Grayscale announced a partnership with Republic to make three crypto investment products available to eligible investors who can contribute as little as $2,500. The products cover decentralized finance, artificial intelligence, and data networks, and are offered through Republic’s platform under private placement rules.

The partnership, disclosed on Oct. 15, introduces three funds: the Grayscale DeFi Fund, the Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund, and the Grayscale Data Network Trust. Each requires a minimum investment of $2,500 and targets accredited investors in the United States whose status must be verified before participation. Outside the U.S., non-accredited investors may access the offerings through a separate Regulation S structure, subject to local regulations.

Republic co-CEO Andrew Durgee described the collaboration as an extension of the platform’s focus on digital asset access. He emphasized that the funds allow investors to gain exposure to underlying tokens without directly managing custody or storage, a process typically reserved for institutional participants.

The DeFi Fund holds six tokens: Uniswap (UNI), Aave (AAVE), Ondo (ONDO), Ethena (ENA), Curve (CRV), and Lido DAO (LDO). Earlier in the year, Grayscale adjusted the fund’s composition by replacing Aerodrome Finance’s AERO token with ENA, following a methodology aligned with the CoinDesk DeFi Select Index. As of August 3, allocations stood at 34.16% UNI, 25.44% ONDO, 19.97% AAVE, 12.19% ENA, 4.42% CRV, and 3.82% LDO.

The AI-focused fund includes four assets: NEAR Protocol (NEAR), Bittensor (TAO), Render (RENDER), and Filecoin (FIL). Portfolio updates show NEAR as the largest holding at 31.35%, followed by TAO at 29.15%, RENDER at 21.59%, and FIL at 17.91%. The Data Network Trust centers on the DATA token, the native asset of a blockchain designed to track data provenance, licensing, and compensation for AI training inputs. The trust, structured as a Delaware business trust, began accepting investments on July 28, 2025, and operates under a Rule 506(c) exemption.

All offerings are private placements, meaning shares cannot be freely resold or redeemed. Investors face liquidity risks, and the products are not registered with the SEC or protected by SIPC. Disclosures highlight custody, cybersecurity, and regulatory uncertainties as ongoing risks. While the SEC does not endorse these investments, participants must meet accredited investor criteria, including net worth thresholds or professional credentials such as Series 7 or 65 licenses.

The move reflects broader trends in making digital asset exposure more accessible through lower minimums and simplified entry points, though it remains confined to qualified investors under U.S. securities rules.