Compiled by Golden Finance
This week, 28 blockchain startups received $654.2 million in financing. The largest financing was Iris Energy, which raised $413 million in Series A; 16 projects received Series A investment, and 11 projects received investment in other rounds.
The largest financing round this week
1. Iris Energy
Iris Energy (now renamed IREN) raised $413 million in a round of financing.
About Iris Energy
Iris Energy (IREN) is a leading next-generation data center company that uses 100% renewable energy to power Bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence and other businesses. Headquartered in Australia, the company aims to increase hashrate capacity to 30 EH/s and data center capacity to 510 MW by 2025, with plans for further expansion and power monetization activities.
Pre-Seed and Seed Funding Rounds
2. Monad Pad
Monad Pad raised $0.9 million in a seed round from Cogitent Ventures, Coin Merge Strategy (CMS), CSP DAO, Zephyrus Capital, Sneaky Ventures, Legion Ventures, and FOMO Ventures.
About Monad Pad
Monad Pad is the first token and NFT launch platform built on the Monad Network, empowering creators, investors, and collectors. The platform provides a pre-sale publishing and participation platform for audited DeFi projects. Monad Pad provides a range of tools, including token lockers, liquidity provider (LP) lockers, and pre-sale purchase robots. The platform rewards users through LP staking, NFT staking, and revenue sharing models. It aims to build an inclusive and transparent ecosystem that provides a strong and scalable infrastructure for digital assets and DeFi applications.
3.QED Protocol
QED Protocol raised $6 million from Blockchain Capital in a seed round of financing.
About QED Protocol
QED Protocol is the native execution layer of Bitcoin, providing a horizontally scalable, secure and user-friendly platform for Web3 development. As the first zk-Native blockchain, QED ensures horizontal scalability, friendliness to Web2 developers, and zk-Native speed, solving scalability challenges through an innovative zk-PARTH state model. This allows millions of transactions per second, empowering decentralized applications on Bitcoin through local transaction proofs and unlimited computing power under fixed gas fees, thereby revolutionizing blockchain applications and improving user experience.
4. Onaji
Onaji raised $2.5 million in a pre-seed round of financing from Stratos Technologies*, Maven 11 Capital, Inception Capital (formerly OP Crypto), Uniswap Labs Ventures, Hypersphere, IOSG Ventures, and Punk DAO.
About Onaji
Onaji is a machine learning platform for smart contract blockchains, designed to build and run intelligent algorithms that interact with blockchain applications. It provides comprehensive features such as model training, real-time and historical data analysis, on-chain operation execution, backtesting, and simulation. Onaji supports Ethereum applications by enabling machine learning models to execute decisions on-chain, and is suitable for smart contract optimization and automation of blockchain applications such as decentralized exchanges and lending protocols.
5. Compute Labs
Compute Labs raised US$3 million in a pre-seed round of financing from Protocol Labs* (Note: it may refer to Protocol Labs behind Filecoin, but it may specifically refer to another investment company or department), MH Ventures, Hashkey Capital, ArkStream Capital, OKX Ventures (formerly OKEx Blockdream Ventures), Symbolic Capital (formerly Hyperedge Capital), Coin Merge Strategy (CMS), P2 Ventures (Polygon Ventures), Blockchain Coinvestors, Amber Group, Ambush Capital, Cogitent Ventures, Builder Capital, Optic Capital, Oak Grove Ventures, Mozaik Capital and several individual investors such as Sandeep Nailwal, Illia Polosukhin and Austin Federa.
Compute Labs Introduction
Compute Labs is a computing tokenization protocol that financializes AI by enabling investors to directly access computing assets and create computing derivatives. The protocol enables investors to easily profit from computing, which is the currency of the future, and it uses innovative methods to combine financial markets with AI-driven computing resources.
6.Sun Protocol
Sun Protocol raised an undisclosed amount of funds from Digital Finance Group (DFG) and Moore Foundation in a seed round of financing.
Sun Protocol Introduction
Sun Protocol integrates liquidity-related functions such as multi-chain transactions, cross-chain capabilities, staking, lightning networks, etc., providing users with a more convenient, secure and comprehensive global asset trading ecosystem. Its main products include Swap, NFT (Non-Fungible Token), Pledge, Lending, Cross-chain, Inscription, Lightning Network and ID (identity authentication).
7. Nycrypto Labs
Nycrypto Labs (Tidus Wallet) raised $800,000 from DNA Fund* (possibly an investment fund focused on blockchain or cryptocurrency) and Transform Ventures in a Pre-seed round of financing.
