Deblock Bridges Crypto and Traditional Banking with $35M On-Chain Push

French crypto-banking startup Deblock has secured $35 million in Series A funding to fuel its expansion across Europe, positioning itself as a pioneer in the emerging on-chain banking sector. The round, led by Speedinvest, CommerzVentures, and Latitude, with participation from existing investors such as Kraken Ventures, values the company at approximately $208 million. The capital will accelerate Deblock's entry into Germany, its second core market after France, where it has already attracted over 300,000 users since launching in April 2024.

Deblock's platform combines a regulated euro current account with a self-custodied crypto wallet, allowing users to manage both fiat and digital assets within a single interface. The startup, founded by former Revolut and Ledger executives Aaron Beck, Adriana Restrepo, Jean Meyer, and Mario Eguiluz, operates under European regulatory oversight as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorized by the Banque de France and holds a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). This dual compliance framework enables users to access decentralized finance (DeFi) tools like Vaults while retaining full control over their crypto assets, a key differentiator from custodial platforms.

The funding announcement follows a broader surge in interest for crypto neobanks, driven by clearer regulatory guidelines in Europe and growing demand for integrated financial services. Deblock's expansion into Germany leverages the country's established digital financial infrastructure and regulatory environment, with plans to localize product features and customer support according to recent reports. Investors highlighted the startup's potential to redefine traditional banking. Tom Filip Lesche of Speedinvest noted that Deblock represents "the next wave of financial services: on-chain platforms that are programmable and user-controlled," while CommerzVentures' Paul Morgenthaler emphasized its ability to "bridge the worlds of crypto and traditional banking".

The European crypto landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with over a dozen crypto neobanks emerging in recent years. Deblock's founders, drawing on their experience at Revolut-a fintech valued at $75 billion as of September 2025-aim to replicate that success by targeting both crypto-native users and traditional neobank customers seeking higher yields on deposits according to recent analysis. Their strategy aligns with broader industry trends, as stablecoins and tokenized assets gain traction in mainstream finance. According to a recent analysis, stablecoins are no longer confined to crypto trading but are now facilitating global payments, cross-border remittances, and tokenized asset settlements.

Deblock's regulatory compliance and technological innovation place it at the forefront of Europe's evolving financial ecosystem. As it scales its operations, the startup faces competition from established neobanks like Revolut and Monzo, which are also integrating blockchain features. However, Deblock's focus on self-custody and on-chain architecture positions it to capture a niche market of users prioritizing control and transparency.

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