Quick summary: The $14. 4 million fundraising round saw participation from prominent crypto venture capital firms Framework Ventures and Electric Capital. Unto Labs, founded by Liam Heeger—a former engineer at Ethereum and Solana—is developing a new virtual machine called ThruVM. This technology leverages the widely-used RISC-V computing architecture to build the Thru blockchain, aiming to overcome limitations associated with network-specific virtual machines. The company’s goal is to use ThruVM to make its upcoming layer-1 blockchain, Thru, more accessible to developers who are not native to the crypto space.

According to Unto Labs, existing crypto-specific tools, custom crypto virtual machines, and specialized programming languages limit blockchain development and hinder mainstream adoption. Heeger emphasizes that RISC-V’s compatibility with conventional hardware, like servers and laptops, offers performance gains, enhanced developer experience, and richer tooling, which could drive innovation in the crypto sector. Thru is designed to compete with major dApp-centric blockchains such as Ethereum and Solana, enabling users to execute transactions, engage with current crypto applications, and create blockchain-based financial tools, as reported by Fortune. The company intends to use the newly raised capital to double its workforce from five to ten employees by the end of the year. Stay updated: Subscribe to our newsletter via this link—we promise no spam!