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ConsenSys Project Virtue Poker Raises $5M Ahead of Mainnet Launch

The Ethereum project is expected to launch in full in May.

Updated May 9, 2023, 3:18 a.m. Published Apr 12, 2021, 1:50 p.m.
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Decentralized gambling platform Virtue Poker has raised $5 million in a strategic investment round.

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  • Ethereum-based Virtue Poker plans to conduct an initial DEX offering (IDO) ahead of its mainnet launch in May, the startup announced Monday.
  • The project was incubated by blockchain developer ConsenSys and counts Pantera Capital and DFG Group among its backers.
  • Virtue Poker claims to be the only blockchain-based company to be licensed by the Malta's gambling regulator.
  • The platform aims to use smart contracts and sidechain infrastructure to bring greater transparency to online gambling with regard to withdrawals and other functions.
  • According to ConsenSys founder Joe Lubin, Virtue Poker “legitimizes the use of this technology in the industry.”
  • "I've been working with the Virtue Poker team for nearly three years, watching them build a next-generation poker platform," poker pro Phil Ivey said in a press release.
  • It’s among a crop of startups exploring gambling use cases on the blockchain, including a casino in Decentraland hiring real-life workers to staff virtual tables.

Read more: This Casino in Decentraland Is Hiring (for Real)

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KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

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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.

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Michael Saylor's Strategy catches a break from MSCI, but analysts caution fight isn’t over yet

MicroStrategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor (Marco Bello/Getty Images)

MSCI won’t drop firms like Strategy from indexes yet, but a broader rule change may still be on the table

What to know:

  • Shares of Strategy rose 6% after MSCI decided not to exclude digital asset treasury firms from its indexes.
  • The decision alleviates immediate pressure on companies holding large amounts of bitcoin but not directly operating in the blockchain sector.
  • Analysts caution that the situation may not be resolved, as future MSCI rule changes could still impact firms like Strategy.