Sui Foundation Launches $10M Fund to Back AI Infrastructure and DeFi Projects

The Sui Foundation has launched a $10 million ecosystem fund aimed at supporting AI infrastructure and DeFi projects building around its Layer-1 blockchain. The fund targets decentralized AI infrastructure and DeFi-native protocols, providing development assistance, security audit credits, technical help, and milestone-based funding.

The new program is designed to attract developers in the crowded Layer-1 market by focusing on categories that could generate recurring network activity if projects reach users and maintain demand after incentives end. The Sui Foundation believes its architecture can serve as a base for both AI applications and DeFi protocols, particularly those requiring frequent transactions and relatively low operating costs.

The $10 million fund narrows the foundation's strategy toward AI and DeFi, making adoption, sustained liquidity, and developer retention key measures of success. The initiative also reflects Sui's effort to compete with other networks in the Layer-1 market on performance, tooling, and access to capital.