Blockchain Press Releases
IDA, a Hong Kong-based Fiat-referenced Stablecoin Issuer, Raised USD6 Million Seed Round Led by CMCC Global and Hashed
HONG KONG, Sept. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — IDA, a premier Hong Kong-based digital asset company, has raised USD6 million in a seed funding round led by prominent blockchain investors CMCC Global, under its Titan Fund, and Hashed. This capital injection will enable IDA to advance the development and launch of its first fiat-referenced stablecoin, HKDA, which is designed to be regulated in Hong Kong.
Additional participants in this round also include Hack VC, Anagram, GSR, Protagonist, Brinc, Chorus One, Kenetic, SNZ, and Yolo Investments as well as notable angel investors, such as Raj Gokal, Co-founder of Solana. Aside from providing funding, leading blockchain foundations of Solana, Polygon, Aptos, and Mantra are also IDA’s strategic blockchain partners to foster HKDA’s interoperability, accessibility, resilience, and liquidity.
“With the current total stablecoins market cap around USD170 billion, we expect stablecoins to grow over USD3 trillion in the next 5 years. This exponential growth will underscore the increasing significance of stablecoins in the broader digital currency landscapes. Thus, IDA’s mission is to facilitate more effective and efficient cross-border trades through the blockchain for everyone,” said Lawrence Chu, Co-founder and CEO of IDA.
Sean Lee, Co-founder and CSO of IDA added, “the first goal of IDA is to enable mass adoption and empower businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3. To achieve this, IDA has begun active engagements with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), as well as domestic partners in the ecosystem, to issue regulated stablecoins in Hong Kong. HKDA, our first fiat-referenced stablecoin built on public blockchains, will shortly be heading onto testnet. We intend for our mainnet launch before the end of this year and achieve regulatory clarity in early 2025.”
CMCC Global, one of Asia’s first VC funds focused purely on blockchain and cryptocurrency, is thrilled to lead this funding round and partner with IDA to push the boundaries in Web3 space. “As a Hong Kong-based company, we are excited to support innovative Web3 companies like IDA that are leveraging blockchain finance and stablecoins to create solutions addressing real-world challenges,” said Martin Baumann, Co-founder and Managing Partner of CMCC Global.
Hashed, a global early-stage venture fund focused on backing founders who are pioneering the future of blockchain and cryptocurrency, also shares the same vision as IDA. “We anticipate wider mainstream adoption of stablecoins in real-world trades and settlements. With Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s financial hub and its recent push for a stablecoin legislative framework, we expect IDA to spearhead the coming changes. Their unique blend of expertise in traditional finance and blockchain technology positions them perfectly to bridge conventional and digital financial systems, potentially reshaping finance across Asia and beyond,” said Ryan Kim, Founding Partner at Hashed.
Starting initially in Hong Kong, IDA will leverage the forefront of fintech and Web3 to reach other countries whose currency is also pegged to the USD. Over time, IDA aims to share their innovations and grow their business to other nations along the Belt and Road and Global South initiatives. More exciting partnerships will be announced to unlock a more inclusive and connected global marketplace.
Note: The current total stablecoins market cap is based on the data provided by defillama.com at 18:00 HKT on 2024-08-26.
About IDA Finance Hong Kong Limited (IDA)
IDA is the premier digital asset technology company to spearhead the widespread adoption of blockchain finance and to empower businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3.
HKDA, a fiat-referenced stablecoin built on public blockchain protocols, will be the first product launched by IDA. HKDA is designed to drive enhanced digital connectivity for seamless commerce and payments between Hong Kong and global markets, 24/7/365. To maintain the highest level of security and stability, all circulating HKDA will always be fully backed by at least 100% reserve assets in regulated Hong Kong based authorized institutions.
To maximize the network effect of HKDA for domestic and cross-border usage, IDA is partnering with key industry players to facilitate the minting, redemption and widespread acceptance of HKDA as a payment and settlement digital currency. In subsequent phases, IDA will also launch key products denominated in other US Dollar (USD) pegged currencies with ecosystem partners across regulated financial institutions and Web3 platforms.
More information can be found at www.idafi.xyz / LinkedIn / X
About CMCC Global & Titan Fund
CMCC Global is one of Asia’s first venture capital companies focused solely on blockchain and Web3 investments. CMCC Global has an enviable record of investing early in leading projects such as Ethereum (ETH) at USD7, Solana (SOL) at USD0.20 and Cosmos (ATOM) at USD0.10. CMCC Global has reached assets under management (AUM) of over USD500 million across its funds and is known as a high-conviction investor. Today the company has offices in Asia, North America and Europe and operates several funds with different strategies including the CMCC Global Digital Asset Fund, the Titan Fund and its two funds of quantitative trading hedge funds Crest and SYZCrest.
