Portuguese Blockchain Trading Platform Ekiden Secures €1.7 Million Funding at €17 Million Valuation

Ekiden, a startup based in Lisbon, is making waves in the blockchain industry with its innovative approach to trading infrastructure for professional and institutional users. Recently, the company closed a Seed round, raising €1.7 million ($2 million) at a valuation of €17 million ($20 million).

The funding round saw participation from investors associated with prominent names like GSR, Pyth, Aptos, LayerZero, Cube Exchange, Avail, and Chorus One, as well as Unicorn Factory Ventures and P2 Ventures.

Founder of Ekiden, Vitali Dervoed, expressed his vision for the company, emphasizing the importance of meeting the high standards of execution, reliability, and risk that professional traders demand. He highlighted the gap in on-chain trading solutions and the need for more sophisticated infrastructure.

In the broader market landscape, several other blockchain and digital asset companies have secured significant funding. Midas, based in Berlin, raised €43 million for expanding its tokenized investment platform, while Axiology in Vilnius secured €5 million for developing tokenized securities infrastructure. Finst in Amsterdam raised €8 million to support the European expansion of its regulated cryptocurrency platform.

These funding announcements underscore the growing interest and investment in blockchain technology, digital assets, and institutional financial infrastructure across Europe. Companies like Upvest in Berlin and Performativ in Copenhagen have also raised substantial amounts to scale their operations and develop advanced trading systems.

Ekiden’s Seed round marks the company’s entry into the blockchain derivatives market, focusing on providing cutting-edge infrastructure for professional and institutional users. Vitali reiterated the company’s mission to enhance trading efficiency, security, and performance without compromising transparency or user control.

Founded in 2025, Ekiden is committed to developing a decentralized derivatives trading platform tailored for high-frequency and algorithmic trading. Vitali’s background in traditional finance and blockchain technology informs the company’s strategic approach to bridging the gap in the market.

As the demand for digital assets and on-chain derivatives grows, Ekiden aims to address the need for more advanced trading infrastructure. Research shows a significant increase in institutional interest in digital assets, with a strong emphasis on improved institutional-grade infrastructure.

Rather than simply offering another cryptocurrency trading platform, Ekiden’s platform is designed for sophisticated trading strategies, combining fast trade execution with on-chain settlement. The company targets professional users, such as trading firms and market makers, with integrations to support advanced automated trading strategies.

Ekiden is leveraging Arbitrum to enhance its product, citing the platform’s established trading ecosystem and mature technical infrastructure as key advantages. The recent funding will be allocated towards audits, product development, team expansion, and strategic partnerships to enhance liquidity and scale the business.

In conclusion, Ekiden’s innovative approach to blockchain-based derivatives trading is poised to revolutionize the market for professional traders. With a focus on performance, transparency, and user control, the company is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the industry and drive the adoption of blockchain technology in trading.