Digital-first Erebor Bank has entered fundraising talks that could value the lender at at least $8 billion, nearly doubling its $4.35 billion valuation from the end of last year.
Summary
- Erebor Bank is seeking a new funding round that could value the digital lender at at least $8 billion.
- Deposits have grown from $1.1 billion to over $4 billion since March, with nearly 400 new customers added.
- The bank’s crypto-focused strategy and national bank charter have strengthened its position among AI and technology firms.
Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the discussions, reported that the proposed funding round comes as Erebor’s deposits have expanded rapidly only months after the bank began operating. If completed at the reported valuation, the raise would rank among the largest recent funding events for a U.S. digital bank serving the technology and crypto sectors.
Founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, Erebor has attracted backing from major Silicon Valley investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, and Lux Capital.
The bank has focused on defense technology companies, hard-tech businesses, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and crypto firms, offering services such as blockchain-enabled payments, crypto-backed lending, and financing for industrial projects.
Deposit growth has strengthened Erebor’s fundraising case
According to Bloomberg, customer deposits have climbed to more than $4 billion from $1.1 billion at the end of March. During the same period, the startup added nearly 400 customers, giving investors fresh evidence of early demand for its banking platform.
Luckey told Bloomberg that the recent increase in deposits has come from hundreds of new customers rather than companies he controls, pushing back against suggestions that growth depended on affiliated businesses.
The funding discussions follow the bank’s launch earlier this year, with the reported deposit expansion becoming a central factor in its latest fundraising effort. Bloomberg noted that the proposed round remains under discussion and no final terms have been announced.
National charter cleared the path for crypto banking services
Erebor’s fundraising talks also come after the bank secured regulatory progress that allows it to expand its business under a federal banking framework.
As previously reported by crypto.news, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted Erebor preliminary conditional approval for a national bank charter, positioning the lender to serve the innovation economy, including crypto and AI startups. The approval made Erebor the first de novo bank to receive such authorization since Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould took office in July, 2025.
In a statement released by the OCC, Gould described the approval as part of his commitment to maintaining a “dynamic and diverse federal banking system.” He also said the regulator would not place “blanket barriers” on banks engaging in digital asset activities, provided they operate in a “safe and sound manner.”
Earlier this year, Erebor received approval to become the first new national bank chartered during President Donald Trump’s second term, further strengthening its regulatory position as it expanded its digital banking business.
With its focus on crypto companies, AI infrastructure developers, defense technology firms, and industrial businesses, Erebor has sought to fill part of the gap left after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, offering banking and lending products tailored to sectors that have often faced limited access to traditional financial services.
