Bitcoin Startup ZBD Raises $40M To Construct Gaming Pay Rails

Bitcoin funds startup ZBD has raised $40 million in a Series C funding spherical because it appears to broaden blockchain-based fee infrastructure for the online game business, Fortune reported.

The New Jersey–primarily based firm, which gives funds software program for sport builders, was led within the spherical by Blockstream Capital. The crypto funding agency contributed $36 million, based on cofounder and CEO Simon Cowell, who spoke with Fortune. 

Cowell declined to reveal the corporate’s valuation or title the opposite traders concerned.

The platform permits online game builders to combine funds immediately into video games, enabling transactions reminiscent of peer-to-peer transfers, loyalty rewards, and Bitcoin payouts with out counting on third-party fintech suppliers.

 “We’re talking about a payment solution for the entire industry that actually really enables them to have a direct financial relationship to the player,” Cowell stated.

The fundraise comes at a time when enthusiasm for crypto gaming has cooled. 

Once touted as a serious use case for blockchain expertise, crypto-based gaming — significantly NFT-driven fashions — has struggled to achieve mainstream traction because the 2021–2022 bull market. 

ZBD has intentionally prevented NFTs and crypto-native gameplay, as a substitute specializing in funds, an space that has seen extra concrete adoption, particularly as stablecoins achieve consideration from companies like Stripe and banks together with JPMorgan Chase, based on Fortune.

Founded by Cowell alongside André Neves and Christian Moss, ZBD facilities its expertise on Bitcoin slightly than stablecoins. 

However, the corporate positions itself as a broader funds supplier, permitting builders to maintain customers inside their ecosystems slightly than routing transactions via exterior companies.

While the startup is just not but worthwhile and declined to share income figures, Cowell stated the corporate labored with 55 video games in 2025 and presently employs about 70 individuals. 

The newly raised capital will probably be used to broaden ZBD’s funds product suite over the approaching yr, Fortune reported.

ZBD’s bitcoin rewards

ZBD built-in Bitcoin rewards into TapNation’s cell sport Idle Bank final yr, marking the primary mainstream cell sport to ship Lightning Network payouts, which boosted 30-day participant retention by 355% and income per participant by 124%. 

The firm, initially testing Bitcoin rewards with a modded Counter-Strike server, developed an SDK and API that permit sport builders to seamlessly add Bitcoin rewards whereas addressing cybersecurity and fraud issues. 

ZBD’s mannequin turns advert income into Bitcoin payouts for gamers, rising engagement and monetization, and has already pushed important development for video games like Bitcoin Miner.