Bain Capital Ventures, one of the world's largest startup-investment firms — with $5.1 billion in assets under management — has announced the formation of a new $560 million fund that will focus on crypto-related investments.

According to a Tuesday Bloomberg report, the fund closed in November and it has already invested $100 million in 12 undisclosed projects.

Bain Capital Ventures has a history of investing in the crypto and blockchain sector, having previously backed companies such as BlockFi, Compound and Digital Currency Group. The most recent fund BCV Fund I is the first of its kind from Bain Capital Ventures, focusing solely on the crypto market.

A BCV representative told Cointelegraph that the goal of the crypto fund is to back entrepreneurs developing the next generation of open internet infrastructure. The spokesperson went on to say that the "dedicated investment fund" is set up with a highly technical and collaborative approach to help crypto and Web3 builders from seed through growth.

When asked whether cryptocurrencies will have a significant role in the future of venture capital, the representative responded that the internet is going through a major change towards open, community-driven, and decentralized services.

"We believe this seismic shift will be one of the most important technological developments since the advent of the web and will require a new type of investment firm – one that can support the needs of the founders and the ecosystem from ideation through scale."

The latest development comes following a slew of venture capital interest in crypto throughout 2021. According to data from Pitchbook, venture capital investment in crypto projects topped $25 billion last year, the highest amount ever on record.

Related: Meet the top 5 busiest crypto funders of 2021, according to PwC

In 2022, although crypto asset prices are highly volatile, venture funds have continued to make key investments in the sector. In February, American venture capital firm Sequoia Capital announced the creation of a $600 million cryptocurrency fund. Polygon raised $450 million in a funding round backed by some of blockchain's top venture firms.

The cryptocurrency market is in a slump. Bitcoin 

BTC

$18,091

 price has dropped around 40% from its all-time high in early November as concerns mount over the Federal Reserve's monetary policies to combat rising expenses and geo-political conflicts. However, the BCV representative addressed the current market slump, stating that the dedicated crypto fund is "fundamentally long-term oriented" and is unperturbed by short-term market fluctuations.