Lightning Network payment rail, DeFi trading platform and blockchain security firm raises millions
Even with the onset of crypto winter, 2022 has been a watershed year for venture capital funding. Crypto and blockchain companies raised $30.3 billion in venture capital in the first half of 2022, surpassing all of last year’s totals. While the number of deals has decreased in recent months, startups at the intersection of blockchain payments, decentralized finance (DeFi) and cybersecurity continue to attract significant interest from the VC community. The latest edition of the VC Roundup highlights some of the most exciting funding deals of the past month.
Related: The Risks and Benefits of VCs for Crypto Communities
ZEBEDEE closes $35 million Series B
ZEBEDEE, a Bitcoin (BTC)-powered payment processor for the gaming industry, has raised $35 million from multiple investors, including Kingsway Capital, The Raine Group, and Square Enix. ZEBEDEE is essentially a platform that allows game developers to incorporate programmable money, including BTC, into their games. The payment platform is powered by the Lightning Network, making ZEBEDEE a “Bitcoin enabler of choice” for its partners, according to Kingsway Capital managing partner Afonso Campos.
So we all know that the Lightning Network transfers value instantly and is constantly growing with more than 4K Bitcoin stored on its public channels. But how does it make money?
You asked our development team, and here’s their answer pic.twitter.com/f3ZMpEFjhW
— ZEBEDEE (@zebedeeio) 21 July 2022
Blockchain security company raises $90 million in Series A
Blockchain security firm Halborn closed a $90 million funding round in July led by Summit Partners with additional participation from Castle Island Ventures, Digital Currency Group and Brevan Howard, among others. Halborn was founded in 2019 by ethical hackers providing blockchain security services. The company recently warned MetaMask users to be weary of a phishing campaign targeting their browser wallets.
DeFi platform Hashflow raises $25 million in Series A funding
Hashflow, a decentralized financial trading platform headquartered in San Francisco, has closed a $25 million funding round backed by some of crypto’s most prominent venture funds. The investment round, which saw participation from Jump Crypto, Electric Capital, Dragonfly Capital Partners and GSR, will help Hashflow expand its product offering for market makers and institutional traders.
See the biggest deals and more VC data from Q1, thanks to @CointelegraphCS.
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) 3 June 2022
Socios buys 24.5% stake in Barca Studios
Fan engagement token platform Socios announced in early August that it would invest $100 million in Barca Studios, the digital content arm of soccer club FC Barcelona. Socios, which is owned by blockchain technology provider Chiliz, will help FC Barcelona accelerate its Web3 and nonfungible token (NFT) engagement strategy. Specifically, Barca Studios is pursuing NFT and metaverse projects that will help the football club engage with its vast global fan base, and will rely on Socios’ blockchain to deliver on the strategy.
Related: Crypto Biz: Gucci ‘monkeys’ into crypto
EtherMail secures seed funding for wallet-to-wallet communication
Web3 email solution EtherMail has raised $3 million ahead of the planned launch of its encrypted wallet-to-wallet communication service. Scheduled for release in the third quarter, EtherMail enables Web3 companies to send “rich, relevant content directly to their assets,” thereby reducing the risk of communications fraud. The service also streamlines the distribution of newsletters in the community by activating autonomous, self-updating email lists. The seed round was led by Fabric Ventures and Greenfield One.
