Nigerian Blockchain Startup Raises $5.6M for Hyperbridge
A team of Nigerian engineers has raised $5.6 million in seed funding to build Hyperbridge, a cutting-edge blockchain bridge designed to make cross-chain transfers of digital assets safer and more reliable.
The funding round was led by the Polkadot Ecosystem Fund, highlighting strong global confidence in African-led blockchain innovations. The project is being developed by Polytope Labs, headquartered in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Solving Blockchain’s Biggest Security Challenge
For years, transferring cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other digital assets between blockchain networks has been one of the industry’s biggest risks. Existing blockchain bridges have suffered over $2 billion in global losses due to hacks and exploits, often caused by reliance on centralised, off-chain processes that bad actors can exploit.
Hyperbridge addresses this vulnerability by employing a decentralised, cryptographically secure verification system. Unlike traditional bridges, it operates entirely on-chain, eliminating reliance on small validator groups and drastically reducing the risk of hacks.
This makes Hyperbridge the world’s first verifiable multichain bridge, enabling secure and transparent interoperability across blockchain ecosystems.
Backed by Blockchain Leaders
The project is spearheaded by Polytope Labs’ co-founders, Seun Lanlege and David Salami, both seasoned engineers with experience working on major blockchain networks such as Ethereum and Polkadot.
Their expertise has resulted in a solution that is not only functional but also more secure, scalable, and future-ready than existing alternatives.
Global Impact: Official Infrastructure for Polkadot
Hyperbridge has already gained global traction. It has been designated as the official infrastructure for Polkadot, one of the world’s leading blockchain networks.
This partnership aligns with Polkadot’s “DeFi Singularity” initiative, which seeks to enable seamless transfer of its native token, DOT, across multiple blockchain ecosystems.
What This Means for Blockchain Security and Innovation
The launch of Hyperbridge marks a major milestone for blockchain security and interoperability. By providing a verifiable, on-chain method for cross-chain transactions, it addresses one of the most pressing vulnerabilities in the blockchain industry.
With strong backing from the Polkadot ecosystem and a $5.6 million funding round, Hyperbridge is positioned to become a global standard for secure cross-chain digital asset transfers.
Conclusion
The success of Hyperbridge demonstrates the rising influence of African blockchain innovators on the global stage. By solving long-standing security challenges in digital asset transfers, Polytope Labs is not only strengthening blockchain trust but also putting Nigeria on the map as a hub for next-generation Web3 infrastructure.
