Crypto Fundraising weekly
Dates: 22 – 28, Sep 2024

This week's biggest funding round

Celestia raised $100M in a funding round from Bain Capital Crypto*, 1kx, Robot Ventures, Placeholder.

Celestia is a stripped-down layer 1 blockchain that focuses solely on ordering transactions and making the data for transactions available. The blockchain does not handle smart contracts or perform computations. Instead, these are functions Celestia’s model outsources to rollups or other blockchains, a core component of its flexible, modular design.

Pre-seed and Seed investment rounds

Mawari Network raised $10.8M in a Seed funding round from Anfield LTD*, Borderless Capital*, 1kx*, Accord Ventures, Blockchange Ventures, Draper Dragon, iAngels Capital, Mulana Capital, Parami Capital, Samsung Next, Ivan Brightly.

Mawari Network is metaverse content delivery system and Web3 project that breaks the delivery bottleneck for Metaverse content to mobile devices. It is a distributed, revenue-sharing, content delivery and rendering network powered by existing, underutilized computing and network resources. It is blockchain-enabled to programmatically scale and manage service quality.

AminoChain raised $5M in a Seed funding round from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z crypto)*.

AminoChain is a decentralized bio-sample marketplace connecting biobanks and clinical sites with bio-pharma companies. By leveraging blockchain technology, AminoChain provides a secure, transparent platform for the exchange and management of bio-samples. This innovative solution empowers both clinical and pharmaceutical stakeholders to access, trade, and utilize critical bio-samples while maintaining high standards of privacy, compliance, and traceability. The platform aims to streamline bio-sample sourcing, ensuring efficiency and accountability in the bio-pharmaceutical research and development process.

Daylight raised $6M in a Seed funding round from Union Square Ventures (USV)*, 1kx*, Framework Ventures, Chapter One, Vadim Koleoshkin, Nir Kabessa, Shreyas Hariharan.

Daylight is a transaction engine that helps users discover meaningful, personalized blockchain transactions by integrating with wallets and apps. Its API connects tools, protocols, and creators with users, allowing them to distribute mints, claims, quests, and other transactions. Daylight ensures relevant transactions reach the right audiences, driving engagement and optimizing user experience. By collaborating with trusted platforms, Daylight aims to streamline blockchain interactions and expand decentralized finance participation.

Meridian raised $4M in a Seed funding round from ParaFi Capital*, Borderless Capital*, Amber Group, Saison Capital, Interop Ventures, Oak Grove Ventures, Serafund, DCF God.

Meridian is a decentralized liquidity marketplace and liquid staking protocol built on Movement. It serves as the native liquidity layer for the Movement ecosystem, allowing users to securely trade and stake assets while earning rewards. Powered by Move, Meridian provides financial primitives that enable high-velocity capital movement and support DeFi activities across the ecosystem. As a key component of Movement Labs, Meridian aims to drive liquidity, improve staking options, and enhance the overall efficiency of the blockchain network.

EarthFast (ex Armada Network) raised $1.4M in a Pre-seed funding round from The General Partnership*, Nascent*, Bodhi Ventures, Kain Warwick, Roneil Rumburg.

EarthFast is a decentralized infrastructure protocol designed to shift the responsibility for updating, deploying, and hosting frontends from centralized services to a community of voters. Originally launched as Armada Network in 2022, it allows projects to build and host decentralized apps (dApps) with scalability, security, and efficiency. EarthFast’s first product is a decentralized frontend hosting solution that uses secure enclave architecture, providing Web2-like usability and performance with Web3’s decentralization guarantees. The protocol empowers governance entities like DAOs to manage frontend updates and deployment.

Zulu Network raised undisclosed amount in a Seed funding round from Draper Dragon, Cryptogram Venture (CGV), Web3com Ventures, Panony, D11-Labs, Splinter Node Capital.

