Y Combinator is looking to fund crypto startups that can help AI companies raise money. The startup accelerator shared the plan in its October Crypto Request for Startups.
The document lays out what YC wants to fund over the next six months. It covers capital raising, stablecoins, trading and financial tools for AI agents.
Visiting partner Nemil Dalal shared the call on Oct. 28. He said YC wants to back more crypto companies that solve financial needs.
AI Fundraising and the Ethereum ICO Model
YC describes investment in AI as one of the largest capital-raising events in human history. It wants founders to find ways to make that process easier.
The accelerator points to Ethereum’s initial coin offering as an example of how blockchain can be used to raise money. YC did not set a specific financing structure and left that choice to founders.
This builds on an earlier request. On Sept. 23, 2025, YC and Coinbase called for startups in stablecoins, tokenization, trading, on-chain capital formation, and apps and agents.
YC also expects new kinds of assets to be issued, including startup equity and small securities. It sees room for trading, lending and derivatives services to grow around them.
The document gives one example. It describes a house represented by an NFT, with blockchain-based capital helping to fund mortgages.
Stablecoins, Trading and AI Agents
On stablecoins, YC wants dollar products that reach new customer or merchant groups. It also wants stablecoins in other currencies.
Founders must name a group that benefits from the product and explain how they will reach it. YC lists gaming as one possible customer segment.
The accelerator is also seeking neobanks for people and businesses that current providers do not serve well. Global contractors and international businesses are given as examples, and these startups must manage risk carefully.
For trading, YC wants exchanges and interfaces built around new assets, derivatives or regions. It asks founders to pick assets that benefit from 24-hour global markets and links to decentralized finance.
YC expects AI agents to become active players in financial markets and frequent traders. This includes agents working under human instructions.
It argues that most current financial interfaces are built for human developers. YC wants APIs and infrastructure designed for agents, including routes between regular money and crypto.
The accelerator said institutional demand drove crypto use over the past year. It cited oil hedging and faster cross-border payments for businesses as examples.
At the time of reporting, Ethereum traded at $2,227.31, down 3.86% over 24 hours.
YC’s Winter 2027 batch runs from January through March in San Francisco. The on-time application deadline is Nov. 2 at 8pm Pacific, and YC will still consider late applications, though it cannot promise when those applicants will hear back.
