[New Fundraising] Gemini announces $100 million strategic investment from Winklevoss.
Gemini is a digital asset exchange and custodial services company that enables users to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies.
More about Gemini：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Gemini?k=MzkwNg%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-14/winklevosses-invest-100-million-in-battered-gemini-exchange
Gemini is a digital asset exchange and custodial services company that enables users to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies.
More about Gemini：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Gemini?k=MzkwNg%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-14/winklevosses-invest-100-million-in-battered-gemini-exchange
Bloomberg.com
Winklevosses Invest $100 Million in Battered Gemini Exchange
Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, the billionaire twins who founded Gemini Space Station Inc., made a $100 million “strategic investment” into the money-losing crypto exchange.
[New M&A]General Tensor completes its acquisition of Backprop Finance
Backprop Finance is the all-in-one trading hub for Bittensor. Support by Tensorplex Labs.
More about Backprop Finance:
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Backprop%20Finance?k=MTYyNzA%3D
Source：
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/general-tensor-acquires-backprop-finance-assembling-the-financial-infrastructure-for-decentralized-ai-1036156031
Backprop Finance is the all-in-one trading hub for Bittensor. Support by Tensorplex Labs.
More about Backprop Finance:
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Backprop%20Finance?k=MTYyNzA%3D
Source：
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/general-tensor-acquires-backprop-finance-assembling-the-financial-infrastructure-for-decentralized-ai-1036156031
Business Insider
General Tensor Acquires Backprop Finance, Assembling the Financial Infrastructure for Decentralized AI
Toronto, Canada, May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Tensor has acquired Backprop Finance from Tensorplex Labs. The transaction gives Gene...
[New Fundraising] Nof1 Raises $15 Million in Funding, Co-Led by SUI Group and Karatage
nof1 is an artificial intelligence research laboratory focusing on financial markets. Its Alpha Arena is a benchmark designed to measure artificial intelligence investing capabilities. Each model is played in the real market with $10,000 of real money and has the same tips and input data.
More about Nof1：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/nof1?k=MjE5OTQ%3D
Source:
https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/05/15/wall-street-is-starting-to-notice-one-of-crypto-s-smartest-ai-bets
nof1 is an artificial intelligence research laboratory focusing on financial markets. Its Alpha Arena is a benchmark designed to measure artificial intelligence investing capabilities. Each model is played in the real market with $10,000 of real money and has the same tips and input data.
More about Nof1：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/nof1?k=MjE5OTQ%3D
Source:
https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/05/15/wall-street-is-starting-to-notice-one-of-crypto-s-smartest-ai-bets
Coindesk
Why SUI Group and Karatage are making an early bet on AI traders
A growing spotlight on Nof1’s Alpha Arena suggests SUI Group and Karatage may have gotten early to one of the most important experiments in finance: teaching AI how to trade in real markets.
[New Fundraising] AEON Closes $8 Million Pre-Seed Funding Round Led by YZi Labs
AEON is the next-generation crypto payment framework, built for AI to drive intelligent, automated payments across Web3 and simplify how crypto works in real life. With omni-chain support, AEON's AI Payments system allows intelligent agents to manage and automate transactions, payments, subscriptions, and remittances for users.
More about AEON：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/AEON?k=MTQ3MTA%3D
Source:
https://www.theblock.co/post/401601/aeon-raises-8-million-yzi-labs
AEON is the next-generation crypto payment framework, built for AI to drive intelligent, automated payments across Web3 and simplify how crypto works in real life. With omni-chain support, AEON's AI Payments system allows intelligent agents to manage and automate transactions, payments, subscriptions, and remittances for users.
More about AEON：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/AEON?k=MTQ3MTA%3D
Source:
https://www.theblock.co/post/401601/aeon-raises-8-million-yzi-labs
The Block
AEON raises $8 million led by YZi Labs to build settlement layer for AI agents
With the new funding, AEON said it aims to build a settlement layer designed to support AI agent-to-agent interactions.
[New Fundraising] Tomoland Secures $2 Million in Funding, Led by Sky9 Capital
Tomoland is a mobile-first UGC platform that merges AI-powered creation, social interaction, and true IP ownership. By utilizing the BUD Create infrastructure, Tomoland empowers creators to turn their digital creations into their own economy.
More about Tomoland：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Tomoland?k=MjQ1ODY%3D
Source:
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297122/0/en/tomoland-raises-usd-2-million-to-bring-ai-powered-ugc-platform-to-web3-sells-out-blueprint-founder-pass-in-2-hours.html
Tomoland is a mobile-first UGC platform that merges AI-powered creation, social interaction, and true IP ownership. By utilizing the BUD Create infrastructure, Tomoland empowers creators to turn their digital creations into their own economy.
