Investing in the Next Wave of Financial Infrastructure: The 'Everything App' Model in Crypto and TradFi

The financial landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as the lines between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) blur. At the forefront of this transformation is Fomo, a Solana-based trading app that recently secured a $17M Series A funding round led by Benchmark and crypto luminaries like Raj Gokal (Solana) and Balaji Srinivasan, according to Decrypt. This raise not only underscores Fomo's rapid ascent but also highlights a broader trend: the rise of "Everything Apps" that merge social interaction, real-time trading, and cross-chain interoperability. For investors, the question is no longer whether this model will succeed-it's how to position for its inevitable expansion.

Fomo's $17M Raise: A Case Study in the 'Everything App' Model

Fomo's appeal lies in its ability to distill complex financial infrastructure into a user-friendly, social-first experience. Launched in May 2025, the app initially focused on meme coin trading but has since evolved into a multi-chain platform enabling users to trade millions of tokens across ecosystems without bridging or creating new wallets, as noted by Decrypt. Its 120,000-user base generates $150K in daily revenue, a staggering feat for a team operating with minimal overhead. Paul Erlanger, Fomo's co-founder, attributes this growth to strategic integrations like Apple Pay, which streamlined onboarding for retail users, as Decrypt reports.

The app's success reflects a growing demand for platforms that combine financial utility with social engagement. Leaderboards, real-time commentary, and gamified trading mechanics create a network effect, where user activity drives liquidity and retention. This mirrors the "Everything App" model-a concept where a single interface aggregates multiple services, from payments to asset management, into a seamless experience.

The 'Everything App' Model: From Crypto to TradFi

Fomo's rise is not an isolated phenomenon. Traditional financial institutions are also embracing the "Everything App" ethos, leveraging blockchain to integrate disparate services into unified platforms. For instance, BlackRock and Franklin Templeton have launched tokenized funds like the USD Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) and OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, enabling real-time settlement and broader access to institutional-grade assets, as insights4.vc notes. These initiatives demonstrate how blockchain infrastructure is becoming a backbone for TradFi, offering scalability, liquidity, and compliance.

JPMorgan's Onyx network further exemplifies this trend. By mid-2025, Onyx was settling $2 billion daily in internal transfers, as insights4.vc reports, showcasing blockchain's viability for high-volume, production-level use cases. Similarly, Fnality International's on-chain repo swaps using tokenized central-bank funds against government bonds validated the feasibility of near-real-time DvP (Delivery versus Payment) settlements-a critical step toward mainstream adoption, according to insights4.vc.

Convergence of TradFi and DeFi: Strategic Partnerships and Regulatory Alignment

The convergence of TradFi and DeFi is accelerating through strategic partnerships and regulatory alignment. Franklin Templeton's collaboration with Zerohash-a MiCA-compliant digital asset infrastructure firm-has enabled the firm to expand crypto offerings in Europe while adhering to stringent compliance standards, as Bitget reports. Meanwhile, Chainlink's partnership with SBI Group, a Japanese financial giant, signals a new era of interoperability between on-chain and off-chain systems, according to Coin-Turk.

Regulatory clarity is also playing a pivotal role. The SEC's ruling in the Ripple case, for example, has paved the way for XRP ETFs, mirroring the institutional adoption seen with Bitcoin and Ethereum, as Bitget notes. These developments suggest that the "Everything App" model is not confined to crypto-native startups but is being embraced by traditional players seeking to future-proof their infrastructure.

Investment Thesis: Positioning for the 'Everything App' Era

For investors, the "Everything App" model represents a paradigm shift in financial infrastructure. Fomo's $17M raise and 120,000-user base demonstrate the viability of social-first trading platforms, while TradFi's tokenization efforts highlight the scalability of blockchain. Key metrics to monitor include:
- User Growth and Retention: Fomo's ability to maintain its 120,000-user base while expanding features.
- Tokenization AUM: Apollo's ACRED fund, which reached $106 million in on-chain AUM by June 2025, is a bellwether for real-world asset adoption, as insights4.vc notes.
- Regulatory Developments: ETF approvals and MiCA compliance will shape the next phase of growth for both crypto and TradFi players.

The "Everything App" model is not just about convenience-it's about redefining how users interact with financial systems. As Fomo and its counterparts prove, the future of finance will be built on platforms that prioritize social engagement, interoperability, and real-time value exchange.