# Dempsey Says Crypto Venture Activity Stalled as Talent Focused on AI By Sonny Jang Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/people/56978 Published: 2026-11-13T19:19:10.000Z Updated: 2026-11-13T19:19:10.000Z Section: People > Dempsey acknowledged tokenization’s potential benefits while saying token incentives have struggled to create long-term alignment. Compound lists crypto alongside AI, machine learning, robotics and biotech. In an Oct. 13, 2026, interview, Compound managing partner Michael Dempsey described crypto venture activity as close to dormant for nearly two years as technology builders focused on artificial intelligence. He contrasted the current focus on AI with 2021, when tech entrepreneurs streamed into crypto to build on what they saw as the next major platform. He acknowledged tokenization’s potential benefits while saying token incentives have struggled to create long-term alignment. Compound lists AI, machine learning, robotics, biotech and crypto among its investment areas. Compound invests from seed stage through Series A. An earlier discussion explored how [crypto expertise could carry into AI and other frontier industries](). ## Links in this article - [crypto expertise could carry into AI and other frontier industries](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/39308)