Share this article

MakersPlace Raises $30M in Funding Round Led by Pantera Capital and Bessemer Venture

Other investors included rap artist Eminem, Coinbase Ventures and Sony Music Entertainment.

Updated Sep 14, 2021, 1:35 p.m. Published Aug 4, 2021, 3:25 p.m.
Beeple's "Everydays"
Beeple's "Everydays"

Digital art platform MakersPlace said it raised $30 million in a Series A funding round led by Pantera Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners.

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

  • The firm introduces digital art and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to a mainstream collector audience.
  • Other investors in the round included Uncork Capital, Draper Dragon Digital Assets, 9Yards Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Sony Music Entertainment and rap artist Eminem.
  • In February, Christie's said it had partnered with MakersPlace to auction artwork by the renowned crypto artist Beeple. The work sold for $69.3 million.
  • MakersPlace reports the number of collectors using its platform has grown 10-fold over the past year, with the firm facilitating over $100 million in transactions.
  • NFTs are digital assets that represent a wide range of unique tangible and intangible items, from collectible sports cards to virtual real estate and even digital sneakers.

Read more: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Joins Gronk in NFL Blitz of NFT Mania

More For You

KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

16:9 Image

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 dips, but quickly recovers as U.S. captures Venezuela's Maduro

Nicolas Maduro

The U.S. overnight launched a military strike against Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and extracting them from the country.

What to know:

  • The U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife after a brief military operation Saturday morning, according to President Trump.
  • Crypto prices suffered a brief, modest drop on the first reports of the military action, but have since recovered.