About Nycrypto Labs
Founded in late 2020, NYCrypto aims to simplify access to the decentralized world by providing reliable and unbiased technology for blockchain, cryptocurrency, decentralized finance (DeFi) and the metaverse. Through a range of products, services and educational content, NYCrypto helps users reduce risk and confidently navigate the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Its flagship product, Tidus Wallet, provides a user-friendly interface for storing, sending, exchanging and staking assets across multiple blockchains, while being equipped with educational features and top-level security.
8.Plaza Finance
Plaza Finance raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Anagram* (possibly an investment firm or fund focused on the blockchain or fintech sector), Interop Ventures, Cosmostation, Skip Protocol in a Pre-seed round of funding.
About Plaza Finance
Plaza Finance is a cross-ecosystem programmable derivatives hub that enables the creation and trading of tokenized financial products on the blockchain. These derivatives are fully asset-backed, providing higher liquidity and composability than synthetic contracts. Plaza Finance supports a variety of assets such as ETH, BTC, and tokenized commodities, allowing users to create and redeem structured financial products such as bonds and leveraged positions. The platform aims to revolutionize decentralized finance by providing innovative, flexible, and liquid financial instruments without adding network complexity.
9. Sentient
Sentient raised $85 million in a seed round from Founders Fund* (the investment firm founded by renowned investor Peter Thiel), Pantera Capital* (an investment firm focused on blockchain and cryptocurrency), Framework Ventures*, Ethereal Ventures, Robot Ventures, Symbolic Capital (formerly Hyperedge Capital), Delphi Ventures, Hack VC, Arrington Capital, Hashkey Capital, Foresight Ventures, MH Ventures, Canonical Crypto, Primitive, Nomad Capital, Hypersphere, IDG Capital, Casey K. Caruso, Protagonist, Folius Ventures, Sky9 Capital, Mirana Ventures, The Spartan Group, and Dispersion Capital.
About Sentient
Sentient is an AI research organization dedicated to advancing the open AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) economy and supporting AI builders and creators. It develops platforms and protocols that enable open source AI developers to monetize their innovations, collaborate on powerful AI projects, and become important stakeholders in the decentralized AI ecosystem. Sentient promotes open, monetizable, and community-aligned AI models through blockchain protocols and incentive mechanisms to address the limitations of closed-source AI.
10. OpenLedger
OpenLedger raised $8 million in a seed round from investors including Polychain Capital* (an investment firm focused on blockchain assets), Borderless Capital* (an investment fund focused on blockchain and cryptocurrencies), Finality Capital, Hash3, Hashkey Capital, TRGC, Stix, Mask Network, MH Ventures, WAGMI Ventures, and several individual investors including Balaji Srinivasan, Sandeep Nailwal, Sebastien Borget, Aniket Jindal, Scott Moore, Paul Taylor, and Trevor Koverko. OpenLedger's specific business or products are not explicitly mentioned in the description, but it can be speculated that it may be related to blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, or related financial services.
About OpenLedger
OpenLedger builds a permissionless, data-centric infrastructure for AI development. The company aims to improve the performance of AI models by decentralizing data pipelines and plans to deploy its infrastructure on the mainnet in the coming quarter. OpenLedger seeks to fill a critical gap in AI development by emphasizing the importance of data and decentralization.
11. Prodia
Prodia raised $15 million in a seed round from Dragonfly Capital* (a blockchain and digital asset-focused investment firm), Hashkey Capital, Web3com Ventures, Index Ventures, Symbolic Capital (formerly Hyperedge Capital), OKX Ventures (formerly OKEx Blockdream Ventures), Escape Velocity, Artichoke Capital, TRGC, Folius Ventures, Tangent Ventures, and individual investors Balaji Srinivasan, Sandeep Nailwal, and Southern Equity.
About Prodia
Prodia provides a fast and easy-to-use API for image generation that leverages a distributed GPU network to provide efficient cloud computing services. By leveraging web3 infrastructure, Prodia aims to reduce costs and eliminate the need for users to manage their own GPU infrastructure. The company plans to expand its services to support generative videos and large language models.
12.Lombard
Lombard raised $16 million in a seed round from investors including Polychain Capital* (an investment firm focused on blockchain assets), Babylon, dao5 (daofive), Franklin Templeton, Foresight Ventures, Mirana Ventures, Mantle Network, Nomad Capital, OKX Ventures (formerly OKEx Blockdream Ventures), and Robot Ventures.
