Dempsey Says Crypto Venture Activity Stalled as Talent Focused on AI

In an Oct. 13, 2026, interview, Compound managing partner Michael Dempsey described crypto venture activity as close to dormant for nearly two years as technology builders focused on artificial intelligence. He contrasted the current focus on AI with 2021, when tech entrepreneurs streamed into crypto to build on what they saw as the next major platform. He acknowledged tokenization’s potential benefits while saying token incentives have struggled to create long-term alignment. Compound lists AI, machine learning, robotics, biotech and crypto among its investment areas. Compound invests from seed stage through Series A.