Blockchain
BetDEX Closes $21M Seed Funding Round
BetDex, a blockchain betting venture by former FanDuel executives, which was first unveiled late last month, has now completed a $21m seed investment round. This marks the largest-ever seed round by a UK startup.
BetDEX is described by the company as “the world’s first decentralised sports betting protocol.” Set for launch in the first half of 2022, BetDEX combines blockchain technology with sports betting, with the aim of transforming the consumer sports betting experience.
The $21 million investment round is led by San Francisco-based crypto investment firm Paradigm and Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which was recently valued at $25 billion after its own Series B-1 round was disclosed in October. Multicoin Capital, Hack VC, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sino Global Capital, Solana Ventures, and Everblue Management also participated in the round.
Former FanDuel co-founder and CEO Nigel Eccles becomes BetDEX’s Non-executive Chair, Varun Sudhakar is appointed CEO, and Stuart Tonner takes up the CTO role. BetDEX plans to scale the business from a base in Scotland and is now hiring for a range of positions.
Eccles co-founded FanDuel in 2009, with the company going on to become Scotland’s first $1 billion dollar-valued startup before being acquired by Flutter in 2018. FanDuel is now estimated to be worth around $30 billion. Varun Sudhakar, who began his career in investment banking in Silicon Valley, worked alongside Eccles in senior strategy and corporate development roles at FanDuel between 2015 and 2018, before going on to senior executive positions at other venture-backed startups in New York. Stuart Tonner was the first engineer hired by FanDuel, spending over eight years with the company, building the core FanDuel platform and scaling it to tens of millions of users.
In 2020, the global sports betting market was valued at $203 billion and is forecast to grow to $350 billion by 2024. Despite the immense size, popularity and potential of the sports betting market, it has been characterised by incumbents charging high fees and delivering minimal product innovation.
BetDEX aims to take the opposite approach, with a protocol built on public blockchain Solana, and will offer consumers extremely fast and low-cost trades, while eliminating counterparty risk. The protocol will be fully decentralised and open-sourced, allowing third parties to build their own applications and innovate on top of the platform. BetDEX plans to accept wagers in USDT, SOL and SAMO at launch.
Nigel Eccles, Co-Founder and Chairman of BetDEX, said: “Blockchain technology is set to revolutionise sports betting and we want to be at the forefront of that. It’s exciting to be founding the business with Varun and Stuart, and to be building it in Scotland. We are energized to have the backing and wealth of expertise that comes with having Paradigm and FTX as cornerstone investors.”
Varun Sudhakar, Co-Founder and CEO of BetDEX, said: “The sports betting industry charges high prices for poor products and limits trades by its most successful users. BetDEX is diametrically opposed to this approach, we will successfully compete against incumbents with a markedly superior product and low fees, which is now possible with the advent of blockchain technology. Winners will always be welcome on our protocol.”
Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO and Founder of FTX, said: “We are thrilled to be backing a team with deep industry expertise to transform the sports betting experience. It is mind-boggling that more sports wagering does not occur on exchanges – we firmly believe in giving consumers the ability and control to set their own price and are excited to partner with BetDEX to bring this vision to fruition.”
Arjun Balaji, investment partner at Paradigm, said: “It feels obvious crypto will transform online sports betting. DeFi has shown how financial markets can be automated and distributed to the benefit of consumers. Crypto can do the same for all other kinds of financial activities, including betting. The BetDEX team has the right combination of industry experience and technical skill to create something that shows the way forward for everyone working in the space.”
Blockchain
Kore Digital Mining Ltd Announces Additional 14 PH/s Bitcoin Mining Capacity
Kore Digital Mining Ltd, a UK based Bitcoin mining company, announces that effective 1st May 2024, an additional 14 PH/s mining capacity will be added to its existing infrastructure.
This additional capacity will be provided by a major Bitcoin mining corporation and will be operational until 30th June 2024.
Derek Nisbet, Kore’s Founder & CEO, said – “We are pleased to work with a leading Bitcoin Miner in securing a large amount of mining capacity, for a 2 month trial period. We look forward to hopefully extending this period and engaging more with major mining corporations offering Bitcoin hashing opportunities, in the future.”
This additional 14PH/s Bitcoin mining capacity adds to the existing 2 PH/s currently operational with Kore’s own infrastructure and an additional 4 PH/s is due to be added over the next quarter, totalling 20 PH/s.
