Paris-Based Crypto Wallet Firm Dfns Raises $16M in VC Funding Led by Abu Dhabi’s ADQ

Paris-based crypto wallet technology company Dfns has secured $16 million in its latest funding round, led by Further Ventures, the venture capital arm backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ. Other notable participants in the round include Wintermute, Motive Partners, Bpifrance, and Motier Ventures, the family office of the Galeries Lafayette Group owners.

The funding signals growing interest in digital asset infrastructure as mainstream financial institutions increasingly explore crypto adoption. Dfns, founded in 2020, provides technology enabling companies to integrate secure crypto wallets into their operations and applications. The fresh capital will help Dfns expand its services, particularly to financial institutions such as banks and trading platforms, CEO Clarisse Hagège stated in an interview.

Hagège emphasized that the timing aligns with increasing adoption of digital assets among financial giants. Notable examples include Italy’s Intesa SanPaolo SpA recently making its first spot Bitcoin purchase. “In 2025, more large financial institutions will enter the space, so the timing is right for us to accelerate,” she said. Dfns also plans to expand into the Middle East with backing from Further Ventures.

Dfns’s technology simplifies the development and management of digital asset wallets, making it appealing to banks venturing into spot crypto trading or retailers launching stablecoins. Its client roster includes major names like Fidelity International, Zodia Custody, and Bridge, the stablecoin company acquired by Stripe in 2022.

The startup, which raised $13 million in 2022, plans to increase its workforce from 25 to 35 employees. This latest funding round positions Dfns as a key player in the evolving landscape of institutional crypto adoption.

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