DEX Aggregator 1inch Raises $175M in Funding Round Led by Amber Group

The Series B comes ahead of the launch of 1inch Pro, which will cater to institutional investors.

AccessTimeIconDec 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 7:05 p.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

1inch Network has raised $175 million as the decentralized finance (DeFi) platform gears up for the launch of a new set of institutional products.

The decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator and liquidity protocol announced the funding on Wednesday, saying that investors valued the project at $2.25 billion. The Series B round was led by Amber Group, with over 50 additional investors participating, including Jane Street, VanEck, Fenbushi Capital, Alameda Research, Celsius, Nexo, Tribe Capital and Gemini Frontier Fund, according to a press release.

  • Three Crypto Predictions in 2024
    02:07
    Three Crypto Predictions in 2024
  • DeFi Market Rebounds to $50B as Speculators Hunt for Yield
    01:11
    DeFi Market Rebounds to $50B as Speculators Hunt for Yield
  • How Spool Is Aiming to Help Institutions Enter DeFi
    11:05
    How Spool Is Aiming to Help Institutions Enter DeFi
  • Crypto Spot Market Regulation Gap Unaddressed for 'Far Too Long': Former CFTC Commissioner Stump
    13:54
    Crypto Spot Market Regulation Gap Unaddressed for 'Far Too Long': Former CFTC Commissioner Stump
  • In an interview with CoinDesk, 1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz said that the fundraising was conducted via a token sale from the project’s ecosystem development fund, and that the tokens were sold at a flat rate calculated with a multi-month, time-weighted average price.

    Kunz noted that 1inch, which previously closed funding rounds of $12 million and $2.8 million, was aiming to use the latest round specifically to bring in investment partners with institutional experience.

    “This raise was not about the money,” said Kunz. “We were looking for people and VCs who can help us build a new product and push the whole network forward. In terms of the 1inch DAO, it also makes sense to have experienced people in several fields – engineering, business relations and financial institutions.”

    The DeFi platform is planning to release a protocol insurance product next year, as well as begin a series of trials offering DeFi services to mainstream financial institutions.

    “Next year we’re working for a lot of layers, a lot of companies around the world to find solutions to offer compliant DeFi for institutions – this will be called 1inch Pro,” Kunz said. “This will be based on 1inch Network’s open source technology, with a compliance protocol as well.”

    Kunz said that “banks, hedge funds and brokers” are all highly interested, but as yet have been stymied by know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money-laundering (AML) requirements. The protocol is working to obtain German financial licensing.

    “Institutions are ready to jump into DeFi, but they need a regulation framework for that, which we will work on in coming years in some pilot projects,” he added.

    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.

    Andrew Thurman

    Andrew Thurman was a tech reporter at CoinDesk with a focus on DeFi.


    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.