watch.fun Launches Luxury Watch Drop Platform Backed by $8.6M From Crypto.com Capital and Solana Ventures

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James Au, Co-founder and CEO of Watch.fun (left), and Cabin Yim, Co-founder and COO (right).

Costa Rica, 25 March 2026 — watch.fun, the on-chain platform that turns luxury watch collecting into a live, social entertainment experience, has closed  an $8.6 million financing round. The round was led by Crypto.com Capital and Solana Ventures, with participation from Spartan Capital, Big Brain Holdings, Griffin Gaming Partners, Animoca Brands, Morningstar Ventures, OrangeDAO, and more.

The funds will be used to accelerate product development, broaden the curated drop catalogue, deepen strategic partnerships, and expand the team that powers watch.fun’s mission to make iconic timepieces accessible to a global audience.

James Au, Co-founder and CEO of watch.fun, said:
“Having participated in and hosted Rolex raffles in the past, I always felt there was an opportunity to productize this emergent behavior that crops up across  collector communities. Our goal is to build a platform to give collectors a new and fun way to acquire pieces. Think of it as the next generation of Sotheby’s.”

watch.fun’s platform addresses three core challenges that have long constrained the luxury watch market: illiquidity, opacity, and high barriers to entry. Traditional consignment channels often leave dealers holding inventory for months, while collectors face steep mark-ups and the risk of counterfeit pieces.

Through weekly drops, watch.fun allows participants to win coveted watches including the Rolex Daytona, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and Patek Philippe Nautilus for as little as $19. Every draw is independently verifiable and provably fair, removing any reliance on hidden algorithms or centralized decision-making.

Kelvin Koh, Co-founder, Partner and CIO of Spartan Group, said:
“The luxury watch market suffers from opacity and limited access. watch.fun’s transparent drop model democratizes entry while preserving the prestige of each piece. They’re creating a win-win for brands, dealers, and enthusiasts alike.”

Authenticity of the luxury watches is guaranteed through a partnership with Wristcheck, a luxury watch dealer with offices in Hong Kong, Macau, and New York, that sources, authenticates, and ships each watch directly to the winners.

Elton Yau, Chief of Staff of Wristcheck, said:
“We’re excited to partner with watch.fun as the official sourcing and authentication partner for their drops. Every watch supplied through Wristcheck undergoes a full authentication process carried out by our in-house Swiss-trained watchmakers, including the industry’s most thorough condition grading and Timepiece Certificate generation.”

Built on Solana, the platform keeps blockchain infrastructure invisible to end users, lowering friction without sacrificing the transparency that on-chain settlement provides.
Over the next 12 to 18 months, funds will be allocated to product development, compliance, business development, marketing, and talent acquisition. Engineering teams will expand to improve the draw engine, enhance ticket-odds transparency, while new social features including a curator program and referral incentives will be introduced. Compliance resources will be bolstered to meet evolving regulatory requirements and secure the necessary licenses for global prize fulfillment.

In the near  term, watch.fun will consolidate its weekly drops, and a referral-kickback loop to drive organic growth. Longer term, the platform plans to increase drop cadence, introduce tiered VIP memberships and pilot new engagement formats to  diversify the collector experience.

About watch.fun
watch.fun is a luxury watch drop platform giving collectors a new and exciting way to win iconic timepieces. With drops every week featuring watches like the Rolex Daytona, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and Patek Philippe Nautilus, participants can enter from as little as $19. Every draw is independently verifiable and provably fair, ensuring a transparent experience for collectors worldwide. Watch.fun is backed by Crypto.com Capital, Solana Ventures, Spartan Capital, Griffin Gaming Partners, OrangeDAO, Animoca Brands, Morningstar Ventures, and more.

For more information, contact press@watch.fun