the burgeoning field of decentralized artificial intelligence (deAI). Brukhman's statement highlights the increasing maturity of the crypto space as it converges with advanced AI technologies.
The "How" phase, as articulated by Brukhman, signifies a period where the industry is actively building and deploying tangible solutions, moving past the initial theoretical and speculative stages. This practical emphasis is largely driven by the rapid advancements and growing adoption of decentralized AI. According to data from analytics platform Kaito, deAI has already captured over 30% of the mindshare across the crypto ecosystem within the past 12 months, indicating its pivotal role in this new era.
CoinFund, under Brukhman's leadership, has been an early visionary advocate for decentralization and blockchain, actively investing in frontier technologies. The firm is optimistic about the ability of decentralized AI to compete with centralized models, noting that deAI crypto assets are emerging as a highly sought-after asset class for investors seeking exposure to AI companies. Brukhman, a computer scientist and mathematician, founded CoinFund in 2015, establishing it as one of the first blockchain-focused investment firms in the United States.
Decentralized AI encompasses various innovations, including distributed compute protocols, agent frameworks, and decentralized marketplaces, all designed to foster a more open and transparent AI landscape. These solutions offer alternatives to the centralized control often associated with major AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. The integration of blockchain technology ensures data integrity, transparent model access, and audit trails, addressing critical concerns around AI governance and data ownership.
The convergence of AI and crypto is also fueling a "super cycle" in the market, according to Brukhman, with AI tokens experiencing massive demand. Retail investors, in particular, are increasingly looking to crypto for exposure to AI technology, given the limited public equity options for direct AI investments. This trend is further solidified by the "deAI Summer 2025," a period characterized by significant innovation and investment in decentralized AI projects, reshaping the future of both the crypto and AI industries.