Variational raises $50 million Series A to bring liquidity from traditional markets to blockchain rails

Variational raises $50 million Series A to bring liquidity from traditional markets to blockchain rails

The crypto industry has long defined itself in opposition to traditional finance but, in recent years, the two worlds are on a path to convergence. The latest example is Variational, a startup that has built a protocol for decentralized derivatives trading, but one that is aimed at gathering liquidity from traditional finance dealers rather than from niche crypto shops. The company believes its blockchain-based platform can challenge longtime incumbents when it comes to offering a wide array of derivatives.

This pitch has proved popular with investors as Variational on Wednesday announced it has raised a $50 million Series A funding round led by Dragonfly Capital, with participation from Bain Capital Crypto and Coinbase Ventures. Bain Capital Crypto led Variational’s $10.3 million seed round, which closed in 2021 but was announced in 2024. 

The Cayman Islands-based Variational is aiming to compete in an increasingly competitive market when it comes to offering........

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