More information can be found at www.cmcc.vc
Titan Fund offers accredited investors exposure to attractive growth opportunities within the blockchain ecosystem through a traditional equity venture capital investment strategy focusing on seed to series A/B along the key investment verticals of Infrastructure, Fintech and Consumer Applications. The Titan Fund is CMCC Global’s latest fund strategy and complements its Digital Asset Funds, which have been investing directly into protocols and digital assets since 2016, and its Crest family of funds that invests into crypto and quant funds.
More information can be found at www.titan.fund
About Hashed
Founded by a team of serial entrepreneurs and engineers in 2017, Hashed is the preeminent blockchain firm in Asia with a portfolio that spans the globe. We started Hashed because we saw an opportunity for blockchain to not only reinvent the global financial system, but the very fabric of the internet itself. This is one of the most consequential moments in human history — an opportunity to overlay the power of digital networks onto human ones, and to usher in a future where technology empowers individuals, and not the other way around.
More information can be found at www.hashed.com
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Blockchain Press Releases
KuCoin Surpasses 40 Million Registered Users, Demonstrating Commitment to Compliance and Innovation
VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is proud to announce that it has surpassed 40 million registered users worldwide. This significant milestone underscores the trust and confidence the global community places in KuCoin and its commitment to providing secure, compliant, and innovative products and services.
Unwavering Commitment to Compliance
KuCoin’s growth is not just in numbers but also in its steadfast commitment to compliance and user protection. The exchange has made substantial progress on the regulatory front, including a pivotal settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ). This agreement marked a new chapter for KuCoin, resolving past compliance challenges and setting a clear path for future operations. Additionally, KuCoin’s application for the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) license in Austria is another testament to its dedication to adhering to global compliance standards, ensuring that it operates within the legal frameworks essential for servicing EU and EEA markets.
Trusted and Innovative Solutions Driving Growth
KuCoin has continually introduced innovative products that resonate with users worldwide. From advanced trading solutions to user-friendly platforms for new crypto enthusiasts, KuCoin has maintained a focus on enhancing user experience and expanding its service offerings, making it one of the most versatile platforms in the crypto space. KuCoin recently launched its brand new KCS Loyalty Level Program that is designed to enhance the utility of existing and new KCS holders by introducing a tiered loyalty system that rewards users based on their KCS stakings. Krazy Degen, which serves as an all-encompassing information hub focused on displaying and monitoring multi-chain trending tokens, is also a groundbreaking feature designed to transform how traders discover and invest in early-stage, high-potential tokens directly from the blockchain.
A Word from CEO of KuCoin
“Our journey to 40 million users is not just a number—it’s a testament to the trust we’ve built with our users across the globe,” said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. “We remain committed to delivering a secure and dynamic trading environment, with compliance as our backbone and innovation as our path forward. This milestone reflects our ongoing efforts to not only meet but exceed the expectations of our users.”
Looking Forward
As KuCoin continues to grow, the exchange remains dedicated to enhancing its services and compliance measures. With ongoing improvements in security protocols, user education, and community engagement, KuCoin is poised to keep providing exceptional value and service to its expanding user base.
About KuCoin
Founded in 2017, KuCoin is one of the pioneering and most globally recognized technology platforms supporting digital economies, built on a robust foundation of cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and an exceptional user experience. With a connected user base exceeding 40 million worldwide, KuCoin offers comprehensive digital asset solutions across wallets, trading, wealth management, payments, research, ventures, and AI-powered bots.
KuCoin has garnered accolades such as “Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges” by Forbes and has been recognized among the “Top 50 Global Unicorns” by Hurun in 2024. This recognition reflects its commitment to user-centric principles and core values, which include integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/.
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Blockchain Press Releases
TVP Research Finds Pre-Seed Bitcoin Startup Investment Activity Grows 767% Since 2021
AUSTIN, Texas, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Trammell Venture Partners (“TVP”), an Austin-based venture capital firm, today announced the third annual results of its proprietary research on the growth of the Bitcoin-native startup and venture capital landscape. TVP research shows the Bitcoin startup sector continued its breakout category growth trend of forming and investing in new companies, despite the decline in total dollars invested due to the broader venture investment pullback. With a 50% year-over-year increase in transaction count, and a remarkable 767% increase in funding rounds since 2021, the Pre-Seed stage built on its prior years of growth in 2024.
TVP’s analysis indicates that early-stage, Bitcoin-native startups raised nearly $1.2 billion during the 2021-2024 period, based on four years of longitudinal data research.
“One or two years’ data might represent an anomaly, but with four consecutive years of year-over-year growth at the earliest stage of Bitcoin startup formation, the data now confirm a sustained, long-term venture category trend,” said Christopher Calicott, TVP’s managing director. “Many entrepreneurs across crypto are revisiting the Bitcoin stack as the long-term place to build their companies. It makes perfect sense: the objectively most secure, reliable, and decentralized blockchain is the obvious platform of choice, given the increasing capability to build there. And as this wave of early-stage companies find traction, increasing amounts of crypto value will accrue to the Bitcoin stack—a core thesis for TVP.”
