Share this article

Crypto Project Essential Raises $11M for 'Declarative, Intent-Based' Blockchain

The investment was led by Archetype and included contributions from IOSG, Spartan, Amber Group and Big Brain Holdings

Updated Aug 13, 2024, 9:26 p.m. Published Aug 13, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
Funding (Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)
Funding (Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)
  • Essential plans to offer an "intent-centric, declarative approach," which differs from traditional blockchain in that it leverages users' "intents" - constraints that express desired outcomes.
  • User intents are solved off-chain by a network of solvers in order to reduce on-chain computation.

Blockchain project Essential has raised $11 million in Series A funding led by Archetype and with participation from several other high-profile investors.

Essential's aim is to offer an "intent-centric, declarative approach." This differs from traditional blockchain in that it leverages users' "intents" for desired outcomes rather than usual transaction-based interactions where users must specify exact instructions, according to an emailed statement on Tuesday.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters

These intents are then solved off-chain by a network of solvers in order to reduce on-chain computation, enabling users to be hands-off from the step-by-step "how to" part of a transaction.

"This shift from an imperative to a declarative model addresses many UX issues inherent in transaction-based systems, significantly improving user and developer experience while enhancing scalability," Essential said.

Some other projects that are using the same process include Anoma and UniswapX.

Essential is also rolling out "Pint," a new language for programmable intents for developers to build on the blockchain, according to the statement.

The funding round included contributions from IOSG, Spartan, Amber Group and Big Brain Holdings.

Read More: WiFi Provider Andrena Raises $18M to Offer Decentralized Broadband




More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

GP Basic Image

What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.

More For You

Cascade Unveils 24/7 Neo-Brokerage Offering Perpetuals on Cryptos, U.S. Stocks

Computer monitors and a laptop screen show trading charts on a desk overlooking an expanse of water at sunset. (sergeitokmakov/Pixabay, modified by CoinDesk)

The platform will let retail traders use one margin account to trade round-the-clock perpetual markets.

What to know:

  • Cascade has introduced a 24/7 brokerage-style app for perpetual markets spanning crypto, U.S. equities and private-asset exposure.
  • The firm is pitching a single, unified margin account with direct-to-bank U.S. dollar capability for deposits and withdrawals.
  • The company has raised $15 million from investors including Polychain Capital, Variant and Coinbase Ventures.