Areta

Allow us to reintroduce ourselves with our new name: Areta - where the pursuit of excellence ('Arete') meets the mastery of efficiency ('Eta'). As a leader in investment banking for web3, we’re driven by the mission to use our traditional finance experience to support the growth of the open economy. We originally named the company Web3 Studios to share our belief in the web3 ecosystem and our own flexibility using finance, consulting & investment banking skill sets to deliver custom services that assist with its growth. Many transactions later, we became the leading independent investment bank for web3. We wanted a new name to reflect our ambition to help web3 rise to new heights. Areta is meaningful to us as it refers to the mountain we’re climbing together & “excellence” in Greek. We’re grateful to our partners, Areta is here today thanks to you. Let's all together scale this next mountain!

Delighted to announce that Frens AG, a leading blockchain infrastructure and staking services provider supporting over 40 Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks, has been acquired by Swyke Group, a Swiss private equity firm focused on blockchain and digital asset investments. The transaction marks a strategic step forward for both firms, combining Swyke’s institutional expertise with Frens’ deep technical capabilities and retail-oriented approach. The newly aligned entity will expand its suite of on-chain financial products and staking solutions, catering to institutional and retail clients. Areta had the privilege of supporting the Frens Validator team on this strategic transaction, and it's been a true pleasure working alongside this talented team. Many congratulations to Juri Maibaum, Fabian Klauder, Davide Marcotti, and everyone involved in this deal!

Applications to the RPC Marketplace for Arbitrum DAO have officially closed. We received a total of 12 applications from an impressive line-up of RPC service providers and we’re excited about the launch of the RPC Marketplace! The ADPC will now proceed to review all applications and inform applicants about the outcome. Good luck to those involved!

We are excited to announce that Byte Trading, a pioneering technology firm specializing in advanced trading infrastructure and liquidity solutions, has been acquired by Hex Trust, a leading institutional-grade digital asset custodian. Congratulations to?Dominik Vacikar?and the entire Byte Team on this significant milestone! Byte Trading's low-latency trading platform will be integrated into Hex Trust’s secure, regulated infrastructure, enhancing execution capabilities for institutional clients. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Hex Trust’s expansion beyond custody into a full-service financial institution. With this addition, Hex Trust strengthens its position as a comprehensive digital asset platform, offering custody, staking, and now institutional-grade trading and execution. Areta had the privilege of supporting the Byte Trading team on this strategic transaction. For more information, please visit the link in the comments.

Areta is excited to have successfully led the Arbitrum Security Subsidy Fund (SSF) as members of the Arbitrum DAO Procurement Committee. The SSF was a first-of-its-kind initiative in Arbitrum DAO and the broader DAO ecosystem, and we are proud to remain at the forefront of effective capital allocation in DAOs. As long-term partners and contributors to Arbitrum DAO, we look forward to enabling more growth and innovation on Arbitrum.

Watch our Co-Founder Karl-Martin Ahrend next month at Digital Asset Summit in New York talking about M&A in crypto. If you are considering strategic options, want to position yourself well for the increased M&A interest, or simply want to exchange views on the topic, never hesitate to reach out to anyone on the Areta team.

2025 will be the year of M&A for crypto. Hear Karl-Martin Ahrend of Areta thoughts on how it will go down at DAS NYC. ?? Join us March 18–20 ??? Get your tickets - digitalassetsummit.co

?? UFSF Cohort 2: Applications Now Open for Uniswap Ecosystem Projects We're thrilled to announce that the Uniswap Foundation Security Fund (UFSF) is now accepting applications for its second cohort. In this round, we've expanded eligibility to welcome ALL projects building in the Uniswap ecosystem, offering up to 100% coverage for security audit costs. Application Window: Applications are now open and will be accepted until March 5, 2025, 23:59 UTC. This is your opportunity to access premium security services while significantly reducing the financial burden of smart contract audits. Success Stories from Cohort 1: Our first cohort demonstrated the vital importance of accessible security audits. Here's what some subsidy recipients shared: 1. "Security is always the priority. You can miss a marketing opportunity or deadline and recover. It's much harder to recover trust after a hack." - Bunni Protocol (https://bunni.xyz/) 2. "The audit allows us to move forward with confidence, knowing that our code meets the highest standards of security, so we can focus more on user education and growth." - Unicord - Lumisfi (https://x.com/lumisfi_) 3. "The UFSF audit allows us to go to audit faster in order to audit the core interest rate AMM piece of the Tenor protocol." - Tenor Finance (https://www.tenor.finance/) Program Overview: The UFSF connects builders with industry-leading security providers through our dedicated marketplace. Selected projects gain access to a competitive environment where top-tier audit firms compete to provide their services, ensuring both quality and cost-effectiveness. Our streamlined process guides you from application through completion, with dedicated support at every step. How It Works?? Selected projects will gain access to our curated marketplace of security providers. Through this platform, you can review and select from multiple audit proposals, each offering subsidized rates thanks to the UFSF. This market-driven approach ensures you receive high-quality security services while maintaining choice and flexibility. Ready to Build Securely? - Start your application: https://lnkd.in/d4zYucBQ - Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dc4ankqF - Join our community:?https://lnkd.in/dtqZ3-km Are you building on Uniswap or know someone who is? Help us strengthen the ecosystem by sharing this opportunity with your network.

Applications to the RPC Marketplace for Arbitrum DAO are officially open! We invite RPC service providers to apply to become whitelisted sellers on the Marketplace, allowing them sell their services to Arbitrum projects under a streamlined framework that accelerates demand and engagement while promoting innovation for projects. Applications will close on February 21, 2025. We encourage RPC providers to seize this opportunity and apply now by submitting the application form (link in the comments below). Thanks!