Timestamp, a regulated investment platform based in Austin, Texas, officially launched on November 25 to connect Bitcoin-focused startups with investors around the world. The platform uses crowdfunding to make Bitcoin-related investments available to a wider audience, including non-accredited investors.
It is open to accredited and non-accredited investors and will provide an alternative to traditional venture capital funding. According to Timestamp, investors will receive ownership stakes in the startups they back, similar to traditional equity investing.
Dr. Arman Meguerian, CEO of Timestamp, emphasized the platform’s mission of opening doors for ordinary investors. “We have entered a new era in which highly coveted investment opportunities are no longer reserved for an exclusive network of insiders,” – Meguerian said.
Timestamp allows users to browse carefully selected offers, interact directly with startup founders and invest with low financial barriers. The platform eliminates membership fees, sets minimum investment thresholds and streamlines the process of reviewing projects, signing documents and safely transferring funds.
For startups, Timestamp provides a streamlined approach to fundraising. Founders can promote their campaigns in accordance with crowdfunding regulations, increasing visibility while supporting a community of investors who are also supporters.
The platform charges a 7% commission only on successful campaigns. Founders can “soft-launch” their campaigns to gauge initial interest before moving to a full public launch once regulatory requirements are met.
“As a U.S. platform registered with the SEC and FINRA, we operate within a clear regulatory framework while providing founders with access to a global network of Bitcoin-focused investors,” – Meguerian said.
Although the platform only supports Bitcoin-based startups, investments are currently limited to the fiat currency. However, Timestamp plans to introduce Bitcoin payment options in 2025, pending regulatory approvals and cooperation with banking partners.
The Bitcoin space has experienced rapid innovation since the introduction of the Ordinals protocol in 2023 and the approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2024. These developments have fueled institutional interest and sparked an increase in the number of startups building solutions around the Bitcoin network.
Its decentralized nature and limited supply continue to attract interest from individual and institutional investors. The Timestamp platform builds on this growing interest by offering investors tools and opportunities to support projects in the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Five startups are active on the Timestamp platform, working on projects ranging from Bitcoin wallets and payment solutions to a Bitcoin-inspired augmented reality game.
Some of them are CASCDR, an AI service suite that accepts Bitcoin payments; Jippi, a Pokémon GO-inspired Bitcoin educational app; Lightning Bounties, a platform that rewards developers with Bitcoin; Shopstr, a decentralized marketplace on Nostr; and Sovereign, a wallet designed for Bitcoin users.
The launch comes amid a difficult fundraising environment for cryptocurrency startups.
According to a recent Galaxy Research study, cryptocurrency ventures raised $2.4 billion from venture capital firms in the third quarter of 2024, down 20% from the previous quarter.
