● Cashlink raises Series A with investment from Helaba and existing investors C3 Venture Capital, TX Ventures and Panta Rhei to a total of EUR 7 million
● With strategic investment of Helaba, Cashlink underlines its position as reliable partner for financial institutions
Frankfurt, June 27, 2023. Four months after closing a Series A funding round, Cashlink, the Frankfurt-based FinTech behind the leading infrastructure for tokenized assets, has increased its funding round to EUR 7 million with a strategic investment from Helaba. In addition to Helaba, current investors C3 Venture Capital, TX Ventures and Panta Rhei have also participated in the transaction.
Using blockchain technology, Cashlink enables the fully digital issuance of securities such as bonds, certificates or profit participation rights. In addition to the technical infrastructure, Cashlink also handles all necessary regulatory requirements: The FinTech holds a provisional permission to operate a register for crypto securities from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, BaFin). The Electronic Securities Act, which underlies crypto securities, is also expected to be extended to electronic shares later this year as part of the Future Financing Act. In addition to potential use cases in the area of tokenization, with this financing the Helaba Group will gain the opportunity to become part of a steadily growing ecosystem of the future.
“The strategic investment fits perfectly into our digital agenda. We are specifically looking to collaborate with platforms that digitize end-to-end processes and thus create added value for us and our customers. Together with the start-up, we are opening up access to the tokenization ecosystem and can build sustainable business models,” explains Thomas Gross, CEO of Helaba.
Michael Duttlinger, CEO of Cashlink, explains, “This funding round marks a significant step forward for Cashlink and emphasizes our role as a trusted player in the financial sector. Our breakthrough technology allows our partners to transform their business models and realize the full potential of the digital capital market.”
About Cashlink
The financial technology company Cashlink offers a Europe-wide leading infrastructure for the tokenization of assets. By using blockchain technology, Cashlink enables the fully digital issuance of securities such as bonds, certificates or profit participation rights. In November 2021, the company received preliminary permission from BaFin to operate a crypto securities registry, covering the entire value chain of tokenization of securities. This allows financial institutions and FinTechs to benefit from the new possibilities of tokenization while saving costs and resources.
Cashlink also advocates for the increased use of blockchain-based applications in the financial industry. As a founding member of the Federal Association of Crypto Securities Registrars of the European forum “International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications” (INATBA) as well as the regional group Hessen of the Blockchain Federal Association, Cashlink is actively shaping the future of the securities business. The startup is also the winner of the FinTech Germany Awards 2020 and 2021 in the categories Blockchain and Early Stage.
About Helaba
With around 6,300 employees and total assets of 211.5 billion euros, the Helaba Group is one of the leading banks in the Frankfurt financial center.
It offers companies, banks and institutional investors comprehensive financial services from a single source. Sustainable management has always been anchored in Helaba’s business model and is in line with its mission under public law. The aim is to support its customers on the path to their own sustainability transformation with a competent range of ESG advisory services and suitable financing. It provides Sparkassen with high-quality, innovative financial products and services.
As the central bank for Sparkassen in Hesse, Thuringia, North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg, Helaba is a strong partner for 40 percent of all German Sparkassen. With its subsidiary Frankfurter Sparkasse, it is the regional market leader in retail banking. At the same time, it has a foothold in direct banking with 1822direkt.
Landesbausparkasse Hessen-Thüringen, an independent business unit of Helaba, uses the Sparkassen as sales partners and is the market leader in both German states. As part of its public development and infrastructure business, WIBank manages development programs for the State of Hesse under the umbrella of Helaba. In addition to its financial responsibilities, the Helaba Group is involved in many areas of public life and promotes pioneering projects in education, culture, the environment, sports and social welfare.
About C3 Venture Capital
C3 Venture Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in exceptional blockchain technology companies worldwide. C3’s mission is to accelerate the growth, development and adoption of blockchain-based business models. The C3 Tech VC fund focuses on early and growth stage technology companies and typically takes a minority stake. C3 operates globally and is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
