Sonic's joint venture project Donut Labs: funded by Sequoia, HackVC, and others, aims to create an AI agent-based browser

Author: momo, ChainCatcher

Recently, an AI-based proxy cryptocurrency browser, Donut Labs, announced the completion of a $7 million seed round financing. The investment lineup behind this round is quite luxurious, led by HSG, Bitkraft, and HackVC, with participation from Matrix Partners, Sky9 Ventures, Makers Fund, and SonicSVM.

The team behind Donut Labs is also noteworthy. Donut's founder and CEO, Chris Zhu, is the founder of several well-known projects, including the Solana ecosystem game chain Sonic, rct AI, and Mirror World. Donut's Chief Operating Officer, Darcy, was previously the head of partnerships at Sonic.

What Makes Donut Labs Different from Traditional Browsers?

Donut Labs is still in the very early stages of development. According to its official website, it positions itself as an AI-driven executable cryptocurrency browser, integrating a native cryptocurrency wallet, decentralized exchange, decentralized network access, and on-chain execution capabilities. It has several key differences from traditional web browsers:

Supports AI-driven blockchain interactions. The Donut browser integrates AI algorithms that can understand page context and user intent, autonomously executing blockchain-based operations such as token trading, staking, or earning passive income. Traditional browsers are primarily used for information browsing and lack native integration and automated execution capabilities with blockchains.

Built-in encryption features. The Donut browser has a built-in cryptocurrency wallet, decentralized exchange (DEX) integration, and decentralized network access, allowing users to complete transactions, payments, and on-chain operations within a single interface. Traditional browsers typically require extensions or external applications to achieve similar functionalities, resulting in a more fragmented experience.

Integrated unified operation interface for multiple services. Donut provides an integrated proxy interface that consolidates decentralized tools and cryptocurrency services on one platform, enabling users to complete complex on-chain tasks without switching between multiple tabs or applications. Traditional browsers usually separate information retrieval from financial operations, lacking this integrated design.

Optimized security and efficiency. Donut uses an architecture-isolated signing environment and AI-driven risk screening to protect transaction security while optimizing execution speed and costs. AI can also translate complex blockchain data (such as calldata) into understandable English and assign security levels. Traditional browsers typically do not have these dedicated security features for blockchain.

Vision: To Become the Default Gateway of the Next Generation Internet

Donut initially focuses on traders, developers, and DeFi users in the cryptocurrency finance space, but it aims to expand beyond the crypto market and become one of the default gateways of the next generation internet.

Chris Zhu, the founder and CEO of Donut, stated that proxy browsers could become mainstream in the next decade.

In the next five years, Ethereum Layer 2 networks will use proxy browsers to reduce settlement costs. As the cost of artificial intelligence decreases, mainstream browsers will also integrate proxy features or establish interoperability with specially designed proxy browsers.

Thus, the most significant adoption is expected to occur within the next decade, at which point on-chain and off-chain environments will fully merge for internet users. "Proxy browsers are expected to become the default gateway—just like smartphones replaced feature phones."

In the long term, Donut aims to support payments, gaming, content creation, and social interaction, all within a single cryptocurrency-native browser. Donut also plans to leverage advancements in decentralized identity and confidential computing to transform the browser into a personal "crypto chief financial officer" for retail users.