Meridian, a decentralized liquidity marketplace and liquid staking protocol built on the Movement blockchain, has successfully raised $4 million in seed funding. The financing round was co-led by ParaFi Capital and Borderless Capital, with additional participation from prominent investors such as Amber Group, Saison Capital, Interop Ventures, and Oak Grove Ventures. This significant investment underscores growing confidence in Meridian’s vision to transform the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape within the emerging Move ecosystem.
Meridian is positioning itself as the central hub for liquidity and yield generation within the Movement ecosystem, which is powered by the Move Virtual Machine (MVM). The protocol’s mission is to enhance the DeFi experience by providing users and partner protocols with access to deep liquidity and secure, productive yield opportunities. By leveraging the unique capabilities of Move-based smart contracts, Meridian aims to create a capital-efficient platform that attracts both users and developers to the Movement blockchain.
Currently live on testnet, Meridian is preparing for its official launch on Movement’s mainnet. This milestone will mark the first significant deployment of a Move-based DeFi protocol, setting the stage for the broader adoption of the Move ecosystem. Movement Labs, the creators of the Movement blockchain, have designed this network of blockchains to offer enhanced security, composability, and scalability—features that Meridian plans to capitalize on as it becomes a cornerstone of the ecosystem.
Meridian’s role within the Movement ecosystem extends beyond just providing liquidity solutions. The platform is designed to support partner protocols by enabling them to build deep liquidity in a capital-efficient manner. This approach not only benefits users seeking yield but also contributes to the overall health and functionality of the DeFi ecosystem on Movement. Meridian’s platform is expected to work closely with various restaking protocols and yield-bearing asset issuers, providing a secure and composable infrastructure that will drive the next phase of DeFi innovation on Movement.
Co-founder Adam Cader explained the broader implications of Meridian’s development: “This funding round is a significant milestone for Meridian and the broader Move ecosystem. We’re building a platform that will not only enhance liquidity and yield opportunities but also showcase the unique advantages of Move-based smart contracts. Our goal is to create a seamless, efficient, and secure DeFi experience that will attract both users and developers to the Movement ecosystem.”
The Move ecosystem, while still in its early stages, is gaining momentum as a new frontier in blockchain technology. Unlike existing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) solutions, the Move ecosystem represents a relatively small portion of total on-chain liquidity and trading volumes. However, with the backing of innovative protocols like Meridian, this dynamic is poised to change. Meridian aims to bridge the gap by leveraging the security, composability, and efficiency of the Move programming language, positioning itself as a first mover in this space.
Rushi Manche, Co-Founder of Movement Labs, highlighted the significance of Meridian’s role in the ecosystem: “Meridian’s successful seed round is a testament to the growing momentum behind Move-based DeFi. As the ecosystem matures, Meridian will play a crucial role in aggregating liquidity and providing essential financial primitives. This funding will accelerate the development of a robust, secure, and highly composable DeFi landscape on Movement.”
The seed funding round has attracted a diverse group of investors, each bringing valuable expertise and strategic support to Meridian’s vision. Alpen Sheth, Partner at Borderless Capital, expressed confidence in Meridian’s potential: “Movement is enabling the next generation of secure, accessible blockchain platforms powered by MVM (Move Virtual Machine) and Meridian is building the financial primitives to power the entire ecosystem as a first mover. We are thrilled to back the team and their vision.”
With the infusion of capital, Meridian plans to expand its global team, actively hiring across engineering, product development, and marketing roles. This growth will support the platform’s ambitious roadmap, which includes the development of innovative DeFi solutions tailored to the unique capabilities of the Move ecosystem. Meridian’s go-to-market strategy will focus on attracting a diverse range of users and developers, positioning the platform as a leading player in the decentralized finance space.
As Meridian prepares for its mainnet launch, the platform’s focus on security and composability will be key to its success. By providing a highly secure infrastructure for DeFi activities, Meridian aims to mitigate the risks associated with decentralized finance, while enabling seamless integration with other protocols within the Move ecosystem. This approach is expected to foster innovation and collaboration, ultimately driving the adoption of Move-based solutions in the broader blockchain industry.
The success of Meridian and the broader Move ecosystem could have far-reaching implications for the future of decentralized finance. As more protocols and users migrate to Movement, the network’s unique features—powered by the Move Virtual Machine—could set a new standard for security, efficiency, and composability in the blockchain space. With Meridian leading the charge, the Move ecosystem is well-positioned to become a major player in the rapidly evolving world of decentralized finance.