More about Tomoland：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Tomoland?k=MjQ1ODY%3D
Source:
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297122/0/en/tomoland-raises-usd-2-million-to-bring-ai-powered-ugc-platform-to-web3-sells-out-blueprint-founder-pass-in-2-hours.html
GlobeNewswire News Room
Tomoland Raises USD 2 Million to Bring AI-Powered UGC Platform to Web3, Sells Out Blueprint Founder Pass in 2 hours
2,222 Blueprints, zero left: The TOMO origin layer sold out in just 2 hours. SINGAPORE, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tomoland, the mobile-first...
[New Fundraising] Ouinex has raised $3.5 million, bringing its total funding to $9 million
Ouinex is a digital asset exchange; by prioritizing transparency, liquidity, and sophistication, Ouinex delivers an institutional-level trading experience for beginners and experts alike.
More about Ouinex：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Ouinex?k=ODE3MA%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/boazsobrado/2026/05/19/fish-in-a-tank-with-sharks-ouinex-hits-9m-to-kill-the-order-book/
Ouinex is a digital asset exchange; by prioritizing transparency, liquidity, and sophistication, Ouinex delivers an institutional-level trading experience for beginners and experts alike.
More about Ouinex：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Ouinex?k=ODE3MA%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/boazsobrado/2026/05/19/fish-in-a-tank-with-sharks-ouinex-hits-9m-to-kill-the-order-book/
Forbes
'Fish In A Tank With Sharks'—Ouinex Hits $9M To Kill The Order Book
FXCM veteran Ilies Larbi has raised $9M entirely from retail traders to build a crypto exchange where market makers cannot trade against retail flow.
[New Fundraising] Catena Labs Raises $30 Million in Series A Funding, Led by a16z crypto and Acrew Capital
Catena Labs is a Web3 product development company incubating independent products spanning identity, communications, artificial intelligence, and commerce. Products currently launched include developer API and component suite DecentKit, decentralized social network Duffle, and custom AI agent solution Friday.
More about Catena Labs：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Catena%20Labs?k=MTAxODM%3D
Source:
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/catena-labs-series-a-sean-neville-ai-native-bank/
Catena Labs is a Web3 product development company incubating independent products spanning identity, communications, artificial intelligence, and commerce. Products currently launched include developer API and component suite DecentKit, decentralized social network Duffle, and custom AI agent solution Friday.
More about Catena Labs：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Catena%20Labs?k=MTAxODM%3D
Source:
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/catena-labs-series-a-sean-neville-ai-native-bank/
[New Fundraising] Variational Closes $50 Million Series A Funding Round Led by Dragonfly Capital
Variational is a crypto derivatives trading protocol based on Arbitrum. Its applications include Omni, a perpetual futures trading platform that allows traders to take leveraged long or short positions on any time series, with a special focus on newly launched tokens, baskets, yield/volatility perpetual contracts, and other new products. OLP is Omni's liquidity provider, which brings together liquidity from centralized and decentralized exchanges and over-the-counter trading platforms. The second application of Variational is Pro, a platform for institutional traders.
More about Variational：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Variational?k=NTc4Mg%3D%3D
Source:
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/variational-raises-50-million-series-a/
Variational is a crypto derivatives trading protocol based on Arbitrum. Its applications include Omni, a perpetual futures trading platform that allows traders to take leveraged long or short positions on any time series, with a special focus on newly launched tokens, baskets, yield/volatility perpetual contracts, and other new products. OLP is Omni's liquidity provider, which brings together liquidity from centralized and decentralized exchanges and over-the-counter trading platforms. The second application of Variational is Pro, a platform for institutional traders.
More about Variational：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Variational?k=NTc4Mg%3D%3D
Source:
https://fortune.com/2026/05/20/variational-raises-50-million-series-a/
Fortune
Variational raises $50 million Series A to bring liquidity from traditional markets to blockchain rails | Fortune
The startup is seeking to set itself apart from Hyperliquid by sourcing liquidity from traditional providers.
[New Fundraising] Cycles Raises $6.4 Million in Seed Funding, with Coinbase Ventures Among Investors
Cycles is an open clearing protocol, a platform to clear the most debt for the most people with the least money. In contrast to existing payment systems focused solely on the transfer of assets, Cycles is focused instead on the clearing of debts by operating over the network of liabilities which underly all payments. Cycles enables businesses to easily and privately upload their obligations, connect their sources of liquidity, settle up, and save. Using the network of obligations as a foundation, Cycles provides a platform for new kinds of currencies, lending protocols, and issuance protocols to be integrated in a risk-reduced environment for the benefit of real-world commerce.
