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Writer's pictureMark S

Weekly Wrap: Crypto Funding - 7th July 2023

Crypto funding continues for #Web3, #ZKVM, #AI, #NFT, #TradingPlatforms


Crypto Funding

Ola secures $3 million in seed funding to revolutionize the Web3 experience through programmable privacy, scalability, and developer compatibility (5th July)


Ola announced on 5th July 2023 that it has successfully completed its seed round funding, securing $3 million from leading investors including Web3.com Ventures, Foresight Ventures, Token Metrics Ventures, J17 Capital, Skyland Ventures, LD Capital, CatcherVC, and others.


Ola aims to revolutionize privacy in the Web3 ecosystem through programmable privacy and scalability on public blockchains. The $3 million funding marks a significant milestone for Ola, highlighting the importance of programmable privacy in the Web3 landscape.


Ola's goal is to make privacy a fundamental right in the digital age, and their unique approach includes the use of ZK-ZKVM technology. Ola distinguishes itself through its Ola-lang smart contract language and OlaVM virtual machine, which enable developers to write smart contracts with arbitrary logic. Ola's comprehensive framework includes tools and features catering to various privacy needs.

Ola's team consists of cryptography and blockchain technology experts, positioning them as leaders in privacy-focused platforms. Ola plans to launch testnets and invites developers, partners, and enthusiasts to join them in building a secure and user-centric decentralized ecosystem. They are actively seeking talented individuals for specific positions and can be contacted via email.


Ola is a ZKVM-based, privacy-focused Layer 2 platform incubated by Sin7y Labs, aiming to empower individuals to control their on-chain data and shape their Web3 journey.


Find out more here: https://olavm.org/

Keywords: #web3 #ZKVM #Layer2


SuperSight Raises $1M in Pre-Seed Funding (1st July 2023)


London-based Generative AI startup, SuperSight announced on 1st July 2023 that it had successfully raised $1 million in pre-seed funding. The funding round saw participation from prominent investors such as Blockchain Founders Fund, Animoca Brands, Druid Ventures, Emurgo, Next Gen Web 3, Vayner Fund, and others. The influx of capital will be utilized by SuperSight to expedite the development of vertical-specific foundational models.


SuperSight, co-founded by Sungjung Kim, Advait Jayant, and Mohammed Junaid, specializes in Generative AI and offers Large Language Models (LLMs) specifically designed for analyzing crypto data. Through the platform's advanced querying capabilities, users can effortlessly identify high-performing traders, evaluate token profit and loss dynamics, and delve into retention metrics, all without the need for coding skills. SuperSight grants users access to a wealth of information from various sources, both on-chain and off-chain, including Discord, Telegram, Twitter, Mirror, Podcast Transcripts, and News. By leveraging AI technology, SuperSight enhances the search experience, providing personalized, accurate, and insightful results.


With the newly secured funding, SuperSight is well-positioned to further enhance its offerings and expand its reach in the rapidly evolving world of Generative AI. The company's focus on tailoring its models for crypto data analysis sets it apart in the market, enabling users to make data-driven decisions and gain valuable insights. SuperSight's innovative approach aligns with the growing demand for efficient and accessible AI-powered solutions within the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry.


Find out more here: https://supersight.xyz/


One Trading Secures €30M in Series A Funding to Provide Retail Investors with Access to Institutional-Grade Crypto Assets (28th June 2023)


One Trading, a digital asset exchange previously operating under the Bitpanda Pro brand, has successfully raised €30 million in pre-seed funding and officially separated from Bitpanda. The funding round was led by Valar Ventures, the venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel, with participation from MiddleGame Ventures, Speedinvest, Keyrock, and Wintermute Ventures. Bitpanda will retain a stake in the company, showcasing its continued support for the venture.


Previously launched by Bitpanda in 2019, One Trading was created to provide experienced traders, financial professionals, and institutions with regulated and secure access to digital assets. Now, as a completely independent entity from Bitpanda, One Trading takes the center stage, replacing the Bitpanda Pro brand. This separation aligns with Bitpanda's philosophy of staying agile and focused to provide the best services in the fast-paced digital environment. The success and potential of Bitpanda Pro led to the decision to evolve it into its own independent business.


One Trading is led by Josh Barraclough, an industry heavyweight with a background in traditional finance, including experience at JP Morgan. The company aims to address the lack of regulated venues in Europe by offering more sophisticated crypto products to both institutions and retail customers. With traditional finance players often lacking experience in the crypto market, there exists a significant gap in providing long-term product confidence and success. One Trading aims to bridge this gap by reinstating trust and implementing proper regulation and financial protections.


CEO Joshua Barraclough envisions One Trading as a platform that makes crypto trading safe and accessible for everyone, providing an institutional-grade experience for all customer types. The company has been working on a rebranding strategy and significant infrastructure changes. They are preparing to launch what they believe to be the fastest and most scalable exchange, with order creation and cancellation taking less than 250 microseconds. One Trading aims to become a utility for large liquidity providers, offering a membership model instead of pay-per-trade, low fees, deep books for retail traders, and various liquidity protections. As they expand, One Trading plans to list more products with appropriate controls and vetting, including derivatives.


