Blockchain

NEON Closes Successful Seed Funding Round, Raising $10.5 Million Led by Griffin Gaming Partners

Published

5 years ago

November 16, 2021

Griffin Gaming Partners, Polychain Capital, and Forte.io have invested in the development of a AAA blockchain-enabled game by the talent behind Halo, Call of Duty, and Star Wars

NEON, an independent game studio, has closed a successful seed funding round, raising $10.5 million USD to build the world’s first blockchain-enabled AAA first-person shooter game. Demonstrating significant interest in the project across the gaming, blockchain, and technology sectors, the oversubscribed round was led by Griffin Gaming Partners, alongside Polychain Capital and Forte. Forte will also provide technical support to the project.

Designed to reward and empower players and creators, Shrapnel will be the world’s first blockchain-enabled AAA first-person shooter game. Full details of the game are set to be announced next year.

Commenting on the raise, Mark Long, CEO at NEON, said, “When we saw the market research that players want to truly own their digital items, we knew there was a unique opportunity in blockchain. Thanks to Griffin’s investment and expertise, along with Polychain and Forte, we can bring to life a game and mod platform that I’ve dreamed of making for years. This team is inspiring to work with. We know we have the right game with the right tech at the right time.”

Spun-out from HBO Interactive, the NEON team has unmatched professional experience in transmedia, virtual production, and gaming-as-a-service. Comprised of BAFTA and Emmy award-winning game industry veterans hailing from some of the world’s leading game companies including Xbox, Electronic Arts, HBO, LucasFilm, Irrational, and Zombie Ent amongst others, NEON’s vision is to create the most immersive gaming experience ever seen in the crypto space. To support this vision, a range of blockchain and deep tech experts will support the architectural and design needs of the game.

Pierre Planche, Partner at Griffin Gaming Partners, said, “Griffin is thrilled to be working closely with Mark and the NEON team as well as an awesome group of strategic partners. It is exciting to see a AAA games team of this caliber contribute to moving the blockchain gaming ecosystem forward with a focus on quality gameplay and long-term value. NEON is authentically leveraging some of the most exciting pillars of utility that blockchain has to offer gaming – its core game design innovates on competitive game modes, and its digital economy will directly reward and empower the community. As a long-time FPS player and prior esports competitor in the genre, I know Shrapnel is exactly the experience my peers and I can’t wait to get our hands on. “

Ben Perszyk, Partner at Polychain, said, “Polychain has long held that crypto will enable novel, unforeseen behaviors, businesses, and use cases, and we are seeing another example of that now with Shrapnel. We believe crypto assets and incentive structures will fundamentally change the way users play games, and we’re extremely excited to see the experienced team at NEON push the envelope forward on what’s possible in the crypto gaming industry by integrating crypto into a deep, immersive, AAA-style FPS experience.”

Josh Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Forte, said, “Experienced game developers like the NEON team know that core gameplay and engagement mechanics are crucial for staying power. They are committed to creating sustainable blockchain ecosystems by putting game design and user experience first and we are honored they’ve chosen Forte to help them bring their vision to life.”

Blockchain

DeGaming launches Web3 iGaming platform, names Ulle Skottling CEO

Published

1 week ago

May 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

degaming-launches-web3-igaming-platform,-names-ulle-skottling-ceo

DeGaming has launched a Web3 iGaming platform and appointed Ulle Skottling as CEO, with the company positioning on-chain operations as a way to improve transparency across operators, affiliates and players.

The platform’s core product pitch is its proprietary “Glass Vault” technology, which DeGaming says provides real-time proof of funds and independently verifiable visibility of balances, transactions, and payouts.

DeGaming is also offering “Bankroll as a service,” routing transactions through its on-chain transaction engine to provide operators access to scalable liquidity for withdrawals and platform stability. The company said this is designed to reduce friction for operators trying to scale, while giving players visibility into the funds available on the platform.

The supplier said its unified platform combines game access, player account management (PAM) and reporting in a single blockchain-native operational engine. DeGaming added that operators can launch a customisable casino or sportsbook in “as little as two weeks,” including crypto and fiat deposits, automated payouts and a back-office.

Skottling joins as CEO to lead what DeGaming called its next phase. He has held senior roles at RAW iGaming, Videoslots and NetEnt. Skottling said: “The industry has evolved rapidly, but transparency and trust have not kept pace. It runs on what you can’t see, whereas we have built a platform that you can. We are challenging the model and defining the new standard for gaming infrastructure.

