TL;DR:
- Dune has executed a 25% reduce of its workforce, sustaining solvency after capturing 79 million {dollars} in earlier funding rounds.
- The platform has launched Dune MCP, an open-standard server that permits AI brokers to carry out on-chain information queries utilizing pure language.
- Surf, a sector competitor, introduced a $15 million elevate in December 2025 to develop information infrastructure unique to autonomous brokers.
Dune, the information evaluation platform, will lay off 25% of its staff as a part of its restructuring. The aim of this resolution is to align the corporate’s operations with the development of AI and the rising demand for institutional monetary providers.
The agency’s co-founder, Fredrik Haga, reported that the group has a stable capital place following the $69.4 million Collection B accomplished in 2022. The manager added that Dune will retain its full information infrastructure, though it would dispense with high-performance profiles to optimize the present price construction.
We’re restructuring Dune to sharpen our focus across the core information merchandise hundreds of shoppers throughout the crypto trade depend on. That sadly means we’ve let 25% of the crew go this week. These are distinctive folks I can wholeheartedly advocate — ping me in the event you’re…
— hagaetc (@hagaetc) Might 14, 2026
The transition towards an AI-centered mannequin is supported by the launch of Dune MCP in March 2026. This instrument capabilities as an open-standard server designed particularly in order that AI brokers can work together with the platform’s information warehouse.
Transformation towards institutional evaluation and AI brokers
As a part of the corporate’s technique, they’ve included the enlargement of “white glove” providers geared toward conventional monetary establishments. The agency’s report signifies that the target is to facilitate the tokenization of typical property reminiscent of shares, bonds, and commodities by simplified entry to on-chain information.
At present, the Dune ecosystem covers greater than 100 blockchains and gives instruments for question execution and metrics visualization. The current integration of a dbt connector permits technical groups to construct information pipelines straight on its infrastructure.
Nonetheless, competitors within the crypto information sector elevated following criticism from Ryan Li, co-founder of Surf. Li maintains that the normal mannequin of human-operated dashboards is being surpassed by the necessity for infrastructures constructed for clever brokers that require structured information outputs and quick question engines.
Market information confirms that, on the shut of This fall 2025, Surf raised $15 million, with help from funds reminiscent of Pantera Capital and Coinbase Ventures. Surf means that its information stack was designed from the first quarter of 2026 with an unique concentrate on the automation of analysis processes.
For its half, Dune’s administration initiatives that its tech stack will proceed to be the inspiration for main cryptocurrency corporations, regardless of the workers discount. Haga expressed his dedication to actively recommending affected staff to different corporations within the sector to mitigate the impression of the restructuring.
The trade is now watching a technical race to dominate AI-based analysis workflows. Whereas Dune adapts an already established platform, new rivals are betting on native methods for brokers, which may redefine how market information is consumed within the quick time period.
