Fred Ehrsam, billionaire co-founder of Coinbase, is shifting his next big bet from cryptocurrency to the human brain, unveiling a non-invasive brain-computer interface designed to modulate brain activity with sound waves.
Ehrsam’s entry as the latest competitor to join the race to develop accessible brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) follows similar recent efforts from tech leaders like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates.
On April 8, Ehrsam’s startup, Nudge, unveiled its first product, the Nudge Zero. A noninvasive brain interface device that uses ultrasound to modulate brain activity, the technology represents the first start-up venture to pursue this unique approach with BCI technology.
Founded a year ago, Nudge’s mission is to “develop the best technology for interfacing with the brain to improve people’s lives.” Will Nudge lead a new wave of wearable neurotech, or is it too soon to predict?
Non-Invasive Brain Computer Interfaces
Unlike many other invasive neural implants, such as Neuralink, Synchron, Precision Neuroscience, Blackrock Neurotech, and Paradromics, the Nudge team and Ehrsam have decided to take a different approach and focus on a non-invasive alternative. Their device leverages ultrasound neuromodulation, a technique that influences brain cell activity using targeted sound waves without damaging tissue or altering brain structure.
While the science behind Nudge Zero may sound just as futuristic as its invasive competitors’, the company’s focus is on people with immediate medical needs.
“In the coming months, we will begin using the device to address acute medical conditions,” Ehrsam said. “But our vision is much broader; we want to build a headphone-like version that could eventually enhance mood, cognition, and overall mental well-being for healthy individuals.”
Neuromodulation—a broad field that includes techniques aimed at altering or modulating nerve activity—has been previously explored in clinical settings for conditions like epilepsy, chronic pain, and depression. However, with this approach, Nudge Zero will be the first to focus on treating acute medical conditions.
The Nudge Zero’s product design is sleek and wearable, resembling modern audio headsets. Its emphasis on stylish, mainstream appeal aligns with today’s growing public interest in neuroscience and mental wellness.
“We believe improving the human experience is the most important thing to work on. This should be the goal of technology,” Ehrsam said. “And building technologies to interface with the brain is the most direct way of doing so.”
While Nudge’s design and use of non-invasive ultrasound neuromodulation are innovative, it is not the first company to enter the non-invasive BCI space. Competitors like Cognixion are developing wearable EEG (electroencephalography) headsets with augmented reality (AR) to help individuals with motor and speech impairments communicate using brain signals.
NextMind is another emerging company that translates neural signals into digital commands through EEG-based wearables. Several companies are vying for similar breakthroughs, all sharing the goal of transforming how we understand and interact with human neurology.
This isn’t Ehrsam’s first venture beyond crypto. In 2018, he co-founded Paradigm, a crypto-focused venture capital firm (alongside Sequoia Capital veteran Matt Huang). Although Ehrsam stepped down from his day-to-day role in 2023, he remains a partner. Neuroscience, however, appears to be his current full-time focus.
With the launch of Nudge Zero, Ehrsam has made it clear that the next frontier of innovation may not lie in the digital currencies of the blockchain, but in the billions of neurons that make up the human brain.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com.