Hardware wallet provider Ledger has raised 100 million euros ($109 million) in a Series C funding round extension, placing its valuation at 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion), in line with its previous funding in June 2021, Bloomberg reported on March 30. The funding is the first of three investment rounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As per the report, a second closing is due in April, followed by a third funding to take place at a later date, given “high investor interest.” The capital will be used to expand the company’s distribution network, increase production, and develop new products.<\/p>\n
Ledger’s new investors include VaynerFund, Cit\u00e9 Gestion SPV, True Global Ventures, and Digital Finance Group. Previous investors include Morgan Creek, Cathay Innovation, Draper Dragon, Cap Horn, among others. <\/p>\n
In a recent interview with Cointelegraph at Paris Blockchain Week, Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier noted that the collapse of crypto exchanges and banks in recent months has\u00a0raised the level of awareness about crypto self-custody. \u201cWhenever the market gets stressed and whenever people fear for their savings, you know, they rush to crypto and to Ledger,\u201d Gauthier noted. <\/p>\n
Related: <\/strong>How to keep your cryptocurrency safe after the FTX collapse<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Ledger reportedly had its best month of sales in November following the dramatic collapse of crypto exchange FTX. According to the company, revenue from Ledger Live’s buy-and-sell crypto app has grown 200% in the past 12 months. Hardware wallet provider Trezor also benefited from FTX failure, reporting a 300% surge in sales revenue as a result of investors rescuing their funds. <\/p>\n Ledger claims to store more than 20% of crypto assets in circulation and 30% of the non-fungible tokens supply. Among recent moves, the company hired Tony Fadell, builder of the iPhone, to design a\u00a0new version of its hardware wallet.<\/p>\n Prominent figures in the industry have also encouraged crypto self-custody. \u201cSelf custody is a fundamental human right. You are free to do it anytime. Just make sure you do it right,\u201d Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said in November, advising investors to start small and learn the technology. <\/p>\n