Asia
Sequoia Capital India Leads $450 Million Round for Polygon With SoftBank, Galaxy, Tiger, Republic Capital
The backing from leading global institutions is a vote of confidence in Polygon’s position as Ethereum’s leading scaling solution and the team’s vision for Web3.
Polygon raised about $450 million in a funding round led by Sequoia Capital India with participation from more than 40 major venture capital firms including SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Galaxy Digital, Galaxy Interactive, Tiger Global, Republic Capital and prominent investors like Alan Howard (co-founder, Brevan Howard) and Kevin O’Leary (Mr. Wonderful from ABC’s Shark Tank).
Polygon’s first major financing round since the project’s founding in 2017 has also attracted contributions from Alameda Research, Transcend Fund, Makers Fund, Animoca Brands, global video game leader and games industry investor Scopely, dune ventures, Union Square Ventures, Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, Elevation Capital, Sino Global Capital, DCG, Standard Crypto, Celsius, Dragonfly Capital, Variant Fund, Blue Pool Capital, WorkPlay Ventures (led by Zynga founder Mark Pincus), and many more. The funds will be raised through a private sale of Polygon’s native MATIC token.
This will allow the team to consolidate its lead in the race to scale Ethereum, obviating the need for alternative blockchains and paving the way for mass adoption of Web3 applications. Polygon is building a suite of scaling solutions, including Polygon PoS, Polygon Edge and Polygon Avail, that is similar to what Amazon Web Services offers Web2 developers — a tool for every possible use case. The team is also investing in cutting-edge zero knowledge (ZK) technology that will be key to onboarding the next billion users to Ethereum.
Polygon has always been a community-first project and owes its success to the ecosystem of early believers, developers and stakeholders. This investment round is the tide that lifts all boats and exemplifies the role the community plays in making Web3 a reality.
“Web3 builds on the early Internet’s open-source ideals, enabling users to create the value, control the network and reap the rewards. Ethereum, scaled by Polygon, will be the bedrock of this next stage in the Web’s evolution,” said Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal. “Technological disruption didn’t start with Web2, nor is it going to end there. That’s why we are very excited to see some of the same firms that funded the previous round of innovation now being our Web3 vision.”
The most pressing question for the Ethereum community has been how to increase the network’s capacity to handle more transactions. The skyrocketing popularity of new applications in decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) brought with it congestion and soaring fees. Polygon has stepped in with a broad range of scaling options and transaction rates that are among the industry’s lowest.
Over the past year, Polygon has attracted some of the biggest projects in Web3, from DeFi protocols such as lending platform Aave to luxury brands company Dolce & Gabbana and NFT marketplaces including OpenSea and Mark Cuban’s Lazy.com. Virtual worlds such as Decentraland and Animoca Brands’ The Sandbox are also laying the groundwork for the metaverse on the network. More than 7,000 decentralized apps (dApps) are currently building on Polygon, making it the main destination for Web3 platforms and developers.
“The platform of choice to build on the blockchain today is Polygon. Thousands of developers across a range of applications are choosing Polygon and their complete set of scaling solutions for the Ethereum ecosystem,” said Shailesh Lakhani, MD at Sequoia India. “This is an ambitious and aggressive team, one that values innovation at its core. Sequoia Capital India is thrilled to lead this significant financing round.”
Polygon PoS adoption has soared exponentially, with a billion transactions recorded last year. The network’s more than 130 million unique addresses and over 2.67 million monthly active users now generate some 3 million transactions per day, more than double the volume of Ethereum. Polygon’s native MATIC token has a market capitalization of over $12 billion.
To make sure the growth can continue into the foreseeable future, Polygon is making major investments into zero knowledge cryptography, a technology widely seen as the end game for blockchain scaling. The core development team made it a centerpiece of its strategic vision in the Zero Knowledge Thesis published in August. As part of that mission, the team has committed $1 billion, a significant portion of the treasury, to ZK-related efforts.