“Our Glass Vault technology gives operators, affiliates and players independently verifiable visibility into platform activity and funds in real time. The future of gaming will be built on openness, accountability and infrastructure that all participants genuinely trust.”

Emil Ahmed, co-founder of DeGaming, added: “Appointing Ulle as CEO is an important step in DeGaming’s next phase. We have built the platform around a clear belief that gaming needs more transparency, stronger infrastructure, and greater operational trust. Ulle brings the industry experience, commercial understanding, and leadership needed to take that vision to market and help operators launch with confidence.”

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Blockchain

Blockchain.com Opens Malta Office to Anchor European Operations

Published

2 months ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

blockchain.com-opens-malta-office-to-anchor-european-operations

Blockchain.com announced the official opening of its Malta office, marking the next step in the company’s European expansion and its long-term commitment to building regulated digital asset infrastructure across the region.

The new office will serve as a strategic hub for Blockchain.com’s operations across Europe following the company securing its Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). The license enables Blockchain.com to passport regulated crypto brokerage services across the European Economic Area under the EU’s first comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework.

“We didn’t pick Malta by accident. Malta has taken a thoughtful and forward-looking approach to digital asset regulation. At Blockchain.com, we’ve spent over a decade building a brand of trust and integrity, and we’re bringing that same professional-grade standard to users across Europe. This office represents our commitment to building trusted, compliant infrastructure for the crypto market,” said Nic Cary, Co-founder and Vice Chairman at Blockchain.com.

Blockchain.com’s Malta office will support a range of functions including regulatory engagement, operational development and retail client services across the European market. The company will soon launch its institutional business, partnering with some of the region’s leading licensed firms.

Blockchain.com operates in more than 70 jurisdictions worldwide. Since 2011, Blockchain.com has processed over $1.2 trillion in crypto transactions, created more than 90 million wallets and verified over 40 million users. As a global crypto brokerage, Blockchain.com provides individuals and institutions with secure access to digital assets while maintaining a strong commitment to compliance, transparency and security.

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Blockchain

SCCG Management Partners with Coinspaid to Support the Expansion of Blockchain Payment Infrastructure for Gaming Businesses

Published

3 months ago

March 19, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

sccg-management-partners-with-coinspaid-to-support-the-expansion-of-blockchain-payment-infrastructure-for-gaming-businesses

SCCG Management, a global advisory firm serving the gaming industry, has entered into a strategic partnership with Coinspaid Solutions, a blockchain payments infrastructure provider, to support go-to-market efforts for crypto-enabled payment solutions across selected gaming markets.

Under the partnership, SCCG will support Coinspaid’s business development, strategic introductions and commercial expansion across gaming operators, platforms and technology providers. SCCG states that it works across iGaming, sports betting, tribal gaming and broader gaming technology, drawing on more than 30 years of industry experience.

Coinspaid’s infrastructure enables businesses to accept more than 20 stablecoins & other cryptocurrencies, automate conversion into 40+ fiat currencies, and manage payouts and treasury operations through a single infrastructure layer with API and plugin-based integrations. The company also states that it builds compliance into onboarding and payment flows, including AML/KYC/KYB controls, on-chain monitoring, MLRO oversight, ISO/IEC 27001 certification and independent audits.

The partnership will focus on helping licensed gaming businesses evaluate where crypto payments can improve settlement speed, expand payment optionality for cross-border audiences, and streamline payout workflows, subject to jurisdictional review, onboarding and applicable regulatory requirements in each market. Coinspaid also highlights rate lock at checkout, automatic fiat conversion and final settlement on eligible crypto payment flows.

“As gaming businesses continue to expand across markets, the demand for payment infrastructure that is both commercially effective and operationally resilient is only increasing,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “Coinspaid Solutions brings together payments, payouts and compliance in a way that aligns with how many operators are thinking about growth today. We are pleased to support their expansion through our network across gaming and gaming technology.”

“At Coinspaid, we see sustainable growth in gaming as a combination of product capability, operational reliability and a compliance-first approach,” said Max Krupyshev, Co-founder of Coinspaid. “Our partnership with SCCG is designed to help businesses assess where stablecoin payments can add real value from player deposits and payouts to treasury operations, while keeping regulatory and risk considerations central to implementation.”

The partnership will also include coordinated business development and educational initiatives, including executive introductions, and educational content for operators and technology partners exploring blockchain payment infrastructure.

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