Crypto VC funding: Sentora, T-Rex and Sonic Labs collect fresh capital

Crypto funding showed signs of strength this week, with a trio of standout raises highlighting investor appetite across web3 infrastructure, entertainment, and tooling.

Sentora, a provider of institutional custody solutions, led the pack with a $25 million Series A. Web3 entertainment protocol T-Rex followed closely with an eye-catching $17 million pre-seed round, signaling growing confidence in blockchain-powered consumer platforms.

Rounding out the top three, developer-focused Sonic Labs secured $10 million in a strategic round led by Galaxy, reinforcing the industry’s push to equip builders with scalable, user-friendly tools. The data comes from Crypto Fundraising’s weekly roundup for May 5–10.

Sentora, $25 million

• IntoTheBlock and Trident Digital have merged to form Sentora, a DeFi platform focused on yield strategies, risk management, and financial services.
• Backed by a $25 million Series A round led by New Form Capital—with support from Ripple, Tribe Capital, and others—Sentora aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and DeFi by offering a compliant, scalable solution for institutional adoption.
• Combining IntoTheBlock’s analytics and Trident’s structured finance expertise, Sentora plans to address regulatory and operational hurdles that have held institutions back from entering DeFi.

T-Rex, $17 million

• T-Rex is a web3 startup that rewards users with cryptocurrency for engaging with content on platforms like X, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Backed by investors including Portal Ventures, Framework Ventures, and Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, T-Rex uses a “proof-of-engagement” system via a browser extension that tracks viewing behavior through zkTLS technology, preserving user privacy.
• Users earn points by clicking on “popcorn” icons that appear while watching content, which can be converted into crypto. The system will also personalize content recommendations over time. T-Rex plans to launch the extension by the end of summer.

Sonic Labs, $10 million

• Sonic Labs has raised $10 million in a strategic funding round led by Galaxy, aimed at accelerating development of its $S token and expanding the Sonic blockchain ecosystem.
• Built on Fantom and EVM-compatible, the Sonic Mainnet is designed for high speed and scalability.
• The funds will also support new infrastructure and application development across DeFi, real-world assets, and gaming.

Fleek, $7 million

• Fleek previously raised $25 million in a 2022 Series A.
• The startup reportedly raised additional funding through a public token sale on CoinList.
• It enables users to create and monetize AI-powered influencers and agents, offering roles like “tech reviewer,” “comedian,” and “style consultant” via a monthly subscription platform.

DogeOS, $6.9 million

• DogeOS has raised $6.9 million in a funding round led by Polychain Capital.
• The platform aims to build an application layer on the Dogecoin network that spans gaming, AI, and DeFi.
• The funds will be used to launch the DogeOS platform, expand developer tools, and form strategic partnerships. The focus will be on building X-native applications and accelerating adoption across Dogecoin’s holder community.

Projects < $5 million

• GoQuant, $4 million
• Xweave, $3 million
• Alt DRX, $2.7 million
• Litheum Strategic, $750,000
• Xpfinance XPF, $200,000
• MYX Finance, $180,000