More about Cycles：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Cycles?k=MTE3MzI%3D
Source:
https://techfundingnews.com/the-missing-piece-in-cryptos-financial-infrastructure-just-raised-6-4m-to-fill-the-gap/
Cycles is an open clearing protocol, a platform to clear the most debt for the most people with the least money. In contrast to existing payment systems focused solely on the transfer of assets, Cycles is focused instead on the clearing of debts by operating over the network of liabilities which underly all payments. Cycles enables businesses to easily and privately upload their obligations, connect their sources of liquidity, settle up, and save. Using the network of obligations as a foundation, Cycles provides a platform for new kinds of currencies, lending protocols, and issuance protocols to be integrated in a risk-reduced environment for the benefit of real-world commerce.
More about Cycles：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Cycles?k=MTE3MzI%3D
Source:
https://techfundingnews.com/the-missing-piece-in-cryptos-financial-infrastructure-just-raised-6-4m-to-fill-the-gap/
Tech Funding News
The missing piece in crypto’s financial infrastructure just raised $6.4M to fill the gap
Cycles raises $6.4M led by Blockchange Ventures to build a private clearing network for crypto markets and stablecoin payments.
[New Fundraising] Foundation Raises $6.4 Million in Funding, Led by Fulgur Ventures
Foundation Devices is a developer of Bitcoin-centric tools, with their flagship product being Passport - a $259 hardware wallet that uses a camera and QR codes for secure communication, instead of a USB or wireless connection to the outside world. Additionally, they have developed the Envoy mobile app, which helps users set up, maintain, and interact with their Passport wallet.
More about Foundation Devices：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Foundation%20Devices?k=NjEwNA%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.theblock.co/post/402012/foundation-raises-6-4-million-expand-bitcoin-hardware-wallets-ai-agent-authorization?utm_source=browser
Foundation Devices is a developer of Bitcoin-centric tools, with their flagship product being Passport - a $259 hardware wallet that uses a camera and QR codes for secure communication, instead of a USB or wireless connection to the outside world. Additionally, they have developed the Envoy mobile app, which helps users set up, maintain, and interact with their Passport wallet.
More about Foundation Devices：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Foundation%20Devices?k=NjEwNA%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.theblock.co/post/402012/foundation-raises-6-4-million-expand-bitcoin-hardware-wallets-ai-agent-authorization?utm_source=browser
The Block
Foundation raises $6.4 million to expand from bitcoin hardware wallets into AI agent authorization
The firm also announced the general availability of its flagship Passport Prime device and expanded access to its KeyOS developer platform.
[New Fundraising] TownSquare Completes Pre-A Round of Funding, Bringing Total Funding to $16.25 Million
TownSquare is a decentralized leverage and income market powered by cross-chain currency markets and modular income library that brings leverage returns to each chain and each original on-chain asset.
More about TownSquare：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/townsquare?k=MjAxMTU%3D
Source:
https://x.com/TownSquarexyz/status/2057480430186827952?s=20
TownSquare is a decentralized leverage and income market powered by cross-chain currency markets and modular income library that brings leverage returns to each chain and each original on-chain asset.
More about TownSquare：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/townsquare?k=MjAxMTU%3D
Source:
https://x.com/TownSquarexyz/status/2057480430186827952?s=20
X (formerly Twitter)
townsquare ❏ (mainnet arc) (@TownSquarexyz) on X
gtown world
Today we are excited to announce the completion of our Pre-A funding round, bringing our total funding to $16.25M, on a mission to accelerate institution-backed yield to everyone, with USD1 and RWAs
Today we are excited to announce the completion of our Pre-A funding round, bringing our total funding to $16.25M, on a mission to accelerate institution-backed yield to everyone, with USD1 and RWAs
[New Fundraising] HashKey Capital Fund Announces $40M Strategic Investment in SignalPlus
SignalPlus is a leading institutional-grade infrastructure platform in the crypto derivatives space that focuses on option trading systems, automated market-making, and structured product solutions. Currently, the services provided by SignalPlus are deeply integrated into the mainstream crypto options markets and it holds a leading market share in Asia.
More about SignalPlus： https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/SignalPlus?k=NDEzNA%3D%3D
Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hashkey-capital-fund-announces-40m-strategic-investment-in-signalplus-302778025.html
SignalPlus is a leading institutional-grade infrastructure platform in the crypto derivatives space that focuses on option trading systems, automated market-making, and structured product solutions. Currently, the services provided by SignalPlus are deeply integrated into the mainstream crypto options markets and it holds a leading market share in Asia.
