Yala Completes Seed Round co-led by Polychain Capital and Ethereal Ventures
Friday,11/10/2024|09:17GMTby
FM
Industry investors support Yala's vision of a connected multi-chain ecosystem with Bitcoin
Yala, a liquidity protocol and stablecoin issuer for Bitcoin, has announced the successful completion of its 3x oversubscribed seed funding round. The round was co-led by Polychain Capital and Ethereal Ventures, with participation from prominent investors, including Galaxy Vision Hill, Anagram, Amber Group, ABCDE, Ambush Capital, GeekCartel, HashKey Capital, L2 Iterative Ventures (L2IV), SatoshiLab, UpHonest Capital, UTXO Management, and 280 Capital.
Yala’s team raised an $8 million seed round at an undisclosed valuation, funding the expansion of its engineering, growth, and security teams ahead of its mainnet launch. This follows over 2,000 BTC in committed deposits from investors.
Yala’s mission is to unlock Bitcoin liquidity through a protocol that combines stablecoin issuance with multi-chain ecosystems. Its modular architecture supports cross-chain deployments across EVM-compatible platforms like Ethereum and non-EVM systems like Solana, enhancing Bitcoin composability and driving a connected Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem.
Key Investors Highlight Support
“Our strategy is to invest in and support founders in building an ecosystem driven by strong synergies. Through its stablecoin, Yala will bridge the gaps, enabling our Bitcoin ecosystem to thrive with robust liquidity”, said the Polychain Capital Team."Yala's approach addresses the current liquidity gap in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Their first-mover advantage, paired with the excellent execution speed of the team, will unlock new opportunities in BTC-related DeFi innovation. EV is thrilled to be supporting their journey," added Min Teo, Managing Partner & Co-founder at Ethereal Ventures.
Yala’s Vision
Yala is building a modular infrastructure to deploy cross-chain modules, enhancing Bitcoin composability across ecosystems. The key components of the Yala protocol are:
Overcollateralized Stablecoin Protocol: A Bitcoin-backed stablecoin ensuring security and stability.
MetaMint: Enables minting stablecoins directly from the Bitcoin mainnet on the destination chain.
Insurance Derivatives Service: Provides comprehensive insurance solutions within the DeFi ecosystem.
Yala's multi-token system aims to boost Bitcoin cross-chain liquidity, featuring $YU (Bitcoin-backed stablecoin) and $YALA (the governance token of the Yala ecosystem). $YU allows Bitcoin holders to potentially earn yields across various cross-chain DeFi protocols while preserving the security and stability of the Bitcoin network.
"Yala is revolutionizing Bitcoin's role in decentralized finance," said Vicky Fu, Yala Co-founder and CTO. "By issuing Bitcoin-backed stablecoins and creating programmable cross-chain modules, we're not just enhancing liquidity, but we're building a bridge that connects Bitcoin to the wider DeFi ecosystem, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for innovation and growth."
The Road to Mainnet
Yala is set to release its testnet next week, with several key developments planned:
Testnet V0: $YU stablecoin issuance and Pro Mode.
Testnet V1: $YU stablecoin Lite Mode with meta yield.
V1 Release: Insurance module and security upgrades.
V2 Launch: Governance framework initiation.
Yala's roadmap focuses on building a robust liquidity layer that connects Bitcoin to major Layer 1 and Layer 2 ecosystems. As the team builds momentum toward the mainnet launch, they encourage the community to participate in the upcoming testnet.
About Yala
Yala (https://yala.org/) is building a Bitcoin liquidity layer to unlock the full potential of Bitcoin liquidity by connecting it to multi-chain ecosystems. Its modular approach supports deployments on both EVM-compatible platforms and non-EVM systems, aiming to foster a robust and interconnected Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem. Key features of the Yala protocol include an overcollateralized stablecoin protocol, an insurance derivatives service, and a MetaMint functionality, enabling seamless liquidity between Bitcoin and other ecosystems.
Yala, a liquidity protocol and stablecoin issuer for Bitcoin, has announced the successful completion of its 3x oversubscribed seed funding round. The round was co-led by Polychain Capital and Ethereal Ventures, with participation from prominent investors, including Galaxy Vision Hill, Anagram, Amber Group, ABCDE, Ambush Capital, GeekCartel, HashKey Capital, L2 Iterative Ventures (L2IV), SatoshiLab, UpHonest Capital, UTXO Management, and 280 Capital.
Yala’s team raised an $8 million seed round at an undisclosed valuation, funding the expansion of its engineering, growth, and security teams ahead of its mainnet launch. This follows over 2,000 BTC in committed deposits from investors.
Yala’s mission is to unlock Bitcoin liquidity through a protocol that combines stablecoin issuance with multi-chain ecosystems. Its modular architecture supports cross-chain deployments across EVM-compatible platforms like Ethereum and non-EVM systems like Solana, enhancing Bitcoin composability and driving a connected Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem.
Key Investors Highlight Support
“Our strategy is to invest in and support founders in building an ecosystem driven by strong synergies. Through its stablecoin, Yala will bridge the gaps, enabling our Bitcoin ecosystem to thrive with robust liquidity”, said the Polychain Capital Team."Yala's approach addresses the current liquidity gap in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Their first-mover advantage, paired with the excellent execution speed of the team, will unlock new opportunities in BTC-related DeFi innovation. EV is thrilled to be supporting their journey," added Min Teo, Managing Partner & Co-founder at Ethereal Ventures.
Yala’s Vision
Yala is building a modular infrastructure to deploy cross-chain modules, enhancing Bitcoin composability across ecosystems. The key components of the Yala protocol are:
Overcollateralized Stablecoin Protocol: A Bitcoin-backed stablecoin ensuring security and stability.
MetaMint: Enables minting stablecoins directly from the Bitcoin mainnet on the destination chain.
Insurance Derivatives Service: Provides comprehensive insurance solutions within the DeFi ecosystem.
Yala's multi-token system aims to boost Bitcoin cross-chain liquidity, featuring $YU (Bitcoin-backed stablecoin) and $YALA (the governance token of the Yala ecosystem). $YU allows Bitcoin holders to potentially earn yields across various cross-chain DeFi protocols while preserving the security and stability of the Bitcoin network.
"Yala is revolutionizing Bitcoin's role in decentralized finance," said Vicky Fu, Yala Co-founder and CTO. "By issuing Bitcoin-backed stablecoins and creating programmable cross-chain modules, we're not just enhancing liquidity, but we're building a bridge that connects Bitcoin to the wider DeFi ecosystem, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for innovation and growth."
The Road to Mainnet
Yala is set to release its testnet next week, with several key developments planned:
Testnet V0: $YU stablecoin issuance and Pro Mode.
Testnet V1: $YU stablecoin Lite Mode with meta yield.
V1 Release: Insurance module and security upgrades.
V2 Launch: Governance framework initiation.
Yala's roadmap focuses on building a robust liquidity layer that connects Bitcoin to major Layer 1 and Layer 2 ecosystems. As the team builds momentum toward the mainnet launch, they encourage the community to participate in the upcoming testnet.
About Yala
Yala (https://yala.org/) is building a Bitcoin liquidity layer to unlock the full potential of Bitcoin liquidity by connecting it to multi-chain ecosystems. Its modular approach supports deployments on both EVM-compatible platforms and non-EVM systems, aiming to foster a robust and interconnected Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem. Key features of the Yala protocol include an overcollateralized stablecoin protocol, an insurance derivatives service, and a MetaMint functionality, enabling seamless liquidity between Bitcoin and other ecosystems.
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
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As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
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Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
