Propel invests in bitcoin-based browser platform Brave Software

Propel Ventures, the $250 million venture fund established by BBVA, has participated in a $4.5 million seed round for Brave Software, a startup reinventing the browser for speed, privacy and micropayments.

Brave, co-founded by former Mozilla CEO and JavaScript creator Brendan Eich, has developed an open source browser for desktop and mobile that blocks invasive ads and online trackers. Security and privacy features include HTTPS Everywhere, fingerprinting shields, phishing protection, malware filtering and script blocking.
“The Brave solution fends off intrusive ads and stops the collection of personal details by third parties, enhancing not just browsing speed, but security and privacy,” says Eich. “With Brave, users can now fight back and keep their data private and defensible on their devices, while still supporting the content they wish to view via micropayments.”