Rewards-Focused Startup Eco Raises $26M in Round Led by a16z Crypto

Newly out of alpha mode, the platform offers up to 5% rewards on both crypto asset savings and spending.

AccessTimeIconMar 6, 2021 at 11:39 a.m. UTC
Updated May 9, 2023 at 3:16 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Eco, a cryptocurrency startup that claims it's building a new type of finance platform, has opened to the public with a fresh investment of $26 million under its belt.

According to a blog post Friday, the firm's second fundraise was led by a16z Crypto – the digital asset investment arm of Andreessen Horowitz – with Founders Fund, Activant Capital, Slow Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Tribe Capital, Valor Capital Group and more also participating.

  • a16z Crypto CTO on ZK Projects ‘Jolt’ and ‘Lasso,’ State of Crypto Tech Research
    12:55
    a16z Crypto CTO on ZK Projects ‘Jolt’ and ‘Lasso,’ State of Crypto Tech Research
  • Eco App CEO on Launching 'Cash-Like' Crypto Wallet 'Beam'
    06:18
    Eco App CEO on Launching 'Cash-Like' Crypto Wallet 'Beam'
  • Venture Capital Firm a16z Unloads $7M of MKR Tokens as Price Soars
    03:46
    Venture Capital Firm a16z Unloads $7M of MKR Tokens as Price Soars
  • A16z Chooses London as Destination for First Office Outside U.S.
    06:16
    A16z Chooses London as Destination for First Office Outside U.S.
  • CoinList co-founder Andy Bromberg took up the top job at Eco last October, as CoinDesk reported at the time.

    Eco's sales pitch is that its platform is "not a bank, checking account, or credit card. We’re building something better than all of those combined."

    Eco offers rewards on both crypto-asset savings and spending at firms like Amazon and Uber (Eco founder Garrett Camp is an Uber co-founder). Users will see cashback of up to 5% on spending and will earn 2.5%–5% annually with assets just sitting in their accounts, per the post. The top rate for savings is dependent on referrals to friends.

    The startup says it can afford to do this by "cutting out the inefficiencies and misaligned business models of the existing financial system."

    "Eco’s mission is to reimagine not only how consumer financial products work — but also to reimagine money itself," a16z Crypto's Katie Haun and Arianna Simpson said in a blog post about the investment. "Without the burden of legacy, misaligned business models, Eco is able to offer rewards that sound almost too good to be true, but aren’t."

    The company, which has just opened up from private alpha mode, previously raised $8.5 million in a round led by Expa (Camp's startup studio) and crypto investment firm Pantera Capital. 

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.