A new crypto infrastructure startup called Block Street has raised $11.5 million to build what it calls an “execution layer for on-chain stocks.”
The funding round was led by Hack VC, with support from Generative Venture, DWF Labs and others, including executives from companies like Jane Street and Point72.
Block Street’s argument is that trading tokenized stocks should be as fast and reliable as traditional markets.
Its system, called Aqua, is built on Monad and uses a request for quote (RFQ) model in which market makers compete to offer the best price. These quotes are cryptographically signed and verified on-chain to avoid manipulation or delays.
Another part of the stack, Everst, introduces lending and liquidation tools designed specifically for tokenized stocks, allowing users to borrow, short, or hedge these assets. The company claims that this setup reduces “MEV leaks” and makes tokenized assets more functional, not just speculative.
“Our mandate is infra, not just an app,” said Hedy Wang, co-founder of Block Street. “Monad’s parallel EVM gives us the settlement guarantees and latency budget institutions expect, while Aqua and Everst implement equity-native best execution and risk controls directly on-chain.”
Block Street plans to go live on Monad later this year, and expand to Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Base as the integrations mature. The team, which includes veterans from Citadel, Point72 and Google, plans to release transparency dashboards showing how much better their execution is than automated market makers.
Read more: Crypto infrastructure company Zerohash raises $104 million in funding round led by Interactive Brokers, Morgan Stanley
