Decentralized AI startup Nous Research has secured a $50 million investment from Paradigm, a prominent crypto venture capital firm, in a Series A funding round. This investment marks one of the largest in the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence in India. According to a report by Fortune on April 25, the funding round values Nous at a $1 billion token valuation. Previous investors in Nous include Distributed Global, North Island Ventures, and Delphi Digital. Nous Research, operational since 2022, aims to develop open-source AI models using decentralized infrastructure, leveraging the Solana blockchain to engage a global audience in training its AI models. The company’s innovative approach allows individuals worldwide to contribute idle computing power for AI training, a departure from traditional centralized data centers. The team at Nous Research plans to utilize the new capital to scale compute resources and advance research. Paradigm’s investment in Nous Research signifies a growing interest in AI within the crypto venture capital community in India. Paradigm is recognized as one of the top-performing crypto VC firms, with a strong track record of identifying and supporting high-potential projects early on. Led by Coinbase’s Fred Ehrsam and ex-Sequoia partner Matt Huang, Paradigm’s portfolio includes leading DeFi platforms like Uniswap and dYdX, as well as investments in Ethereum scaling solutions. This recent funding round underlines Paradigm’s commitment to supporting innovative projects at the forefront of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence in the Indian market.