Institutional Confidence Drives Agio's $6M Crypto Risk Expansion

Agio Ratings, a London-based digital asset risk intelligence firm, has completed a $6 million financing round led by AlbionVC, with additional participation from Portage Ventures and MS&AD. This brings the company's total capital raised to over $11 million, according to multiple reports. The funds will be allocated to expanding Agio's research and engineering teams, enhancing its risk ratings platform, and supporting partnerships with major financial institutions entering the digital asset market.

The company, founded in 2022 by Ana De Sousa, specializes in quantifying default risks for exchanges, custodians, and lenders in the cryptocurrency sector. Its data-driven models have demonstrated predictive accuracy in identifying systemic risks, including flagging FTX's high probability of default four months before its collapse and assessing Bybit's resilience during a $1.5 billion security breach. Agio's approach diverges from traditional credit rating agencies by employing quantitative methodologies that dynamically adjust to market conditions, enabling institutions to optimize risk-adjusted returns.

The funding round underscores growing institutional confidence in digital asset risk management. AlbionVC, which has backed ventures like Booking.com and Egress, emphasized the urgency of independent, institutional-grade risk tools as the market matures. Kibriya Rahman of AlbionVC noted Agio's proven ability to anticipate major market events, positioning it to scale and meet demand from banks, funds, and insurers. The firm is already collaborating with Relm Insurance on a crypto exchange default product and is in advanced discussions with top-tier banks in the U.S. and Europe to support their entry into crypto trading, lending, and stablecoin operations.

Agio's expansion aligns with rising institutional participation in digital assets. The company's ratings are now used by leading risk teams at firms like Wintermute and Ledn, reflecting its role in bridging gaps in data quality and operational risk assessment. With the new capital, Agio plans to deepen its partnerships and refine tools for institutional clients managing exposure to volatile markets.

Ana De Sousa, Agio's CEO, highlighted the critical need for independent risk insights in a sector historically plagued by data opacity. "The interest we're seeing from top-tier banks shows they need our independent risk insights to participate safely," she stated. AlbionVC's investment underscores its confidence in Agio's potential to become a global leader in digital asset risk management, leveraging its team of PhDs and advanced models to address unique challenges in the crypto ecosystem.

The $6 million round reflects broader trends in fintech innovation, where institutional-grade tools are increasingly sought to navigate regulatory uncertainties and market volatility. As digital assets gain traction, Agio's focus on transparency and predictive analytics positions it to support the next phase of institutional adoption.