What Is Known About Hsin-Ju Chuang’s Death?
Hsin-Ju Chuang, a former partner at crypto venture capital firm Hack VC and a longtime executive across the blockchain industry, has died at age 37, according to California authorities.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner said California Highway Patrol officers responded to southbound Interstate 15 south of Field Road in Harvard, California, at 9:47 p.m. on August 24. Chuang, a resident of North Las Vegas, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed a cause of death. The coroner notice directs further questions about the incident to the California Highway Patrol, and no official information currently establishes circumstances beyond those contained in the public record.
Hack VC co-founder and managing partner Alexander Pack said Wednesday that the firm was “shocked and saddened” by Chuang’s death and offered condolences to her family, friends and others close to her.
Pack said Hack VC had not spoken directly with Chuang for more than 10 months and did not know the circumstances surrounding her death.
“We have no further information, and only wish to ask everyone to be respectful of those who are grieving,” he said.
Who Was Hsin-Ju Chuang?
Chuang built a career spanning venture capital, blockchain startups and developer communities. She founded Dystopia Labs, an events and developer-community organization, and held growth roles at several prominent crypto projects before joining Hack VC.
Her professional history included serving as head of growth at both Stellar and Solana, two blockchain networks that later developed into major ecosystems for payments, decentralized applications and tokenized assets. Stellar has continued expanding its institutional footprint, including through bank-led stablecoin and cross-border payment projects.
Chuang joined Hack VC as a venture partner in 2021 and later became partner and head of platform in 2025. Platform roles at venture firms typically extend beyond investment selection to portfolio support, founder networks, recruiting, partnerships and community development.
Hack VC itself has remained an active investor across crypto infrastructure and Web3. Recent investments involving the firm include the $8 million funding round for Solana-based THEA and a $20 million round for Theo Network.
Investor Takeaway
Chuang’s death comes at a sensitive moment for Hack VC after a public dispute with its former partner. No cause of death has been disclosed, and there is no established connection between Chuang’s allegations against the firm and her death. Any assessment of the situation should keep those issues separate unless authorities or independently verified evidence establish otherwise.
What Had Chuang Alleged About Hack VC?
Before her death, Chuang publicly accused Hack VC of mistreating her during her time at the venture firm and said she intended to release evidence supporting her claims.
The allegations have not been independently verified. Hack VC previously disputed Chuang’s account, saying its understanding of events differed materially, while declining to publicly discuss details.
Pack’s statement following confirmation of her death did not revisit the substance of the dispute. Instead, he said the company lacked information about the circumstances surrounding her death and asked the public to respect those grieving.
The distinction is important. The timing of Chuang’s public allegations and her death may draw attention to the dispute, but authorities have not announced any connection between the two. The San Bernardino County coroner notice provides no cause of death or finding that would support such a conclusion.
Why Does Chuang’s Career Matter to the Crypto Industry?
Chuang’s work placed her across several parts of crypto’s growth cycle: early blockchain networks, developer communities, startup events and venture investment. That network-building role has become increasingly important as crypto venture funding recovers from the contraction that followed the previous market downturn.
Private investment in the sector has recently accelerated again. Crypto companies attracted approximately $5.68 billion in venture funding during the second quarter of 2026, up 31% quarter over quarter, with 384 deals completed.
Within that market, firms such as Hack VC connect early-stage founders with capital, developers and industry partners, while platform executives often serve as the link between portfolio companies and those wider networks.
Chuang’s death has prompted tributes from people across the crypto community who worked with her during her years in the industry. For now, the confirmed public record remains limited: she died on August 24 at age 37, authorities have not disclosed a cause, and Hack VC says it has no information about the circumstances surrounding her death.