Share this article
The Startup Behind Ethereum's Infamous DAO Has Been Acquired
Blockchains.com steps into the internet of things with the with the acquisition of slock.it
By Daniel Kuhn
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 9:16 a.m. Published Jun 3, 2019, 8:30 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
, a blockchain incubation and investment firm, announced today the acquisition of slock.it, a German company with roots in the original development of ethereum.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Blockchains was primarily interested in slock.it’s Incubed project which enables human and machines secure participation in the economy of things through the ethereum blockchain. The merger will allow both companies to combine resources and institutional knowledge to work through the security and interoperability issues within existing IoT systems.
“We have the same passion for creating a sharing economy powered by blockchain, and for creating a safe and secure entry point to the third-generation World Wide Web,” said Christoph Jentzsch, co-founder of slock.it, in a statement.
Founded in 2015, slock.it aims to extend blockchain’s intrinsic benefits "transparency, security, and auditability to real-world devices." The firm was previously behind the failed Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), which sought to codify the rules and governance of an organization without a centralized overhead through eliminating the need for documents and decision makers.
The company is also planning to release a collection of open-source tools for the ethereum developer community over the next several months, according to the statement.
Blockchains’ President David Berns said:
Slock.it’s team of nearly three dozen experienced developers and professionals will allow Blockchains to significantly fast-track its product roadmap and enhance its collaboration efforts.
Christoph and his brother and co-founder Simon Jentzsch will become Blockchains’ vice-president of technology and director of blockchain development, respectively.
Blockchains owns more than 67,000 acres in northern Nevada which it intends to use as a sandbox for showcasing blockchain and other innovative technologies that simplify fundamental aspects of our daily lives.
Miniatures image via Shutterstock
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Bitcoin stuck near $88,000 as gold's and silver's record-breaking rallies show exhaustion signs
"Gold and silver casually adding an entire bitcoin market cap in a single day," wrote one crypto analyst.
What to know:
- Bitcoin is off its worst levels of the weekend, but still near the year's low at $87,700.
- Facing the same news cycle as crypto, precious metals continued to surge higher, but a quick retreat from their highs on Monday suggested a bit of exhaustion was setting in.
- Analysts remain dour on the outlook for crypto prices given the looming government shutdown as well as delays in passage of the Clarity Act.
Top Stories
