NEXBRIDGE and NEXPLACE Raise $8 Million to Expand Bitcoin Capital Markets

NEXBRIDGE and NEXPLACE, two innovative companies in the Bitcoin ecosystem, have successfully raised $8 million in a Series A funding round. This capital injection will accelerate the development of their integrated Bitcoin capital markets ecosystem, which includes NEXBRIDGE, a regulated issuer of asset-backed digital assets, and NEXPLACE, a next-generation trading platform. The funding round was led by Fulgur Ventures, a Bitcoin-native investment firm focused on infrastructure and applications that unlock Bitcoin’s role in global financial systems.

NEXBRIDGE will utilize the funds to launch new digital assets and pursue additional listings across licensed exchanges. Meanwhile, NEXPLACE will focus on accelerating development and go-to-market execution ahead of its planned launch in the second half of 2025. Both companies currently operate as separate entities but share the same shareholder group and strategic roadmap, with plans to consolidate under a single holding once the necessary corporate and jurisdictional steps are completed.

Michele Crivelli, Founder & CEO of both companies, emphasized the vision for BitcoinFi, which aims to bring the safeguards of traditional capital markets onto Bitcoin rails. This will make digital assets accessible with 24/7 efficiency through compliant, global infrastructure. The initial focus is on secure access to familiar exposures like bonds or equities, made available through NEXPLACE and other licensed venues. Over time, the platform will evolve to unlock advanced features, enabling businesses to raise capital on-chain through native, regulated digital instruments designed to move funds directly to the issuer, without traditional intermediaries.

NEXBRIDGE issues regulated digital assets backed by real underlying value, offering both familiar exposures and new formats for accessing them. In November 2024, NEXBRIDGE launched USTBL—the first public, regulated digital asset backed by U.S. Treasury Bills and issued on Bitcoin infrastructure via the Liquid Network. Initially listed on Bitfinex Securities, USTBL is now preparing to expand across additional licensed exchanges. Following this, El Salvador’s digital-asset regulator approved a broader range of products, spanning from single-stock exposures to multi-asset strategies, set to launch on NEXPLACE and other licensed venues, including through NEXBRIDGE’s own OTC desk.

NEXPLACE, licensed as a Digital Asset Service Provider, offers a unified venue for trading a wide range of digital assets—from native cryptocurrencies and utility tokens to asset-linked instruments. Advanced features, such as using eligible tokenized assets as collateral for derivatives, will be gradually rolled out following the launch. Unlike models where tokenized assets are mere digital wrappers of off-chain products, NEXBRIDGE issues digital assets that are regulated at the token level. Each issuance is formally approved by the regulator, receives a unique instrument identifier, and includes public disclosures such as proof-of-reserve attestations and a dedicated termsheet detailing key information. This model ensures that transparency and regulatory oversight apply directly to the digital asset users hold and trade—not just to the structure behind it.

While initial distribution will occur primarily via NEXPLACE, the infrastructure is designed for openness. NEXBRIDGE’s regulatory architecture allows its assets to be listed on other licensed trading venues, ensuring portability. This dual model bridges two worlds: providing secure, regulated access to digital markets for global users, especially those in fast-growing emerging economies, while giving institutions a simplified interface to manage both crypto and asset-linked positions with full transparency.

Oleg Mikhalsky, Partner at Fulgur Ventures, highlighted the strategic potential of the partnership. “Bitcoin continues to establish itself as a unique, scarce digital asset—now increasingly relevant to institutional finance,” he said. “Traditional financial institutions are beginning to recognize Bitcoin not only as a store of value but also as a settlement layer for both monetary transactions and tokenized instruments. NEXBRIDGE and NEXPLACE demonstrate a meaningful, real-world use case enabled by the Liquid Network that reinforces Bitcoin’s role in capital markets—a development Fulgur is proud to support.”

Adam Back, Co-founder & CEO of Blockstream, emphasized the strategic potential of the partnership. “By powering NEXBRIDGE’s digital asset issuance and NEXPLACE’s trading platform with the Liquid Network, we’re helping shape a new generation of capital markets—anchored to Bitcoin’s security, built for global scale.”

Early access to NEXPLACE is now available, and users can join the waitlist. This funding round marks a significant milestone for NEXBRIDGE and NEXPLACE, positioning them at the forefront of the Bitcoin capital markets ecosystem. With the support of Fulgur Ventures and Blockstream, the companies are poised to revolutionize the way digital assets are issued and traded, bringing the benefits of traditional capital markets to the Bitcoin ecosystem.