Zulu Network is a two-tiered architecture expanding the network's capabilities and facilitate cross-chain interoperability. ZuluPrime, the initial layer, operates as a Bitcoin Layer 2, prioritizing EVM compatibility to deliver stable DeFi applications and financial services. ZuluNexus, the secondary layer, acts as a Bitcoin Layer 3, supporting both UTXO and Account types, and enabling developers to explore innovative possibilities while preserving Bitcoin's core capabilities.

Helix Labs raised $2M in a Pre-seed funding round from Tribe Capital*, Emurgo Ventures, Double Peak Group, Taureon, LD Capital.

Helix Labs is a restaking asset liquidity protocol that enhances yield opportunities for non-Ethereum Layer 1 asset holders. By leveraging liquidity abstraction and OmniVM technology, Helix Labs supports future MoveVM rollups and increases token utility. The protocol expands EigenFi capacity and provides liquidity as a service, bringing more liquidity to DeFi ecosystems.

Darkbright (Smolbound) raised $6M in a Seed funding round from BITKRAFT Ventures*, Play Ventures, Anthos Capital, King River Capital, RockawayX, Zentry, Caballeros Capital, Gam3Girl Ventures, Offchain Labs, Treasure.

Darkbright Studios is a Web3 game development company focused on creating immersive life simulation RPGs. Their debut game, Smolbound, blends fantasy and farming with Web3 technology, offering players ownership over their in-game assets. The game features user-generated content, live operations, and player ownership, blending elements from Animal Crossing and Raft for a unique gameplay experience.

Other investment rounds

Initia raised $2.5M in a Private  funding round from The Echonomist.

Initia is a network that combines Layer 1 (L1) technology with application-specific Layer 2 (L2) infrastructure, aiming to create scalable and interconnected blockchains. By fusing L1 with L2, Initia simplifies the process for developers to launch application-specific blockchains as L2s, offering features such as native stablecoins, multi-chain bridging, and more. Initia's architecture abstracts complexities from traditional modular and multi-chain systems, making it easier for developers to create scalable and sovereign blockchain systems.

MeshMap raised $4M in a  funding round from a16z Crypto Startup Accelerator (CSX), GSR Markets LTD, Lattice Fund, Colosseum, Escape Velocity, Anatoly Yakovenko, Balaji Srinivasan.

MeshMap is an open and decentralized platform focused on creating a 3D map of the world. It leverages crowdsourcing and blockchain technology to enable applications in gaming, navigation, immersive experiences, and real estate planning. Users can contribute by mapping locations, scanning, and geotagging, with rewards provided via onchain incentives. The platform also supports gaming use cases, such as City Champ, an augmented reality (AR) game. MeshMap aims to build a comprehensive virtual representation of the world while rewarding contributors and players for their participation.

Mind Network raised $10M in a Series A  funding round from Animoca Brands, ArkStream Capital, Cogitent Ventures, G Ventures, MH Ventures, Master Ventures, Moonhill Capital, Swissborg Ventures, IBC Group, Mario Nawfal, MrBlock.

Mind Network is a decentralized platform that utilizes Adaptive Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) to protect user data, smart contracts, and AI on Web3. It offers a Zero Trust Data Lake, providing secure storage, computation, and access control through end-to-end encryption, making it user-friendly and enhancing data security in the Web3 ecosystem.

Initia raised $14M in a Series A  funding round from Theory VC*, Delphi Ventures, Hack VC, Keone Hon, Bryan Pellegrino, Jordi Alexander, Michael Egorov.

Initia is a network that combines Layer 1 (L1) technology with application-specific Layer 2 (L2) infrastructure, aiming to create scalable and interconnected blockchains. By fusing L1 with L2, Initia simplifies the process for developers to launch application-specific blockchains as L2s, offering features such as native stablecoins, multi-chain bridging, and more. Initia's architecture abstracts complexities from traditional modular and multi-chain systems, making it easier for developers to create scalable and sovereign blockchain systems.

Gunzilla Games raised $6M in a  funding round from Delphi Ventures.

Gunzilla Games is a game development studio, known for its innovation in multiplayer gaming. They are working on Off The Grid, a cyberpunk Battle Royale 2.0 game set in a dystopian future. Gunzilla Games empowers players with their GunZ platform, which grants them ownership over in-game possessions and enables in-game item trading using blockchain technology.

