Fintech PR
Fermah Closes $5.2M Seed Round to Abstract Away the Complexity of ZK Proof Generation
NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Fermah, the universal proof generation layer, has announced the successful closure of its $5.2 million seed round, co-led by the a16z CSX fund and Lemniscap. The round also included participation from Bankless Ventures, Longhash Ventures, P-OPS team, Public Works, ZK Validator, Lambda Class, Daedalus, Zero DAO, Velocity Capital, and Daemon Ventures.
A number of S-tier builders also participated as angels in the round, including former Coinbase CTO and a16z GP Balaji Srinivasan; Celestia’s Mustafa Al-Bassam (CEO) and Nick White (COO); Co-founders of Polygon, Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, and Daniel Lubarov; as well as Aztec’s Zac Williamson (CEO) and Claire Kart (CMO); and several others.
The funding will go towards product development and team expansion, with Fermah currently hiring for a number of key roles, as part of the company’s vision to make zero-knowledge proofs the default substrate for all computation.
Fermah was founded by seasoned cryptographer Vanishree Rao, who has dedicated the last 15 years to designing and building Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), and holds a PhD in Cryptography from UCLA. Vanishree was also the Lead Cryptographer at O(1) Labs – the team behind Mina Protocol, one of the earliest and most innovative ZK protocols. She has extensive experience working with cryptographic primitives including secure hash functions, advanced digital signature schemes, ZKPs, multi-party computation protocols, key exchange protocols, and program obfuscation.
While ZKP technology is slowly becoming practical enough to power broad, modern applications, the generation of proofs remains extremely resource-intensive, requiring expensive, powerful physical infrastructure. The underutilization of this hardware inflates the price users pay for their ZK transactions. Beyond this, designing, implementing, and maintaining the optimal incentive structure for this infrastructure is extremely onerous.
Fermah – which is optimized for cheap, fast, and reliable ZK proof generation – is addressing this long-standing complexity issue inherent to ZKPs, functioning as a marketplace for ZK proof generation. Fermah generates proofs for any instance in which ZK is used – whether it’s for ZK rollups, ZK bridges, ZK coprocessors, ZKML projects or ZKFHE projects. Fermah is neutral and architected to support all proof systems, including zkVMs, zkEVMs, Groth16, and all other proof systems.
Fermah aggregates demand from various sources, allowing suppliers to leverage economies of scale, enabling a reduction in costs for proof generation. In turn, the range of use cases that can practically leverage ZKP technology expands – creating a flywheel that grows the aggregate demand for proofs, and hence enables further economies of scale to lower costs. This flywheel makes the economics of ZKPs viable across a much broader range of use cases. When combined with Fermah’s several technical breakthroughs, Fermah enables the first efficient marketplace for ZK proof generation.
Roderik van der Graaf, Founder and Managing Partner of Lemniscap, said: “Lemniscap is firmly behind Fermah in their mission to provide fast, cheap, and reliable infrastructure to help developers build category-leading products. By abstracting ZKP complexity, Fermah is lowering the technical barriers to entry, enabling more developers and businesses to integrate these proofs into their systems. This long awaited democratization of ZKPs extends the reach of these advanced cryptographic techniques to a broader range of applications.”
Vanishree Rao, Founder and CEO of Fermah, said: “I’m extremely optimistic that Fermah will revolutionize the ZK space as we know it. With the right team, backers, and experience, we’re poised to bring our vision to fruition. Soon, incorporating zero knowledge into applications will be frictionless. After over 15 years of building ZKPs, I can clearly see that we are approaching an inflection point: the infrastructure is finally in place, and we’re on the precipice of a boom in innovative ZK applications. Fermah will play an integral role in this boom.”
About Fermah
Fermah is the universal proof generation layer. It functions as a marketplace, where the supply side comprises GPUs and FPGAs. On the demand side, Fermah can generate proofs for any instance in which ZK is used. Fermah is optimized for cheap, fast, and reliable ZK proof generation.
