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Ground raises $3.6 million pre-seed to help fintechs access onchain yield

Ground raises $3.6 million pre-seed to help fintechs access onchain yield

The startup emerged from stealth with an API platform for fintechs, exchanges and asset managers to offer risk-managed onchain yield products across Ethereum, Solana and Layer 2 networks.

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Fact Check
Multiple consistent sources confirm the core claim. The Block reports Ground raised $3.6 million pre-seed (co-led by Bain Capital Crypto and ParaFi) to help fintechs access onchain yield, with an API for fintechs, exchanges, and asset managers offering risk-managed onchain yield products across Ethereum, Solana, and L2 networks. Cryptopolitan independently corroborates the $3.6M figure, the lead investors, the stealth emergence, and the multi-chain API offering. The Block's official X account also confirms the funding amount and stealth exit. All figures and details align across sources.
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Summary

Ground has raised $3.6 million in a pre-seed round co-led by Bain Capital Crypto and ParaFi as the San Francisco-based startup emerges from stealth with API infrastructure designed to let fintechs access onchain yield without building blockchain systems in-house. The round, which also included Nascent, Robot Ventures, Chapter One and Consonant Ventures, was completed under a SAFE structure with token warrants after beginning in September 2025 and closing the following month. Founded by Superstate co-founder Reid Cuming and CTO Sam Yoon, Ground is targeting neobanks, wealth managers, exchanges and asset managers that want to offer yield products while outsourcing smart-contract integrations, liquidity routing and parts of DeFi risk management. The platform currently routes capital through Aave, Morpho, Maple and Kamino across Ethereum, Solana and several Layer 2 networks, with liquid staking tokens planned next. Ground is pitching compliance tooling, reporting, liquidity management and configurable risk controls as key differentiators in a market where institutional adoption of DeFi yield has been slowed by counterparty, smart-contract and regulatory risks. Bain Capital Crypto and ParaFi's backing adds to investor interest in infrastructure aimed at connecting traditional financial platforms with onchain credit and yield markets.

Terms & Concepts
  • onchain yield: Returns generated through blockchain-based lending, credit or staking products.
  • Layer 2 networks: Scaling systems built on top of a base blockchain to improve speed or reduce transaction costs.
  • liquid staking tokens: Tokens received when assets are staked that can still be used in other onchain applications.