Earn Alliance raised $350K in a Public sale  funding round from .

Earn Alliance is the largest web3 game aggregator and discovery platform, connecting over 500,000 users to thousands of blockchain games. It provides game updates, NFT mints, reviews, and in-game assets, allowing seamless interaction with web3 gaming markets. With over 2,500 integrated social and content feeds, the platform has helped major titles like BigTime and Gods Unchained achieve remarkable user growth. Earn Alliance aims to positively transform gaming, enabling users to explore and engage with web3 games effortlessly.

Coin Meester BV (BCM) raised undisclosed amount in a M&A  funding round from Kraken.

Coin Meester BV (BCM) is a Netherlands-based cryptocurrency broker offering services for buying, selling, and staking over 170 cryptocurrencies. Prioritizing security, BCM holds customer funds 1:1, keeps them in a separate foundation, and is registered with the Dutch National Bank (DNB). BCM also provides localized customer support to ensure a smooth experience for Dutch users.

Eigenpie raised $4M in a Public sale  funding round from .

Eigenpie is a restaking SubDAO designed to maximize the earning potential for Liquid Staking Token (LST) holders. By allowing users to restake their assets on its platform, Eigenpie offers a liquid restaked version for each accepted LST, effectively isolating the risks associated with specific tokens. This modular approach provides a secure and efficient way for users to compound their returns, while mitigating risks and maintaining asset flexibility.

Privasea raised undisclosed amount in a  funding round from Oasis Labs.

Privasea AI Network is a solution addressing data privacy challenges in artificial intelligence. Integrating Fully Homomorphic Encryption with blockchain-based incentives, it revolutionizes machine learning inferencing, enhances privacy, and facilitates collaborative AI computations while ensuring secure and private AI computing experiences for users.

Swan Chain (ex FilSwan) raised $870K in a Grants  funding round from Optimism Foundation.

SwanChain (formerly FilSwan), initiated in 2021, is a decentralized infrastructure designed to accelerate AI adoption. Utilizing OP Stack's Ethereum Layer 2 technology, SwanChain merges Web3 with AI, offering comprehensive solutions across storage, computing, bandwidth, and payments. By tapping into underutilized computing power across a network of community data centers, SwanChain significantly reduces computing costs by up to 70% while enabling the monetization of dormant computing assets. With innovative marketplaces for decentralized storage, AI, and Zero-Knowledge proofs, along with the efficient deployment of AI models via LagrangeDAO, SwanChain aims to make AI development seamless and affordable for all.

Pencils Protocol (PenPad) raised $30M in a Public sale  funding round from .

Pencils Protocol is an innovative auction platform and yield aggregator on Scroll. By integrating zero-knowledge rollups, proof-of-humanity logins, and on-chain verifiable randomness, Pencils Protocol offers a fair launch platform that empowers builders with a comprehensive toolkit of Zk solutions, leveraging the native features of Scroll for enhanced functionality and security.

Infinex raised $65.3M in a  funding round from Wintermute, Framework Ventures, Moonrock Capital, Bodhi Ventures, Wormhole, Breyer Capital, Everest Ventures Group (EVG), Synthetix, Solana Ventures, Near Foundation, Eden Block, Larry Cermak, Reinventure, BlueYard Capital, Bankless Ventures, Cyber Fund, Infinite Capital, Stani Kulechov, Anatoly Yakovenko, Variant Fund.

Infinex is a secure, user-friendly platform designed to simplify access to decentralized finance (DeFi) and onchain protocols. By combining support for multiple blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon, it eliminates the need for multiple wallets, seed phrases, and gas fees. Infinex introduces an intuitive cross-chain wallet and non-custodial account secured by passkeys and biometrics. Users can explore opportunities to stake, trade, and earn rewards while benefiting from Infinex-exclusive DeFi products and protocols. Its mission is to bridge the gap between centralized finance and DeFi, making crypto accessible to all.

* fund, that lead investment round