About Lombard
Lombard is dedicated to unlocking the potential of Bitcoin by integrating it into decentralized finance (DeFi), establishing a universal standard for cross-chain, yield-generating BTC without fragmenting liquidity. Their flagship product, LBTC, is a liquid Bitcoin backed 1:1 by BTC, allowing users to earn, stake, trade, and participate in DeFi while keeping Bitcoin as a store of value. Currently in phase 1 on Ethereum mainnet, Lombard aims to expand access and grow the Bitcoin re-staking ecosystem.
13. Pi Squared
Pi Squared raised $12.5 million in a seed round with participation from Polychain Capital*, ABCDE Capital, Bloccelerate, Generative Ventures, Robot Ventures, and Samsung Next.
About Pi Squared
Pi Squared (also known as Proof of Proof) leverages zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to provide trustless remote computing, artificial intelligence, and interoperable smart contracts for any blockchain or decentralized application (dApp). It creates a universal settlement layer (USL) that simplifies interoperability across blockchains, languages, and applications without the need for traditional language implementations. Pi Squared leverages the latest advances in zero-knowledge technology, formal semantics, and logical reasoning techniques.
14. SendBlocks
SendBlocks raised $8.2 million in a seed round of funding with participation from Castle Island Ventures*, Pitango, Illuminate Financial, Laser Digital, and Starkware.
About SendBlocks
SendBlocks is a blockchain data management startup that simplifies access to blockchain data through a fully customizable platform. It allows businesses, ecosystems, and applications to define and access the data they need without the need for large internal data teams or expensive external solutions. SendBlocks allows users to write and deploy functions that respond to specific blockchain events, automating data triggers and outputs directly to the backend via webhooks.
15. Cambria
Cambria raised $2.5 million in a seed round with participation from BITKRAFT Ventures*, 1kx*, Hype.eth, Tom Shaughnessy, and Bharat Krymo.
About Cambria
Cambria is a blockchain development company that developed Duel Arena, a high-stakes, one-on-one dueling game where players challenge each other to life-or-death duels in a public arena. In this Runescape-inspired game, players can stake Arena Tokens or Base ETH in duels, and the winner takes all.
16. Ethos Network
Ethos Network raised $1.8 million in a pre-seed funding round with participation from Bharat Krymo, dingaling, and Zeneca.
About Ethos Network
Ethos is a reputation platform that aims to create a more trusted Web3 ecosystem by allowing users to build their own reputation, support others, and punish bad actors. It uses a set of interrelated mechanisms - including ratings, guarantees, penalties, and proofs - to incentivize ethical behavior and generate a reputation score. This score helps users understand who to trust and who to avoid, and aims to strengthen the crypto economy by making reputation a key factor in transactions and interactions.
17. Mamori
Mamori raised $5 million in a seed round with participation from Blockchain Capital*, Velocity Capital, Web3com Ventures, and Daniel Lubarov.
About Mamori
Mamori is a machine learning-based platform designed for blockchain value extraction. It addresses challenges in scalability, automation, vulnerability detection, and efficiency in the Web3 space. Mamori applies advanced techniques to detect and prevent zero-day economic vulnerabilities, MEV (miner extractable value) searches, and intent resolution. The platform leverages algorithmic parsing to establish smart contract sequences and uses state computation techniques to ensure a powerful and customizable algorithmic feedback mechanism.
Other Financing Rounds
18. Swords & Dungeons
Swords & Dungeons raised US$5 million in a round of financing from investment institutions such as Mirana Ventures, Qiming Venture Partners, OKX Ventures (formerly OKEx Blockdream Ventures), Y2Z Ventures, Matrix Partners, Folius Ventures, Mask Network, SNZ Holding, ArkStream Capital, Sky9 Capital, Primal Capital, Bas1s Ventures, Polemos and Welight Capital.
Swords & Dungeons Introduction
Swords & Dungeons is a P2E DeFi massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that combines traditional game systems such as PvE (Player vs. Environment), PvP (Player vs. Player), and GvG (Guild Wars) with the Web 3.0 P2E model and advanced DAO governance concepts. In the game, players become heroes in a dangerous metaverse, tasked with defeating evil creatures, becoming more powerful, mastering the power of the void, and ultimately working with others to restore peace to the divided world of the void.
19.FreeBnk
FreeBnk raised $3 million in a round of financing from investment institutions such as FounderHeads VC, LVT Capital, Lavender Capital, and ChaiTech Ventures.
About FreeBnk
FreeBnk is a comprehensive financial platform that combines cryptocurrency services with traditional banking features. Users can buy, sell and exchange more than 1,200 cryptocurrencies in more than 150 countries using cash, bank cards or bank transfers. The platform also provides other services, including low-fee international fiat currency transfers, investment opportunities in real assets (such as real estate and gold), competitive loan and mortgage rates, and secure, insured digital asset storage. FreeBnk aims to provide a seamless and secure banking experience, bridging the gap between the traditional financial and cryptocurrency worlds.
