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Vangrid raises $9 million in token round for physical AI data network

Vangrid raises $9 million in token round for physical AI data network

The Amsterdam-based DePIN project said the seed financing, structured as a SAFT, will scale its Base-based network for verified 3D geospatial data used in physical AI, robotics and defense.

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Fact Check
The claim is corroborated by four independent sources with consistent details. The Block, a primary crypto industry outlet, reports Vangrid announced a $9M SAFT token round on Aug 6, 2026, from named backers, for a smartphone-based 3D spatial data network targeting robotics, defense, and physical AI. CryptoBriefing and CoinNess independently confirm the identical funding amount, backers, and use case, and CoinCu confirms the $9M token round citing The Block. All match the claim's amount ($9M), structure (token round), origin (Dutch/Amsterdam startup), and purpose (edge computing and smartphone-based 3D mapping for robotics, defense, and physical AI).
Summary

Vangrid, an Amsterdam-based DePIN startup, has raised $9 million in seed funding through a SAFT to expand its Base-based network for verified 3D geospatial data used in physical AI, robotics and defense. Investors included HashKey, Borderless Capital, Crypto.com Capital, Animoca Brands, Gate Labs and Mapleblock. The company said the capital will help scale edge computing capacity and enterprise tooling for a smartphone-led mapping network that turns cameras and sensors into edge nodes, processes data on-device and then verifies it onchain. Vangrid said contributors already earn points on Base that can be converted into tokens at a future token generation event, while settlements are handled in USDC. It also has active VANGRID token contracts on Ethereum and Base, memorandums of understanding with data partners, engagement with defense and robotics platforms, and real-time transactions already running on the network. The project is entering a competitive DePIN and decentralized mapping market where investors have favored crypto networks tied to physical infrastructure, and where token conversion ratios, vesting terms and broader token economics are likely to draw scrutiny ahead of launch.

Terms & Concepts
  • SAFT: A crypto fundraising agreement that gives investors rights to receive tokens in the future.
  • DePIN: A decentralized physical infrastructure network that uses token incentives to support real-world data or hardware systems.
  • geospatial data: Location-based data that maps physical environments, including their shape and position in 3D space.