Tokyo-based startup Orb, the company behind new cryptocurrency management platform SmartCoin, has raised $2.3m in seed funding.
Orb, previously known as Coinpass, drew support from various investors including leading Japanese VC firm SBI Investment. The raise brings its total funding to ¥324m (approximately $2.7m).
Co-founder and CEO Masa Nakatsu â formerly business development manager at Groupon Japan â told CoinDesk that the funds would be used to release a new version of Orb, currently in private beta, and gain more traction for the business.
Nakatsu co-founded the startup in 2014 with Toshi Senoo, ex-CEO of Japanâs largest social lending platform, Maneo, where he is thought to have secured over $140m in funding from 2007 to 2013.
Alongside SmartCoin, Orb has also introduced a decentralised cloud computing system which leverages the blockchainâs authentication technology. Citing Chain, Ethereum and 21 Inc as itâs main competitors, Nakatsu said he believed Orb was a âgreat contribution to the cryptocurrency ecosystemâ.
According to its website, Orbâs final goal is âto build fundamental technology for natural economic systems in a post capitalism era in order to solve four major problems in human civilisation â environmental destruction, population explosion, economic discrepancy and warâ.