The annual release of TVP’s Bitcoin-Native Venture Capital Landscape Research Brief augments the available research for Bitcoin startups. This research aims to support the institutionalization of venture investment for this emerging growth category within crypto and blockchain venture capital.
The TVP Bitcoin startup investment research brief is available for download.
About Trammell Venture Partners
Trammell Venture Partners, founded in 2016, is an Austin-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in Bitcoin-native, security and privacy tech, and applied AI companies. Since 2020, TVP has focused on backing founders building on the layers of the Bitcoin protocol stack via the venture capital industry’s first dedicated Bitcoin-native mandated VC fund series: The TVP Bitcoin Venture Fund series. Find out more about TVP on the web, LinkedIn, X, or find a Bitcoin job on the TVP bitcoin and crypto Jobs Board.
Media Contact: Zach Young
Email: [email protected]
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Zodia Custody’s Interchange solution will offer Bybit’s institutional clients independent custody and off-venue settlement to support secure institutional trading.
LONDON, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Zodia Custody, the institution-first digital assets platform backed by Standard Chartered, Northern Trust, SBI Holdings, National Australia Bank, and Emirates NBD, and Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, have joined forces to bring secure, segregated custody and off-venue settlement to Bybit’s institutional clients.
In engaging with digital assets, institutional investors require the assurances of regulatory compliance and robust security measures to protect their capital. Amid heightened industry scrutiny, there is a corresponding demand for credible infrastructure that addresses the potential weaknesses of on-exchange settlement, including centralised control and counterparty risk.
Zodia Custody’s Interchange solution addresses these security concerns by providing independent asset custody via regulatory-grade infrastructure. Through Interchange, institutional users can deploy capital for immediate trading on Bybit while their assets remain securely held with Zodia Custody – ensuring full segregation, no co-mingling, and significantly reduced exposure to exchange-side risks. This design neutralises counterparty risk and removes the need to pre-fund exchange accounts, enhancing both capital efficiency and operational integrity.
This partnership elevates security and compliance standards across the digital asset trading space, offering institutional clients access to Bybit’s best-in-class trading infrastructure with the safety of Zodia Custody’s off-venue settlement.
Julian Sawyer, CEO of Zodia Custody, commented: “Institutional clients need more than speed – they need to know their assets are held securely, off-exchange, and fully under their control. As leading players in the industry, Zodia Custody and Bybit have a shared responsibility to provide tailor-made solutions to increase security and protect capital for the institutions that use our services. That’s what we’re delivering through this partnership. With Interchange, we’re enabling Bybit’s clients to access trading liquidity without compromising on custody standards, counterparty risk, or capital efficiency. It’s custody and settlement built for institutions, not retrofitted for crypto.”
Shunyet Jan, Head of Institutional and Derivatives at Bybit, added: “At Bybit, our mission is to provide institutional-grade solutions that meet the evolving needs of sophisticated investors. Our partnership with Zodia Custody underscores our dedication to compliance, security, and innovation in the digital asset space. Zodia Custody’s reputation as a trusted, highly regulated custodian makes it the ideal partner to safeguard our clients’ assets while enhancing capital efficiency. Together, we are setting new standards for the institutional adoption of digital assets.”
Certified under SOC 1 Type I and II and built for institutions from the ground up, Zodia Custody serves regulated financial institutions, government bodies, crypto platforms, and hedge funds across specific global markets – delivering trust, transparency, and uncompromising security at scale.
This partnership marks a decisive shift toward secure, compliant infrastructure in crypto markets – one where institutions can finally move at speed, without sacrificing safety.
About Zodia Custody
Zodia Custody is an institution-first digital assets platform backed by Standard Chartered, in association with Northern Trust, SBI Holdings, National Australia Bank, and Emirates NBD. Through the combination of its custody, treasury, and settlement solutions with consultancy and middle office operations, Zodia Custody enables institutional investors around the globe to realise the full potential of the digital assets future – simply, safely, and without compromise. It operates under authorisations granted by the Financial Conduct Authority, Central Bank of Ireland, Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, and Hong Kong Companies Registry.
Zodia Custody implements the requirements of the 5AMLD and applies the same standards as Standard Chartered relating to AML, FCC, and KYC. It implements the requirements of the FATF Travel Rule. Zodia Custody Limited is registered in the UK with the FCA as a crypto asset business under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017. Zodia Custody (Ireland) Limited is registered with the Central Bank of Ireland as a VASP under Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (as amended). Zodia Custody (Ireland) Limited was established in Ireland in August 2021. Zodia Custody (Ireland) Limited is registered with the CSSF in Luxembourg as a Virtual Asset Service Provider in accordance with article 7-1 (2) of the law dated 12 November 2004 on the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, as amended. Zodia Custody (Hong Kong) Limited is registered with the Registry for Trust and Company Service Provider with License Number TC009245 under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), Cap. 615 in respect of its custodial activities in digital assets.
For further information on Zodia Custody, please visit: https://zodia-custody.com/
About Bybit
Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
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