More about SignalPlus： https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/SignalPlus?k=NDEzNA%3D%3D
Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hashkey-capital-fund-announces-40m-strategic-investment-in-signalplus-302778025.html
PR Newswire
HashKey Capital Fund Announces $40M Strategic Investment in SignalPlus
/PRNewswire/ -- HashKey Holdings Limited ("HashKey" or the "Company", Stock Code: 3887.HK), a leading comprehensive digital asset company in Asia, announced...
[New Fundraising] Jia announced a $3 million seed funding round led by Coinbase Venture, with participation from Stellar Development Foundation, A100x, TCG and Hashed Emergent.
Jia is an emerging DeFi platform that provides blockchain-based loans, investments, and ownership to businesses around the world.
More about Jia：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Jia?k=MzE0Ng%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.thisweekinfintech.com/p/exclusive-tala-alumni-nab-3m-in-coinbase-led-round-to-fix-southeast-asia-s-sme-credit-crunch
Jia is an emerging DeFi platform that provides blockchain-based loans, investments, and ownership to businesses around the world.
More about Jia：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Jia?k=MzE0Ng%3D%3D
Source:
https://www.thisweekinfintech.com/p/exclusive-tala-alumni-nab-3m-in-coinbase-led-round-to-fix-southeast-asia-s-sme-credit-crunch
This Week in Fintech
Exclusive: Tala Alumni Nab $3M in Coinbase-Led Round to Fix Southeast Asia’s SME Credit Crunch
[New Fundraising] K25.ai received a $2 million investment from NewGenIVF Group.
K25.ai is an AI-native live streaming and prediction platform that K25.ai integrates real-time content, creator communities, AI-assisted event generation, and prediction markets, transforming live streaming from a passive viewing experience into an interactive information marketplace.
More about K25.ai：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/K25ai?k=MjQ2MTQ%3D
Source:
https://www.techinasia.com/news/singapore-startup-k25-ai-lands-2m-from-nasdaq-firm
K25.ai is an AI-native live streaming and prediction platform that K25.ai integrates real-time content, creator communities, AI-assisted event generation, and prediction markets, transforming live streaming from a passive viewing experience into an interactive information marketplace.
More about K25.ai：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/K25ai?k=MjQ2MTQ%3D
Source:
https://www.techinasia.com/news/singapore-startup-k25-ai-lands-2m-from-nasdaq-firm
[New Fundraising] PopDEX completed a $30M funding round led by Foresight Ventures.
PopDEX is a decentralized exchange focused on capital efficiency, trading experience, and returning platform value to true contributors.
More about PopDEX：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/PopDEX?k=MjQ2MTY%3D
Source:
https://x.com/popdex_/status/2057733271568716055?s=20
PopDEX is a decentralized exchange focused on capital efficiency, trading experience, and returning platform value to true contributors.
More about PopDEX：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/PopDEX?k=MjQ2MTY%3D
Source:
https://x.com/popdex_/status/2057733271568716055?s=20
❤2
[New Fundraising]Otomato announce a $2M raise led by improbable.
Otomato is a no-code Web3 automation protocol and DeFi smart assistant focused on helping users create, monitor, and automate on-chain behavior with ease.
More about Otomato：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Otomato%20?k=MjI4NDU%3D
Source:
https://x.com/otomato_xyz/status/2059198373354463598?s=20
Otomato is a no-code Web3 automation protocol and DeFi smart assistant focused on helping users create, monitor, and automate on-chain behavior with ease.
More about Otomato：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Otomato%20?k=MjI4NDU%3D
Source:
https://x.com/otomato_xyz/status/2059198373354463598?s=20
[New Fundraising]Hypernova raises $3 million in pre-seed funding.
Hypernova is an on-chain proprietary trading protocol designed to provide a trustless proprietary trading experience through smart contract-based instant payments and fully verifiable execution logic.
More about Hypernova：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Hypernova?k=MjQ2NDE%3D
Source:
https://www.theblock.co/post/402923/hyperliquid-prop-trading-platform-hypernova-crypto-funding
Hypernova is an on-chain proprietary trading protocol designed to provide a trustless proprietary trading experience through smart contract-based instant payments and fully verifiable execution logic.
