Rails, a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange, has secured $6.2 million, with plans to address gaps left by FTX’s 2022 crash. The company is gearing up to launch an offshore service in select crypto-friendly nations, excluding the United States. With a focus on bridging centralized and decentralized technologies in crypto exchanges, Rails has garnered significant attention within the community.
The financing round was led by Slow Ventures, with contributions from CMCC Global, Round13 Capital, and Quantstamp. Funds will fuel expansion of regulatory compliance efforts, team recruitment, and ensuring full compliance. Rail prioritizes the safety of customer deposits and aims to cater to institutional needs in crypto derivatives trading, an area where FTX faltered.
Rails: Innovating Crypto Trading with Self-Custody and Futures Contracts
Rail, co-founded by a team including spouses Megha and Rick Marini, sold their cryptocurrency wallet BlockEQ to Coinsquare in 2018. Rails targets institutional clients and high-net-worth investors, filling a void in crypto trading infrastructure. The exchange plans to offer perpetual futures contracts, providing a risk-managed approach to market exposure.
In contrast to traditional custody models, Rails adopts a self-custody approach, granting users complete control over their assets. With over $10 million already invested privately. Rails plans a limited beta launch in May, preceding a full public launch later this year.
Rails, the startup exchange, is currently determining its operational regions, excluding the United States, with plans to operate from crypto-friendly jurisdictions, yet specific locations remain undecided, according to Bambra. The exchange combines central computing with decentralized custody, allowing users to control their funds while benefiting from efficient, risk-managed trading. Bambra emphasizes the importance of user education on financial management within crypto spaces.
He advocates for a hybrid model that merges the strengths of centralized and decentralized platforms, addressing issues seen in FTX’s collapse and the limitations of purely decentralized exchanges like dYdX. Rails aims to provide a centralized user experience where the execution of trades is centralized, but funds are kept in self-executing smart contracts, ensuring transparency and user control over assets.
Looking forward, Rails is focusing on enhancing social features, leaderboards, and partnerships to broaden its offering post-launch. Bambra’s vision centers on bridging the gap between traditional and decentralized finance, making cryptocurrency trading accessible and secure for both new and experienced users. “We’re very product-focused,” Bambra declares, underscoring Rails’ commitment to user empowerment and innovation in the crypto exchange space.
