Bitcoin News Today: Silbert's Yuma Launches 'NASDAQ for Decentralized AI' to Fuel Institutional Adoption

Barry Silbert, founder of Digital Currency Group (DCG), has launched Yuma Asset Management, a new venture designed to bridge institutional and accredited investors with decentralized artificial intelligence (deAI) infrastructure. The initiative, part of DCG's broader strategy to expand its footprint in the deAI sector, is anchored by a $10 million investment from DCG and features two fund strategies targeting subnet tokens on the Bittensor network. These tokens, native to decentralized contributor networks on Bittensor, are denominated in TAO, the network's native token.

The Yuma Subnet Composite Fund mirrors the "NASDAQ Composite" for subnet tokens, offering market-cap weighted exposure across all active subnets. The Yuma Large Cap Subnet Fund, akin to the "Dow Jones Industrial Average," focuses on the top subnets by market capitalization. Both funds aim to simplify access to Bittensor's ecosystem, where subnets-specialized AI services like fraud detection and image recognition-are developed by startup teams and incentivized through TAO-based emissions. Silbert, who previously pioneered institutional crypto access via the Bitcoin Investment Trust (now Grayscale's GBTC), described subnet tokens as an "emerging asset class" with the potential to transform AI innovation.

Bittensor, the decentralized AI network underpinning Yuma's strategies, operates as a permissionless platform where contributors earn TAO for supplying data and computational resources. The network's vision is to create an open marketplace for AI, contrasting with centralized models. DCG's $105 million investment in deAI projects, including Bittensor, underscores its belief in the sector's long-term potential. Silbert has positioned deAI as a paradigm shift, comparable to Bitcoin's early days, with TAO's $2.73 billion market cap reflecting growing interest.

The launch of Yuma Asset Management coincides with DCG's post-FTX recovery. After financial setbacks linked to the collapse of FTX and its lending arm Genesis, the firm has restructured operations and emphasized deAI as a growth driver. Silbert noted that the current crypto landscape, under a more favorable political climate, presents opportunities to rebuild momentum. Yuma's focus on deAI aligns with DCG's broader vision of leveraging blockchain and AI convergence to redefine digital asset ownership.

Investors in Yuma's funds face significant risks, including price volatility, liquidity constraints, and regulatory uncertainties. Subnet tokens lack traditional investor protections, and Bittensor's ecosystem remains nascent. However, Silbert argues that the platform's decentralized structure-enabling real-time collaboration among diverse participants-offers a scalable alternative to corporate-owned AI resources. The funds' structure, modeled after traditional index funds, aims to lower technical barriers for institutional adoption.

DCG's strategic pivot to deAI reflects broader industry trends. As private AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic limit direct investment access, decentralized networks like Bittensor provide an alternative on-ramp. Yuma's launch highlights the growing intersection of crypto and AI, with Silbert positioning the sector as a transformative force akin to Bitcoin. The success of this venture, however, will depend on Bittensor's ability to scale and attract real-world applications.

Source: [1] Yahoo Finance (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bittensor-decentralized-ai-studio-yuma-130009218.html)

[2] Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-09/crypto-kingpin-silbert-s-yuma-launches-ai-crypto-asset-manager)

[3] CoinDesk (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/10/09/bittensor-s-decentralized-ai-studio-yuma-launches-asset-management-arm)

[4] The Block (https://www.theblock.co/post/374074/digital-currency-group-subsidiary-yuma-launches-asset-management-division-with-two-flagship-funds)

[5] eBlockMedia (http://www.eblockmedia.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=12587)

[6] Crypto-Reporter (https://www.crypto-reporter.com/newsfeed/yuma-unveils-yuma-asset-management-creating-a-new-gateway-to-the-decentralized-ai-sector-for-institutional-and-accredited-investors-112702/)

[7] Financial Content (https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2025-10-9-yuma-unveils-yuma-asset-management-creating-a-new-gateway-to-the-decentralized-ai-sector-for-institutional-and-accredited-investors)

[8] Business Wire (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251009638800/en/)

[9] TMCnet (https://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2025/10/09/10268522.htm)

[11] Crypto Times (https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/10/10/dcg-founder-barry-silbert-launches-new-venture-for-crypto-and-ai/)