Polygon is now home to an unrivaled collection of ZK efforts. The portfolio includes a zkEVM being developed by Polygon Hermez, privacy-focused Polygon Nightfall rollup built in collaboration with EY, Polygon Miden’s general purpose STARK-based rollup and Polygon Zero team applying a technique called recursion to ZK proofs.
“Adoption by individual users and enterprises, the emergence of real-world applications like DeFi and NFTs, and broader involvement from the institutional community are all strong indicators that Web3 has passed a major installation milestone and is here to stay,” Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said. “Together, Polygon and Ethereum are building the base layer for a new Internet, which is why we’re excited to play a role in this important fundraise.”
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Asia
NODWIN Gaming joins forces with ICONiQ White to headline NH7 Weekender 2026 as Title Sponsor; to be ‘Powered By’ Mastercard
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, has announced ICONiQ White as the Title Sponsor and Mastercard as the ‘Powered By’ Sponsor for NH7 Weekender 2026, reinforcing the festival’s status as one of India’s most influential live music events.
Scheduled from March 13–15, 2026, at Mahalakshmi Lawns, Pune, this year’s edition promises a vibrant celebration of music and culture, featuring an eclectic lineup including Talwiinder, Prateek Kuhad, Aditya Gadhvi, Raftaar x Kr$na, Faheem Abdullah, Aditya Rikhari, KING, Indian Ocean, Nucleya & Friends, among others. Comedy highlights will include performances by Aaditya Kulshreshth, Rahul Subramanian, Varun Thakur, Rohan Joshi, and Urooj Ashfaq, ensuring plenty of laughs alongside the music.
Representing Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, India’s largest domestic spirits company by volume, ICONiQ White resonates with a generation that values individuality, confidence, and self-expression. As Title Sponsor, ICONiQ White will curate a social and experiential hub at the festival, offering attendees a space to pause, reset, and reconnect with art, community, and the festival experience.
Alok Gupta, Managing Director at Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, said:
“Today’s generation creates the culture they consume. ICONiQ White celebrates individuality and bold self-expression – values that define NH7 Weekender. This partnership is about being present where our consumers discover new voices and create unforgettable memories. We look forward to fuelling these experiences and inviting everyone to ‘Be ICONiQ’ this March.”
Mastercard joins as the ‘Powered By’ Sponsor, supporting music and entertainment experiences globally. The festival will feature HDFC Bank Mastercard Credit Card presales followed by general Mastercard presales, providing exclusive access and curated benefits to enhance the live event experience.
Lavani Agarwal, VP Marketing & Communications, South Asia at Mastercard, said:
“NH7 Weekender embodies creativity, inclusivity, and self-expression—values at the heart of Mastercard. We are thrilled to connect with youth and Gen Z through exclusive presales and on-ground engagements. As India’s live entertainment scene grows, Mastercard remains committed to creating culturally resonant and unforgettable experiences.”
The partnerships coincide with a period of strong growth in India’s live events industry. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the organised live events segment grew by 15% in 2024, generating an incremental INR 13 billion, as India aims to be among the top five live entertainment destinations globally by 2030.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome ICONiQ White and Mastercard as partners for NH7 Weekender 2026. What began as a platform for independent talent has evolved into one of India’s most recognised cultural properties. As the sector grows, building partnerships that enhance the audience journey and support sustainable expansion is essential. Together, these collaborations strengthen Weekender’s identity and propel the festival into its next chapter.”
Leading up to the festival, the Road to Weekender campaign will activate across Mumbai and Pune, extending the festival experience through interactive, community-driven events. Participants will have opportunities to win passes and access exclusive on-ground experiences.
Tickets are available via the District by Zomato app, the festival’s official ticketing partner. NH7 Weekender is a NODWIN IP, curated by Big Bad Wolf, with Exceed Entertainment as the revenue partner and EVA Live as the event partner.
