ICYMI: Astrid Intelligence Acquires TaoFi and Rebrands It as Astrid Bridge

Astrid Intelligence PLC, a publicly listed company (AQSE: ASTR), has acquired TaoFi, the decentralized exchange and liquidity platform embedded in the Bittensor ($TAO) ecosystem. Following the acquisition, TaoFi has been rebranded to Astrid Bridge, marking Astrid’s move deeper into operating core decentralized AI infrastructure rather than passively holding TAO.

What Astrid gains is direct control over TaoFi’s core financial rails. This includes TAO token swaps, TAO/USDC liquidity pools, and USDC bridging between Ethereum and the Bittensor EVM layer. As Bittensor activity grows, this positions Astrid to capture transaction fees and liquidity-driven revenue at the protocol level.

A key clarification is that Subnet 10 (Swap), which underpins much of TaoFi’s swap functionality, is not part of the acquisition. Ownership of Subnet 10 will be transferred to a new party that has not yet been announced. Importantly, existing TAO/USDC liquidity providers will continue to receive TAO rewards throughout and after the transition.

The deal was paid entirely in TAO from Astrid’s existing treasury. While described as a minor acquisition in regulatory filings, it is strategically significant. It signals Astrid’s shift toward owning and operating critical infrastructure that supports liquidity, stablecoin access, and EVM compatibility for Bittensor.

TaoFi founder Sam Forman confirmed the acquisition and described Astrid as the right partner to scale the original vision. He is stepping away from the project while supporting team members in transitioning to new roles. Community reactions have emphasized that services continue uninterrupted, with protocol assets moving to Astrid and subnet ownership reassigned separately.

Why this matters is simple. Liquidity, stablecoin bridges, and EVM access remain major bottlenecks for Bittensor adoption. By acquiring TaoFi and rebranding it as Astrid Bridge, Astrid now controls a critical piece of Bittensor’s financial infrastructure stack. This is a classic ecosystem maturation move that highlights where long-term capital is positioning itself within decentralized AI.