Fidelity, Bitmain and More Invest $27 Million in Crypto Trading Platform ErisX

Crypto trading platform ErisX has closed a Series B funding round that raised $27.5 million, the company said Tuesday.

Bitmain, ConsenSys, Fidelity Investments, Nasdaq Ventures and Monex Group participated in the funding round, investing in the new derivatives and digital asset trading platform for the first time. ErisX, which is being built by derivatives market provider Eris Exchange, was previously announced as a platform for trading a number of cryptocurrencies, as well as bitcoin futures.

CTC Group Investments, Digital Currency Group, DRW Venture Capital, Pantera Capital and Valor Equity Partners also participated in the round, on top of previous investments in the platform.

The company, which has also seen backing from brokerage TD Ameritrade, aims to be a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated futures market and clearinghouse, though it has yet to finalize its registration for the latter portion.

ErisX will also act as a spot market for cryptocurrencies, though the CFTC does not oversee the crypto spot market.

CEO Thomas Chippas said in a statement that the funding would go towards building up the platform, as well as growing the ErisX team.

He added:

"With increasing financial support from leading edge firms, ErisX stands to provide the most robust, secure and regulated digital asset offering available to both institutional and individual participants."

According to ErisX's website, the platform expects to launch spot contracts sometime in Q2 of 2019, with futures contracts following in the second half of the year.

Joseph Lubin, CEO of ConsenSys, said in a statement that the new platform "is an important step in continuing the convergence of digital and traditional asset classes in global institutional financial services."

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