In a groundbreaking move set to accelerate the global adoption of Bitcoin, JAN3 proudly announces that Nick Szabo, distinguished cryptographer and legendary cypherpunk, has joined their team as Chief Scientist.

BITCOIN CITY, El Salvador, Jan. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ – Nick Szabo is a computer scientist, legal scholar, and cryptographer, best known for his pioneering work on smart contracts and the conceptualization of "Bit Gold," a precursor to Bitcoin. His extensive research has significantly influenced the development of decentralized digital currencies and blockchain technologies over the years.

In his capacity as Chief Scientist, Szabo will spearhead research initiatives, exploring Bitcoin's implications on topics ranging from monetary policy to international trade, and financial sovereignty. His forthcoming publications will aim to provide in-depth analyses comparable to his seminal work, "Shelling Out: The Origins of Money," which explores the historical evolution of money and its relevance to digital currencies.

"We are very proud of the addition of Nick to the JAN3 team as we ramp up efforts to accelerate the global adoption of Bitcoin," said Samson Mow, JAN3 CEO. "I've known Nick for nearly 10 years now and have always been a big fan of his work – collaborating on advancing Bitcoin adoption just seems like a natural next step."

Leveraging Szabo's expertise, JAN3 will develop innovative strategies to support nation-states seeking to integrate Bitcoin into their financial systems. We believe that Szabo's insights will be instrumental in positioning Bitcoin as the new reserve asset in a modern financial system.

"I'm joining JAN3 to help Bitcoin become the cornerstone of an entirely new global financial system. By focusing on decentralization, and trust minimization, we can address the systemic inefficiencies of legacy systems and empower individuals, corporations, and nations to embrace true financial sovereignty," said Nick Szabo, JAN3 Chief Scientist. "I'm excited to contribute to JAN3's mission and help chart the path toward a freer and resilient global economy."

Szabo's addition to the JAN3 team marks a significant milestone in the journey towards global Bitcoin adoption. As JAN3 continues to gather leading minds in the field, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to bringing the sound money revolution mainstream, returning the power of money to individuals, rather than trusted third-parties that are security holes.

About JAN3

JAN3 is a digital infrastructure company focused on expanding access to Bitcoin technology, founded and led by Samson Mow, best known for his work with El Salvador's Bitcoin initiatives and his efforts in nation-state Bitcoin adoption around the world. JAN3's mission is to accelerate hyperbitcoinization by providing tools for individuals, autonomous regions, and sovereign nations to benefit from a free and open financial system based on Bitcoin.

For media inquiries, please contact press@jan3.com.

Media Contact

Bevan Waite, JAN3, 1 4083484805, press@jan3.com, jan3.com

Bitcoin technology company JAN3 has announced raising $5 million in seed financing to accelerate development of the AQUA Wallet. Investors include Fulgur Ventures, Grupo Salinas, Tether, East Ventures, and NYDIG.

BITCOIN CITY, El Salvador, Jan. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ – JAN3 has successfully concluded a $5 million seed round led by Fulgur Ventures, with participation from Grupo Salinas, Tether, Lightning Ventures, East Ventures, Plan B Fund, Bitcoin Opportunity Fund, and NYDIG. This seed financing will accelerate the development and marketing of the AQUA Wallet and support JAN3's nation-state initiatives.

"At Fulgur Ventures, we are dedicated to supporting visionary entrepreneurs who are building the financial infrastructure of the future," said Oleg Mikhalsky, Partner at Fulgur Ventures. "Our investment in JAN3 reflects our confidence in their mission to accelerate Bitcoin adoption globally. We believe that JAN3's innovative approach will play a pivotal role in advancing the Bitcoin and Liquid Network ecosystems and we are excited to support JAN3's journey towards bringing about a more inclusive and efficient financial system."

One focus for the seed raise was to bring on investors that are strategic to JAN3's expansion goals in Latin America and Asia. Grupo Salinas, founded by Ricardo Salinas, is a conglomerate of companies including Banco Azteca, Elektra, and TV Azteca, operating across media, retail, financial services, and telecommunication sectors. East Ventures is a prominent investor in Indonesia and Japan, and its co-founder Batara Eto initiated the transformation of Metaplanet into a Bitcoin Treasury company.

JAN3's new funding follows an oversubscribed pre-seed round of $620,000 that was closed in early 2023. As part of the current seed financing, $1 million of capital will be allocated to establish a Bitcoin Treasury for JAN3, consisting of 12 BTC, acquired at an average cost of $83,333.33 per BTC.

JAN3 is dedicated to accelerating Bitcoin adoption worldwide and this funding and treasury creation marks a major milestone in that mission. The JAN3 team has been instrumental in establishing relationships with leaders in as many as 17 countries to begin discussions on how Bitcoin strategies can benefit their nations. AQUA, a Bitcoin and Layer 2 wallet, is JAN3's flagship product and a key pillar for grassroots Bitcoin adoption in the Global South.

"Tether is excited to support the work JAN3 is doing to advance financial freedom around the world," said Paolo Ardoino, Tether CEO. "JAN3's AQUA wallet has found excellent product-market fit by offering the perfect balance of saving in Bitcoin with spending in USDt."

This seed funding will take AQUA to the next phase of its mission to onboard a billion people to Bitcoin. The focus for the past year has been optimizing the core AQUA offering: seamless swaps across Bitcoin layers and with Tether USDt – all in a self-custodial wallet. With the new funding, the priority will shift to growth and adding more Marketplace integrations, such as credit cards, loans, and local on/off ramps.

"We've seen rapid growth in both user adoption and volumes, with the month of November 2024 alone crossing $11 million in swap volume," said Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3. "By leveraging advanced technologies like the Lightning and Liquid Networks, we've managed to create a Bitcoin Superapp that's able to deliver real utility and is being used in daily life around the world. It just works, and it's only going to get even better."

With the AQUA Wallet, JAN3 aims to bridge gaps in the global financial system, providing solutions for those who have been left behind. Whether it's helping families in Latin America find stability in uncertain economies, enabling small businesses in Southeast Asia to thrive, or providing savings tools for individuals in underbanked regions, AQUA is making Bitcoin accessible to anyone who wants to take control of their finances.

About JAN3

JAN3 is a digital infrastructure company focused on expanding access to Bitcoin technology, founded and led by Samson Mow, best known for his work with El Salvador's Bitcoin initiatives and his efforts in nation-state Bitcoin adoption around the world. JAN3's mission is to accelerate hyperbitcoinization by providing tools for individuals, autonomous regions, and sovereign nations to benefit from a free and open financial system based on Bitcoin.

About AQUA

AQUA Wallet is a next-generation Bitcoin wallet that leverages advanced Layer 2 scaling technologies like the Lightning and Liquid Networks, alongside on-chain Bitcoin, to offer users efficiency and security in managing their finances. As the first Bitcoin wallet to integrate native stablecoin support, AQUA enables seamless spending in Tether USDt while saving in Bitcoin – helping people escape inflation, build businesses, and store wealth. With its intuitive design and innovative features, AQUA redefines what's possible with self-custodial Bitcoin wallets, empowering users to take full control of their keys while delivering unparalleled utility.

Media Contact

Bevan Waite, JAN3, 1 4083484805, press@jan3.com, https://jan3.com/