More about Hypernova：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Hypernova?k=MjQ2NDE%3D
Source:
https://www.theblock.co/post/402923/hyperliquid-prop-trading-platform-hypernova-crypto-funding
❤1
[New M&A]Cosmos Labs Acquires Mintscan
Mintscan is the block explorer for networks based on Cosmos-SDK.
More about Mintscan:
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Mintscan?k=Mzc0Mg%3D%3D
Source：
https://www.theblock.co/post/403652/cosmos-labs-acquires-mintscan-forms-korea-subsidiary
Mintscan is the block explorer for networks based on Cosmos-SDK.
More about Mintscan:
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Mintscan?k=Mzc0Mg%3D%3D
Source：
https://www.theblock.co/post/403652/cosmos-labs-acquires-mintscan-forms-korea-subsidiary
The Block
Cosmos Labs acquires block explorer Mintscan, forms Korea subsidiary to expand ecosystem
Cosmos Labs has acquired Cosmos block explorer Mintscan and formed a new Korea-based subsidiary, Cosmos Labs Korea.
[New Fundraising]EDGE Markets Completes $29.2 Million Series A Funding Round Led by CoinFund
EDGE Markets is a prediction market infrastructure company that provides dedicated banking, payment processing, and settlement infrastructure for sports betting, iGaming, and CFTC-regulated prediction markets.
More about EDGE Markets：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/EDGE%20Markets?k=MjQ3NTg%3D
Source:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/edge-markets-raises-29-2-million-series-a-funding-round-302793671.html
EDGE Markets is a prediction market infrastructure company that provides dedicated banking, payment processing, and settlement infrastructure for sports betting, iGaming, and CFTC-regulated prediction markets.
More about EDGE Markets：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/EDGE%20Markets?k=MjQ3NTg%3D
Source:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/edge-markets-raises-29-2-million-series-a-funding-round-302793671.html
PR Newswire
EDGE Markets Raises $29.2 Million Series A Funding Round
/PRNewswire/ -- EDGE Markets, a financial services company that creates products for alternative financial markets in the gaming, crypto, and prediction...
[New Fundraising]Morpho Raises $175 Million in Funding Led by a16z Crypto, Paradigm, and Others
Morpho is a lending protocol that combines the liquidity pool model used by Compound or AAVE with the capital efficiency of peer-to-peer matching engines used in order books. Morpho-Compound improves Compound by providing the same user experience, liquidity, and liquidation parameters, but with an increased APY due to peer-to-peer matchings.
More about Morpho：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Morpho?k=MzA5NQ%3D%3D
Source:
https://fortune.com/2026/06/09/morpho-fundraise-a16z-crypto-paradigm-ribbit-capital-175-million/
Morpho is a lending protocol that combines the liquidity pool model used by Compound or AAVE with the capital efficiency of peer-to-peer matching engines used in order books. Morpho-Compound improves Compound by providing the same user experience, liquidity, and liquidation parameters, but with an increased APY due to peer-to-peer matchings.
More about Morpho：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/Morpho?k=MzA5NQ%3D%3D
Source:
https://fortune.com/2026/06/09/morpho-fundraise-a16z-crypto-paradigm-ribbit-capital-175-million/
Fortune
The startup that's dressing up crypto for Wall Street raised $175 million in a round led by a16z crypto, Paradigm, and Ribbit Capital…
Morpho’s founders want to bring DeFi mainstream.
[New Fundraising]TVL Capital Raises $5 Million in Funding Led by Framework Ventures
TVL Capital is a financial infrastructure company specializing in on-chain trading products (CTPs), dedicated to connecting traditional financial instruments with on-chain infrastructure to enable more sophisticated and efficient investment strategies.
More about TVL Capital：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/TVL%20Capital?k=MjQ3ODc%3D
Source:
https://x.com/TVLCap/status/2064697340254978089
TVL Capital is a financial infrastructure company specializing in on-chain trading products (CTPs), dedicated to connecting traditional financial instruments with on-chain infrastructure to enable more sophisticated and efficient investment strategies.
More about TVL Capital：
https://www.rootdata.com/projects/detail/TVL%20Capital?k=MjQ3ODc%3D
Source:
https://x.com/TVLCap/status/2064697340254978089
X (formerly Twitter)
TVL Capital (@TVLCap) on X
1/ We are excited to announce our $5M Seed Round 🎉
Thank you @hiFramework, @FlowTraders and the other strategic investors for your trust.
The funds will be used to build Chain-Traded Products (CTPs): institutional-grade structured products issued, settled…
Thank you @hiFramework, @FlowTraders and the other strategic investors for your trust.
The funds will be used to build Chain-Traded Products (CTPs): institutional-grade structured products issued, settled…