Hermetica Labs Raises $1.7M to Advance Bitcoin-Backed Stablecoin USDh

Hermetica Labs, the innovative fintech company behind USDh, the first Bitcoin-backed, yield-bearing synthetic dollar, has successfully closed its $1.7 million seed funding round.

Hermetica, the innovative fintech company behind USDh, has successfully closed its $1.7 million seed funding round, which will support the growth and integration of the Bitcoin-backed synthetic dollar. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in Hermetica’s mission to advance decentralized finance (DeFi) within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

The seed round was led by UTXO Management, a leading investor in the blockchain space, with additional backing from notable firms like CMS Holdings, Ethos Fund, Trust Machines SPV, Newman Capital, and Silvermine. A host of strategic angel investors also contributed to the round, including prominent industry leaders such as Tycho Onnasch, Founder & CEO of Zest Protocol, Robin Obermaier, Founder & CEO of Liquidium, Mithil Thakore, Founder & CEO of Velar, Matt Maduno, Founder & CEO of Arch Network, and GM Chung, Founder & CEO of DeSpread.

The fresh capital will fuel the continued development and growth of USDh, which is positioned as a key player in the fast-growing stablecoin market. USDh is natively issued on Bitcoin Layer 1 via Runes and Layer 2 through the Stacks network, making it accessible through decentralized exchanges (DEXs). This unique synthetic dollar is designed to bring Bitcoin’s immense value into the DeFi world.

With the global stablecoin market doubling year-over-year and now surpassing $160 billion in value, stablecoins account for 50% of all on-chain transactions. USDh is ideally positioned to capitalize on this growth. Despite Bitcoin’s massive $1.3 trillion market capitalization, only 1% of its value is currently locked in DeFi. Hermetica aims to unlock this potential, targeting an untapped $1 trillion opportunity for USDh, offering Bitcoin users a powerful tool to hold and transact in a stable, liquid dollar asset.

USDh allows users to remain within the Bitcoin ecosystem while benefiting from a stablecoin that is redeemable for Bitcoin (1 USDh = 1 USD worth of Bitcoin). This unique proposition enables Bitcoin holders to maintain exposure to the cryptocurrency while benefiting from the stability of a dollar-pegged asset, without the need to exit into traditional fiat currency.

As the decentralized finance sector continues to expand, stablecoins like USDh are becoming integral to the functioning of DeFi protocols and platforms. “We see stablecoins as one of the foundational pillars of a truly decentralized financial system,” said Jakob Schillinger, CEO of Hermetica Labs. “USDh is designed to be the ideal Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, offering a solution that is capital-efficient, completely independent of the traditional fiat system, and yield-generating. This combination makes it a highly attractive asset for both Bitcoin users and the broader DeFi ecosystem.”

The $1.7 million in seed funding will enable Hermetica to accelerate the integration of USDh across the Bitcoin ecosystem. The company plans to enhance liquidity, forge institutional-grade custodial partnerships, and develop scalable off-exchange settlement solutions that allow users to interact seamlessly with USDh. Hermetica is building on Bitcoin’s foundational security and decentralization to offer a more secure and decentralized alternative to traditional fiat-backed stablecoins.

Tyler Evans, Managing Partner at UTXO Management, expressed strong support for Hermetica’s innovative approach, saying, “USDh is a groundbreaking solution for Bitcoin-backed stablecoins. Hermetica’s unique approach to delta-hedging positions USDh as a major contender in the evolving stablecoin landscape. We are thrilled to support Hermetica as they continue to drive innovation in the Bitcoin DeFi space.”

Simon Shin, Managing Partner at Ethos Fund, also highlighted the vast potential for USDh in the Bitcoin ecosystem, noting, “Hermetica is unlocking significant value within the Bitcoin network by creating USDh. Their ability to seamlessly integrate stablecoins into Bitcoin’s Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks presents a massive opportunity. We believe USDh will become a fundamental tool for Bitcoin users who are looking for a reliable dollar asset without having to leave the Bitcoin ecosystem.”

Hermetica is a forward-thinking team of crypto-native experts with a deep understanding of financial technology and blockchain infrastructure. The team brings experience from established institutions like Kraken and State Street, with a shared goal of creating innovative financial products that leverage Bitcoin’s security, transparency, and decentralization. Hermetica is committed to driving the next wave of financial innovation through Bitcoin-backed assets.

To learn more about USDh and how to earn up to 25% APY, visit app.hermetica.fi.

About StacksStacks is a Bitcoin Layer 2 (L2) solution that brings smart contract functionality and decentralized applications (dApps) to the Bitcoin network. Stacks utilizes Bitcoin as a secure base layer, ensuring security and immutability for decentralized applications. The upcoming Nakamoto and sBTC releases in 2024 will further enhance Stacks by delivering faster transactions and 100