Investors have shown confidence in Josh Barraclough and One Trading's mission. James Fitzgerald, a founding partner of Valar Ventures, expressed their belief that One Trading, with Barraclough's expertise and the focus on regulation and improved technology, will regain traders' trust and confidence in a product that meets regulatory standards while delivering technological advancements.


On its roadmap, One Trading aims to operate as a MiFID Trading Venue, augmenting its existing Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license. This expansion will enable the platform to offer capital-efficient spot and derivative products for all customer types. Stricter anti-money laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), and client appropriateness checks will provide a higher level of customer protection. Acquiring a full-scale MiFID license will allow One Trading to list financial instruments and design new products with proper vetting, transparency, and customer protection in mind. The platform also offers electronic OTC trading with instant settlement, supported by user-friendly interfaces, institutional-grade security, and post-trade settlement capabilities.


Find out more here: https://onetrading.com/


NFT-native options protocol, Hook, raises $3m (28th June 2023)


The team behind the NFT-native options protocol announced the successful completion of a $3 million funding round. The round was led by Collab + Currency and Lattice, with additional support from Slow, Sfermion, Maven11, Contrary, and a group of notable angel investors, including gmoney, jdh, Salvino D'Armati, Flamingo DAO, Neon DAO, and The LAO. This substantial investment will serve as a catalyst for the further development of the platform, enabling the team to unlock new yield and hedging opportunities for NFT holders.


The options protocol offers NFT holders an array of possibilities, enhancing flexibility and providing improved risk management. Traders can utilize options to speculate on price movements and access leverage in a safer manner, thus expanding their trading strategies.


In celebration of this significant milestone, the team is launching the Hook Treasure Hunt, an incentives program designed to recognize and reward early adopters who actively contribute to creating liquid options markets on the platform. This program presents a unique opportunity for users to engage with the protocol, showcase its capabilities, and receive well-deserved rewards for their participation.


The team is highly optimistic about the future of the NFT-native options protocol and its potential impact on the NFT ecosystem. Through the platform, their mission is to empower both NFT holders and traders, offering innovative solutions that open up new avenues for growth and profitability in the dynamic world of NFTs.


Find out more here: https://hook.xyz/


Startale get $3.5m in seed funding from Sony Network Communications in a capital alliance aimed at constructing a global Web3 infrastructure (28th June 2023)


Startale Labs Pte. Ltd. has successfully raised $3.5 million in seed funding through a private placement of new shares, with Sony Network Communications Inc. acting as the investor. This funding round represents a significant milestone for Startale Labs as it pursues its mission to develop a Web3 infrastructure that caters to a global user base. As part of the partnership, Jun Watanabe, President and Representative Director of Sony Network Communications Inc., will join Startale Labs as a director, further strengthening the collaboration.


Startale Labs, a technology company specializing in Web3 infrastructure development, leverages its expertise and experience as a core contributor to Astar Network. The company is dedicated to creating tools and infrastructure that facilitate the adoption of Web3 technology by enterprises and drive its broader usage.


The partnership between Startale Labs and Sony Network Communications is focused on establishing the necessary infrastructure to support the global adoption of Web3. Sony Network Communications brings valuable knowledge and experience gained from successfully delivering solution services across multiple sectors, including telecommunications.


Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Labs, expressed his gratitude for the partnership with Sony Network Communications, acknowledging Sony's outstanding achievements in various fields such as Games & Network Services, Music, Pictures, Entertainment Technologies & Services, Imaging & Sensing Solutions, and Financial Services. Watanabe emphasized the enormous potential that Sony Group holds in the Web3 space and conveyed excitement regarding the collaboration's ability to tap into that potential. Both companies are eager to work together on developing a global Web3 infrastructure and creating innovative use cases for Web3 technology.


Jun Watanabe, President and Representative Director of Sony Network Communications Inc., also expressed enthusiasm for strengthening the collaboration with Startale Labs, recognizing the company's advanced Web3 technologies and expertise. The two companies have already collaborated through joint incubation programs, with a focus on promoting the development of Web3 technology. The capital partnership aims to combine Startale Labs' technical capabilities and Web3 knowledge with Sony Network Communications' experience and business fields to establish the infrastructure required for widespread global adoption of Web3. The partnership envisions unlocking new and groundbreaking use cases for Web3 technology, delivering unparalleled value to users.


Find out more here: https://startale.org/

Keywords: #Web3


A central focus of investor activity in the cryptocurrency space is the evaluation of new crypto projects to invest in, particularly those with huge potential. This blog provides insight into what new ventures are benefiting from venture capital support (VC funding in crypto). These new crypto projects, funded by professional investors, can dictate the next narrative in crypto and the next big crypto movers.

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