Dozens of VIP backers invest $87M into crypto payment startup MoonPay

2 years ago

In November 2021, MoonPay announced a $555 cardinal Series A financing round that brought the crypto outgo platform's valuation to $3.4 billion. On Wednesday, the fintech institution revealed that $87 cardinal of the full $555 cardinal came collectively from much than 60 nationalist figures and celebrities successful the music, sports, media and amusement industries. 

While the Series A circular was led by firms similar Tiger Global Management and Coatue with information from Blossom Capital, Thrive Capital, Paradigm and NEA, the pursuing household names are besides considered strategical investors: Gwyneth Paltrow, Maria Sharapova, Eva Longoria, Gal Gadot, Matthew McConaughey and Bruce Willis. Other "industry VIPs" similar Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton and Steve Aoki are each already profoundly progressive wrong the crypto and nonfungible token (NFT) space. 

Related: Snoop Dogg whitethorn beryllium the look of Web3 and NFTs, but what does that mean for the industry?

The institution shared that this backing and the continued enactment from investors volition alteration it to accelerate its planetary expansion, turn the squad and bring successful caller partners. MoonPay's longterm ngo is to summation cryptocurrency entree to the adjacent 1 cardinal radical by 2030.

Excited to alteration the mode creatives, artists & athletes attack

Art
Fan engagement
‍⚖️Intellectual spot absorption

With the assistance of our caller strategical investors. pic.twitter.com/sfeH1Hhibh

— MoonPay (@moonpay) April 13, 2022

MoonPay is champion known for letting users acquisition cryptocurrencies and NFTs with a recognition oregon debit card, slope transfers oregon mobile wallets connected Apple Pay and Google Pay. The investments person allowed the fintech startup to make caller products similar NFT Checkout and MoonPay Concierge, a referral-based work for high-net-worth individuals that purchases crypto and NFTs connected their behalf for a fee. For example, erstwhile histrion Gwyneth Paltrow wanted a Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT she went to MoonPay and past thanked the institution via Twitter.

Joined @BoredApeYC acceptable for the reveal? Thanks @moonpay concierge pic.twitter.com/gzm1JQEHHF

— Gwyneth Paltrow (@GwynethPaltrow) January 26, 2022

Paltrow, who is besides the co-founder of Kinship Ventures, said successful a connection that "Web3 is inspiring the amusement industry, and commerce successful general, to reimagine the mode we make community, link with fans, physique worth and negociate intelligence property."

Rapper Post Malone adjacent promoted MoonPay successful his euphony video for “One Right Nowwith The Weeknd by purchasing a BAYC NFT via the app onscreen. In summation to the euphony video, Malone recorded his acquisition of 2 Bored Apes for a combined 160 Ether (ETH), worthy astir $682,000, successful TikTok videos sponsored by MoonPay.

Apart from actors and artists, athletes like Paul George, a seven-time NBA All Star and Olympic Gold Medalist, recognized that “Crypto and NFTs volition beryllium cardinal to maximizing the concern of nonrecreational sports arsenic we look ahead."

Related: High-profile athletes are spending immense amounts connected NFTs: Here's why

When asked however MoonPay plans to onboard the satellite to Web3, MoonPay's caput of communications Justin Hamilton told Cointelegraph that the institution is "Laser-focused connected helping foster a steadfast ecosystem of partners with reliable outgo infrastructure." He added that the champion mode to foster adoption is by "Empowering creators to ain their IP and person greater power connected their originative output and fiscal support." 

So far, 10 cardinal customers crossed 160 countries person processed adjacent to $3 cardinal successful transactions via MoonPay done much than 250 spouse sites, including Bitcoin.com and OpenSea, according to the company. 

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