Tired of ads? Enjoy an ad-free experience by signing up.
👩‍🍳 How we use AI at Tech in Asia, thoughtfully and responsibly.
🧔‍♂️ A friendly human may check it before it goes live. More news here

Bain Capital leads $30m series B for crypto wallet startup

Turnkey, a New York-based startup specializing in crypto key management and wallet infrastructure, has raised US$30 million in a series B funding round.

The round was led by Bain Capital Crypto, with participation from Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Faction, Galaxy Ventures, Wintermute Ventures, and Variant.

Founded in 2022 by former Coinbase employees, Turnkey has raised a total of over US$50 million.

The company provides tools for developers to create applications, including stablecoin platforms, DeFi terminals, and on chain AI agents.

The new funding will be allocated to expanding Turnkey’s team, enhancing its modular infrastructure, and supporting open-source initiatives.

🔗 Source: The Block


🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Infrastructure investments signal crypto’s shift from speculation to utility

Turnkey’s $30 million Series B funding reflects a broader market evolution beyond cryptocurrency trading toward essential infrastructure development that enables mainstream applications.

This trend is particularly significant given that previous blockchain funding cycles were heavily weighted toward consumer applications, with early-stage investments (seed/angel and Series A) increasing from 80% in 2017 to 88% in 2019 1.

The participation of both crypto-native investors (Bain Capital Crypto) and traditional venture firms (Sequoia Capital) demonstrates how infrastructure plays are attracting diverse capital sources that see value beyond short-term market volatility.

This funding pattern parallels the internet’s development, where infrastructure investments (like AWS and cloud computing) eventually enabled mass consumer adoption by simplifying complex technology. Turnkey similarly aims to abstract away crypto complexity through its wallet infrastructure.

Notably, the company’s focus on embedded wallets addresses one of crypto’s persistent challenges: creating seamless user experiences that don’t require technical expertise, with infrastructure that can scale to millions of users across diverse applications.

2️⃣ Banking-crypto convergence accelerates despite persistent access challenges

Turnkey’s growth occurs as traditional finance companies increasingly integrate crypto capabilities—with Stripe supporting stablecoin payouts, Robinhood launching non-custodial wallets, and PayPal creating its own stablecoin—signaling a significant shift from past resistance.

Despite this convergence, crypto startups continue facing significant challenges accessing basic banking services, with many banks remaining hesitant due to regulatory uncertainties and compliance concerns 2.

Stay ahead in Asia’s tech landscape

You've reached your 2 free content limit for the month. Sign up for free to read the full story.

🏄 For casual readers / 👶 Free

Basic

US$0

Free forever

Get instant access to this article and more every month

0 premium content

Unlimited news briefs

5

5 articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0 per day

⌛Sign up in 20s. No payment details needed.

📖 For learners / 👍 Starter

Lite

US$4.92/month

Billed annually at US$59/year

Get instant access to this article and more every month

4

4 premium content

Unlimited news briefs & articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0.17 per day

Cancel anytime

Our subscriber community includes professionals from these companies:

Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.

Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.