The post NODWIN Gaming joins forces with ICONiQ White to headline NH7 Weekender 2026 as Title Sponsor; to be ‘Powered By’ Mastercard appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
CreedRoomz Expands Localized Portfolio with “Lucky Colors”: A High-Volatility Digital Reimagining of Philippine Gaming Culture
CreedRoomz, a global leader in live casino solutions, has officially launched Lucky Colors, a premium game designed to appeal to the rapidly growing Southeast Asian market. Drawing inspiration from a beloved part of Philippine street culture and game show history, the title transforms the familiar energy of local carnivals into a high-performance digital experience, giving operators a winning combination of recognizable gameplay and engaging payouts.
Game Concept
Lucky Colors brings the traditional “Perya” to life using a realistic, smart engine. Players watch three multi-colored cubes tumble down a sloped path, delivering the dynamic action that has made these carnival games so popular. CreedRoomz has enhanced the experience for digital casino audiences, creating an engaging, fast-paced gameplay environment.
Key Features
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Dual-Mode Gameplay – Designed to maximize Player Lifetime Value (PLV) by catering to two distinct player types within a single interface:
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Classic Mode (Acquisition Tool): A 6-spot layout focused on single-color outcomes, optimized for high-frequency rounds. Perfect for casual players entering the game.
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Advanced Mode (Revenue Driver): An 18-spot strategic layout for experienced players, offering complex betting and higher stakes to boost spending and retention.
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Proprietary Multiplier Dynamics: The Dynamic Multiplier Engine assigns random multipliers to betting spots in real-time, enhancing big-win potential for marketing campaigns.
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Scalable Volatility: Advanced mathematical modeling allows payouts of up to 1111x a player’s stake.
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Special Round Trigger: All 18 advanced spots can simultaneously receive multipliers, creating “hero moments” and powerful promotional opportunities.
Arturs Fjodorovs, Chief Product Officer at CreedRoomz, said:
“Lucky Colors connects traditional fun with modern gaming tech by keeping the real energy of Philippine game shows alive. By combining big multipliers with two ways to play, we give partners a powerful tool to attract more players and keep them coming back.”
CreedRoomz delivers cutting-edge casino entertainment and online gaming solutions, helping operators stay competitive and appeal to diverse audiences. All solutions are fully customizable to align with a business’s scale, region, and player preferences.
With 30+ engaging games in 12+ languages, 1000+ strong partnerships, and 200+ dynamic tables, CreedRoomz provides the infrastructure for seamless, high-impact player experiences across the globe.
The post CreedRoomz Expands Localized Portfolio with “Lucky Colors”: A High-Volatility Digital Reimagining of Philippine Gaming Culture appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
PG Soft, the world-class digital mobile games company, has been confirmed as the Title Sponsor of Global Game Connect 2026 (GGC), which will take place from 16–17 March 2026 at the prestigious Cinnamon Life venue in Sri Lanka.
Organised by HUIDU, Global Game Connect has quickly established itself as a key event within the iGaming industry. The conference brings together global leaders from across the sector, including platforms, operators, API integration providers, payment solution suppliers, and compliance specialists.
The sponsorship highlights PG Soft’s ongoing investment in emerging markets and its commitment to supporting the development of the industry at a regional level. With Sri Lanka identified as a strategic expansion market in 2026, the partnership strengthens the company’s brand presence while contributing to the continued growth of the country’s iGaming ecosystem.
As part of the agreement, PG Soft will receive prominent brand visibility throughout the event, including across promotional materials, exhibition entrance archway displays, and the registration area. The sponsorship also includes a comprehensive HUIDU advertising package, covering membership promotion, press exposure, and targeted digital marketing support.
Spanning two days, Global Game Connect 2026 will feature a forward-looking conference agenda covering a range of key industry topics. Discussions will explore emerging market trends, growth strategies, player data and analytics, regulatory compliance, as well as the evolving role of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence within modern gaming ecosystems.
A PG Soft spokesperson said:
“Global Game Connect 2026 provides an ideal platform to encourage meaningful discussions around innovation, regulation, and the future of the iGaming industry. Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly important as a regional iGaming hub, and we’re proud to support the event alongside HUIDU.”
The post PG Soft revealed as Title Sponsor for Global Game Connect 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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