About Lemniscap
Lemniscap is an investment firm specializing in investments in emerging crypto assets and blockchain startups. Since its founding in 2017, Lemniscap has funded multiple investments in the crypto blockchain space, on the core belief that blockchain technology will upend traditional business models, resulting in profound changes in the world economy. The Lemniscap team consists of talented people with backgrounds in financial markets, PE/VC, technology and entrepreneurship. For more information, visit https://lemniscap.com.
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Fintech PR
Strictly Money Launches Crowdcube Campaign, Inviting European Investors to Fuel its Growth Journey
LONDON, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Strictly Money Ltd, the London-based fintech, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube to invite European investors to fuel its next phase of growth. Crowdcube, Europe’s largest private market investment platform, has powered success stories like Revolut, Qonto, and Monzo. Regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Crowdcube provides a trusted and innovative platform for investors to participate in transformative ventures.
Strictly Money’s primary objective with this campaign is to accelerate its growth, fuel product development, and expand its shareholder base. The funding will enable Strictly Money to launch its payment card and banking app in early 2025 and to strengthen its market presence in Scandinavia, the UK, and Ireland. The company plans to introduce hedge fund returns products, broadening investment options for consumers by the end of 2025.
Discover how you can be part of Strictly Money’s growth journey by visiting our Crowdcube campaign at https://crowdcube.getstrictlymoney.com.
Will Povey, CEO and Co-Founder of Strictly Money, said: “At Strictly Money, our vision is to empower everyday investors with access to wealth-building tools and opportunities that were previously reserved for high-net-worth individuals. With this crowdfunding campaign, we aim to bring together a diverse community of investors who share our passion for financial innovation and inclusivity. This funding will not only help us launch our innovative debit card and app but also drive the development of new products that deliver real value to our users.”
About Strictly Money:
Strictly Money is a UK-based financial technology company set to launch a debit card and a cutting-edge banking app in early 2025. The company aims to democratize access to high-performing hedge fund returns, providing innovative investment strategies and financial solutions tailored to investors, savers, and entrepreneurs. Strictly Money’s mission is to open up premium investment opportunities traditionally limited to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). For more information, visit https://strictly-money.com.
For media inquiries contact:
Mary Prendergast
Email: [email protected]
Important Notice:
Investing in startups and early-stage businesses involves risks, including illiquidity, lack of dividends, loss of investment and dilution. It should be done only as part of a diversified portfolio. Crowdcube is targeted exclusively at investors who are sufficiently sophisticated to understand these risks and make their own investment decisions. Please read the full Risk Warning on Crowdcube’s website before deciding to invest.
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Fintech PR
Bybit Web3 Wallet Integrates Tonstakers: The First of Its TON Staking Offerings to Expand DeFi Opportunities
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange,is excited to announce the integration of Tonstakers, the leading liquid staking protocol on the TON blockchain, into its Web3 Wallet. This marks the first of Bybit Web3’s TON staking offerings, reinforcing its commitment to expanding decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities for its users.
With this integration, Bybit Web3 Wallet users can now seamlessly stake Toncoin ($TON) and receive $tsTON (Tonstakers LST) in return. The value of $tsTON increases relative to $TON every 26 hours, ensuring competitive rewards while contributing to the growth and success of the TON ecosystem. The integration also opens the door for 130 million users in the TON ecosystem to access TON staking directly within the Bybit Web3 Wallet.
Bybit is dedicated to simplifying DeFi adoption by providing intuitive and user-friendly staking experiences. This milestone partnership with Tonstakers enables users to unlock annual returns estimated between 3% and 5% APY, with rewards automatically compounded, further cementing Bybit’s role as a leader in DeFi accessibility.
Why Tonstakers Matters: The First of Its Kind
Tonstakers is the inaugural partner in Bybit Web3’s TON staking initiative, setting a new standard for staking services. With a total value locked (TVL) exceeding $260 million and a significant market share in the liquid-staked TON sector, Tonstakers offers Bybit Web3 Wallet users unparalleled access to TON staking benefits:
- Effortless Staking: Securely stake $TON with ease, thanks to the user-friendly interface within the Bybit Web3 Wallet.
