Circle Co-Founder Unveils AI-Native Financial Platform With Backing From a16z

Sean Neville, co-founder of Circle and current CEO of Catena Labs, has launched a bold new venture aimed at building a financial system built specifically for the age of artificial intelligence.

Catena Labs, the company behind the initiative, announced on May 20 that it had raised $18 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto division. The goal? Create a fully regulated financial institution where AI agents operate alongside humans in a system optimized for both speed and trust.

Neville believes the current financial architecture is ill-equipped for a future where AI will drive the majority of economic activity. Traditional rails, he says, are too rigid, costly, and slow to accommodate AI-powered agents conducting real-time transactions across global markets.

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To address this, Catena Labs is building a system where AI can act as financial participants using “AI-native” money like stablecoins—specifically highlighting USDC for its low-cost, instant transaction capabilities.

The firm also released its first major open-source tool, the Agent Commerce Kit (ACK), a framework designed to verify agent identity and support secure transactions between humans and AI.

The project is rooted in a future where digital agents don’t just assist humans—they execute commerce on their behalf, powered by money that moves at machine speed.

Alexander Stefanov

With over 8 years of experience in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, Alexander is a seasoned content creator and market analyst dedicated to making digital assets more accessible and understandable. He specializes in breaking down complex crypto trends, analyzing market movements, and producing insightful content aimed at educating both newcomers and seasoned investors. Alexander has built a reputation for delivering timely and accurate analysis, while keeping a close eye on regulatory developments, emerging technologies, and macroeconomic trends that shape the future of digital finance. His work is rooted in a passion for innovation and a firm belief that widespread education is key to accelerating global crypto adoption.