The post Kore Digital Mining Ltd Announces Additional 14 PH/s Bitcoin Mining Capacity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Blockchain
After Crossing 100,000 Active Users, Hypeloot.com Announces The Launch of Its Utility Token $HPLT
Hypeloot was established in 2022 and has processed over 50 million bets for over 100.000 Users worldwide, being one of the fastest growing Cryptocurrency casinos, releasing new game modes almost every week and a recent surge in growth which is likely to accelerate.
Hypeloot Originals cross 50 million bets mark
With new game mode additions, the number of daily bets and also bets placed per user is increasing by the day. Hypeloot adds some of the most popular Casino games but is also not afraid to add an innovative touch to the platform by developing new games that are gaining a lot of popularity, for example, the Plinko game with a 100.000X multiplier, making it the first-ever Plinko game with this high of a multiplier which is not only something innovative for the Gambling industry but also a great marketing tool as users always try to chase high multipliers.
Hypeloot .com profit share with $HPLT holders
All $HPLT holders will indirectly profit from the rampant Hypeloot .com growth and its already increasing profitability via daily buyback & burn events. Hypeloot profits will automatically go towards purchasing $HPLT tokens on the open market and burning them right after – on a daily basis!
The Hypeloot $HPLT Token
The $HPLT Presale will start the 1st of February at 15:00 UTC directly on presale.Hypeloot .com, the presale is split into different stages in which the first investors get the cheapest possible price and are also eligible for the Hype NFTs which will be tradable right on token launch. 40% Of the total supply will go towards Presale contributors, rest is split between liquidity, marketing, team, airdrops and more. All Team tokens will be locked and vested on a transparent level.
Fueling The Hypeloot Ecosystem
Hypeloot is one of the only Crypto casinos offering Fiat payment gateways and all major payment providers making it easy for every user. On top of that, Hypeloot also currently offers all major Cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. All Games are 100% provably fair with an open and transparent guide on how to check each roll, the EOS and Chainlink Blockchain hashes are being used to generate 100% randomness.
Hype NFTs
Hype NFTs are the official NFTs of Hypeloot .com ($HPLT), it will initially only be available to presale contributors, on launch, these NFTs can then be traded, bought, sold and used on Hypeloot .com for free bets, staking pools, increased rakeback and much more. These NFTs are strictly limited and will not be minted more than the given supply.
Hypeloot .com Numbers and Outlook
Hypeloot has generated over $1 Million in revenue in 2023, given that regular slot and live casino games will be added soon, it is expected to have a significant surge in the coming weeks as this is anticipated by a lot of current users, this new addition also open the door to a lot of new user acquisition as well as higher profit per user given all the new game modes.
Blockchain
HIPTHER Announces Major Expansion into Fintech, Blockchain, and AI, Reinforcing Its Position as a Diverse Industry News Leader
Building on its established success in the gambling and iGaming sectors, HIPTHER Agency is excited to announce a significant expansion of its editorial focus into three dynamic industries: fintech, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. This strategic move is part of HIPTHER’s ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive, in-depth coverage across a spectrum of industries, including virtual reality, esports, and official global government releases.
Focused Expansion for a Diverse Audience
The expansion into fintech, blockchain, and AI represents HIPTHER’s dedication to staying at the forefront of technological and financial advancements. By integrating these sectors into the HIPTHER .com platform, the agency offers its audience a rich, diverse content experience, positioning itself as a one-stop destination for insights across these cutting-edge fields.
Enhanced Digital Presence and Accessibility
Complementing this expansion, HIPTHER continues to enhance its digital footprint. The agency’s Android app has already established a strong user base, and with the anticipation of an iOS app in 2024, HIPTHER is set to broaden its reach and accessibility. The agency’s social media channels are also being rebranded to reflect this expanded focus, ensuring a cohesive and comprehensive digital experience.
Unwavering Commitment to Quality and Insight
HIPTHER, known for its high-quality content in the gambling industry, extends this commitment to its new sectors. The agency’s team of experts and seasoned journalists is dedicated to delivering insightful, accurate, and timely information, catering to the needs of a diverse, global audience.
Zoltan Tundik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, states, “Our expansion into fintech, blockchain, and AI is a natural progression of our mission to provide diverse, in-depth industry news. We’re excited to bring our expertise and quality content to these vibrant sectors, while continuing to serve our existing audiences with the coverage they trust.”
For more information, please visit HIPTHER.com
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