- Earn $tsTON Rewards: Receive tokenized staked Toncoin ($tsTON), which can be leveraged within DeFi applications across the TON ecosystem.
- Explore DeFi Liquidity: Engage with Tonstakers Earn to provide liquidity using $tsTON, unlocking diverse earning opportunities.
“Bybit Web3 is proud to deepen our integration with the TON blockchain, a crucial step in our mission to foster a thriving and interconnected Web3 ecosystem,” said Emily Bao, Head of Bybit Web3. “This integration empowers our users with seamless and trusted access to TON liquid staking pools and unlocks valuable earning opportunities. As a strong believer in DeFi adoption, Bybit Web3 is committed to bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3, creating simple, easy, and accessible solutions that bring the benefits of decentralized finance to a wider audience. We believe this integration will significantly contribute to the growth and success of the TON ecosystem.”
Start Staking Today To begin staking your $TON and earning with $tsTON, visit https://www.bybit.com/en/web3/staking and discover the power of Bybit Web3 Wallet’s integration with Tonstakers. Bybit Web3 Wallet currently supports a wide range of staking services beyond TON tokens, including ETH, USDT, USDC, bbSOL, SUI, and more.
#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #BybitWeb3
About Bybit Web3
Bybit Web3 is redefining openness in the decentralized world, creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. We are committed to welcoming builders, creators, and partners in the blockchain space, extending an invitation to both crypto enthusiasts and the curious, with a community of over 130 million wallet addresses across over 30 major ecosystem partners, and counting.
Bybit Web3 provides a comprehensive suite of Web3 products designed to make accessing, swapping, collecting and growing Web3 assets as open and simple as possible. Our wallets, marketplaces and platforms are all backed by the security and expertise that define Bybit as the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, trusted by over 60 million users globally.
Join the revolution now and open the door to your Web3 future with Bybit.
For more details about Bybit Web3, please visit Bybit Web3.
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]
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media
Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube
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LAS VEGAS, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Yaber reported a remarkable 100% year-over-year sales surge during Black Friday. The T2 outdoor projector, featuring a built-in battery and handle-to-stand design, ranked among Amazon’s Top 3 “Most Wished For” list. Meanwhile, the L2s projectors, available in exclusive Pantone colors, sold out shortly after launch.
Yaber T2 projector is currently available at Christmas sale on Amazon and the official Yaber website. Meanwhile, pre-orders for the L2s projectors in exclusive Pantone colors will reopen in mid-January 2025.
This year, Yaber further expanded its global retail presence, debuting at the iconic Selfridges in the UK and securing placements in MediaMarkt across EMEA, Canada’s London Drugs, Saudi Arabia’s EXTRA, Belgium’s FNAC, Greece’s PUBLIC, Czech Republic’s Datart, Japan’s Bic Camera and Yodobaxi, and Malaysia’s premier IOI City Mall and Plaza Low Yat.
Looking ahead, Yaber is set to unveil its first ultra-short-throw laser projector and a new Keith Haring-inspired entry-level model at CES 2025. The launch event will take place at 4:00 PM PST, January 6, 2025 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Visit Yaber’s booth in South Hall 1-30808 at Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC) from January 7-10 to discover more.
About Yaber
Founded in 2018, Yaber redefined home entertainment by introducing the world’s first entertainment projector, pioneering a new category in the industry. Today, its innovative projectors have delivered immersive experiences to users in over 120 countries, making Yaber a trusted name in global home entertainment.
The letter “Y” in Yaber embodies the youthful vigor and innovative spirit of Generation Y. It’s not just a symbol, but a unique representation of youth identity and attitude towards life, infusing the brand with rich cultural connotations of youthfulness within simplicity.
Committed to excellence, Yaber has been pushing the boundaries of audiovisual innovation, crafting projectors that inspire richer, more vibrant lifestyles. Its achievements are recognised with prestigious accolades, including the Red Dot, IDEA, VGP, and CES Innovation Awards.
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