VerifiedX raises $15 million to build institutional Bitcoin infrastructure

Funding round announced

VerifiedX, a programmable financial operating system for Bitcoin, announced that its Foundation has closed a $15 million financing round. The capital will be used to develop institutional Bitcoin infrastructure.

Key facts

• Funding amount: $15 million.
• Cantor Fitzgerald acts as the investment‑banking partner.
• Initial investors are not yet disclosed.
• Funds will support custody, exchange listings and lending programs.

Custody partnership and token design

Part of the money will expand custody relationships with BitGo, a qualified custodian that can hold VerifiedX’s Bitcoin‑collateralized token vBTC and its Base‑network counterpart vBTC.b. vBTC is created by depositing Bitcoin into a self‑custodial address; the Bitcoin never leaves the Bitcoin ledger. Withdrawals and token actions are authorized by threshold signatures across VerifiedX validators, and holders can redeem the token for native Bitcoin at any time.

Exchange listings and lending facilities

VerifiedX plans to list vBTC and its native token VFX on tier‑one centralized exchanges, with the first announcement expected within weeks. The financing also backs borrow‑and‑lend programs that let holders loan against Bitcoin or lend it out for a return without losing ownership.

Founder’s comment

Brian May, a member of the VerifiedX Foundation, said: “Nearly every way to put Bitcoin to work on‑chain today asks the holder to swap it for someone else’s IOU. It’s the reason less than 1 % of all Bitcoin held by institutions is earning any yield. vBTC is a game‑changer in that regard, and this round funds the custody, exchange and lending rails that will allow institutions to use vBTC and natively turn their Bitcoin into productive financial capital.”

Why it matters for institutions

Institutional Bitcoin holdings currently generate little yield because most solutions require swapping Bitcoin for a token that represents it. vBTC keeps the Bitcoin on its own blockchain while providing a programmable token, which could enable institutions to earn returns without relinquishing direct control.

Upcoming steps

VerifiedX expects to announce the first exchange listing of vBTC and VFX within the next few weeks. Additional details about the investors and the exact terms of the financing have not been disclosed.

Sources

• Bitcoin Magazine