20. Wallet Guard
Wallet Guard raised an undisclosed amount of funding from ConsenSys in a round of M&A financing.
About Wallet Guard
Wallet Guard is an open source browser extension with transaction simulation and active phishing detection capabilities.
21.Pac Finance
Pac Finance raised $1 million in a round of financing from Manifold*, Mapleblock Capital* and Polychain Capital.
About Pac Finance
Pac Finance is a lending and margin trading protocol on Blast L2, with features such as automatic repayment mechanism, one-click leverage and gas fee refund. Through hybrid lending models, local yield opportunities and innovative developer points sharing, Pac Finance improves user experience and maximizes profit potential in the Layer 2 blockchain environment. In addition, Pac Finance prioritizes security and provides secure storage of funds through formally verified and rigorously audited smart contracts to ensure the safety of user assets.
22. RedStone
RedStone raised $15 million in a Series A funding round from investors including Arrington Capital*, SevenX Ventures, IOSG Ventures, The Spartan Group, White Star Capital, Protagonist, gumi Cryptos Capital (gCC), Samara Asset Group, HTX Ventures (formerly Huobi Ventures), Amber Group, Kenetic, Selini Capital, Fourth Revolution Capital (4RC), Chorus One, Cluster Capital, Flowdesk, Relayer Capital, Nonce Classic, Thanefield Capital, Triton Liquid Fund, Revelo Intel, Christian Angermayer, Smokey The Bera, DeFiDad, and Nomatic.
About RedStone
RedStone is a new cross-chain data oracle that provides pricing data for financial protocols.
23.Nubila Network
Nubila Network successfully raised $2.5 million in a round of financing, with investors including IoTeX*, VeChain*, The Boston Consulting Group*, Orange DAO, MH Ventures, FutureMoney Group, SNZ Holding, Kronos Research, Taisu Ventures, ByteTrade Lab, Waterdrip Capital, Assembly Partners, CyberConnect and Genopets.
About Nubila Network
Nubila is a global environmental data network that uses DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure network) and AI technology to enhance the collection and analysis of ESG (environmental, social and governance) data. The Nubila Network platform allows users to collect and share ESG data through an easy-to-install site and is rewarded with $NUBI tokens. Nubila's AI-driven system ensures seamless integration and real-time insights, providing individuals and institutions with accurate and actionable ESG information. This collaborative ecosystem democratizes access to critical ESG data, promoting proactive and informed decision making.
24. Astria
Astria raised $12.5 million in a strategic funding round from investors including DBA*, Placeholder*, RockawayX, Maven 11 Capital, 1kx, Figment Capital, Bankless Ventures, Hasu, Will Price, and Jason Yanowitz. Astria is a modular blockchain that allows individuals to deploy their own censorship-resistant rollups without relying on a centralized collator.
About Astria
Astria is also developing its Astria EVM, which is powered by a shared sorter network and is planned to serve as the flagship Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) for the data availability layer of the modular blockchain Celestia.
25.VAULT
VAULT raised an undisclosed amount of funding from DRiP in an acquisition financing round.
About VAULT
Vault is a Web3 music platform that uses NFT technology to collect exclusive, limited edition digital music collectibles, enabling artists to offer additional paid content and experiences.
26.Solayer
Solayer raised an undisclosed amount of funding in a round from investors including Sandeep Nailwal, DCF God, Justin Bram, Anatoly Yakovenko, Nom, Joe Lallouz, Xinshu Dong, WSB Mod, 0xRooter, and Joseph Delong.
About Solayer
Solayer is building a native restaking network on Solana, leveraging Solana’s economic security and advanced execution to provide decentralized cloud infrastructure. This infrastructure enhances consensus and blockspace customization for application developers. Solayer’s approach involves leveraging SOL’s economic security to secure other systems and developing a shared validator network to scale Solana’s security and infrastructure.
27.Amber Japan
Amber Japan (formerly DeCurret) raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Sony Corporation in a round of M&A financing.
About Amber Japan
Amber Japan was originally acquired by Amber Group in 2022, and was acquired by Sony from Amber Group in 2023 and renamed S.BLOX. The exchange plans to relaunch as a new app under Sony's leadership, marking Sony's official entry into the cryptocurrency market. This move is in line with Sony's broader strategy to expand in the field of Web3 technology through multiple investments and partnerships.
28.Carv
Carv raised $35 million in a public sale round.
About Carv
Carv is a Web3 identity startup that is developing a Web3 ID solution that combines Web2 and Web3 game data to create unique user IDs.
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