Sentora, New DeFi Firm, Raises $25M in Series A Funding

IntoTheBlock and Trident have announced a merger, forming a new entity called Sentora. The merger aims to create an ecosystem focused on the needs of institutional investors in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. The new firm will cater to funds, treasuries, and other institutional investors, providing a suite of products that address key blockers preventing institutional adoption of DeFi.

Anthony DeMartino, former head of risk strategies at Coinbase, will lead Sentora as its CEO. Jesús Rodríguez, CEO of IntoTheBlock, will serve as the CTO of the new firm. DeMartino emphasized the importance of strong risk management and compliance frameworks in attracting institutional capital to DeFi, stating that Sentora provides both without sacrificing performance.

In addition to the merger, Sentora has raised $25 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by New Form Capital, with participation from Joint Effects and Tribe Capital. Ripple was noted as a strategic ecosystem investor. This funding will support Sentora's mission to develop products that cater to the needs of institutional investors in DeFi.

The merger and funding round highlight a broader trend of consolidation in the crypto industry. Firms are increasingly looking to create platforms that can cater to multiple needs for clients, particularly institutional investors. This trend is driven by the desire to simplify the investment process and provide comprehensive solutions that meet the diverse needs of institutional investors.

Sentora's formation is a significant development in the DeFi space, as it brings together two established firms with complementary expertise. IntoTheBlock's focus on institutional DeFi investors and Trident's range of services from lending to advisory create a strong foundation for Sentora to become a leading provider of DeFi solutions for institutional investors. The new firm's emphasis on risk management and compliance will be crucial in attracting institutional capital to DeFi, which has been a key challenge for the industry.