Hamilton, a protocol specializing in tokenizing real-world belongings (RWA) on Bitcoin, has raised a $1.7 million pre-seed funding spherical.
It’s most likely no accident it’s being introduced on the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration within the U.S., the place there’s a shift occurring from an anti-crypto administration to 1 that’s anticipated to be extra sympathetic.
Hamilton, whose imagery contains laser eyes popping out of Andrew Hamilton’s face, is bringing conventional finance to Bitcoin, making tokenized real-world belongings, corresponding to mounted earnings, funds, and actual property, accessible to establishments and people worldwide.
Led by DisrupTech Ventures, the deal included participation from buyers CMS, DeSpread, Hyperithm, Core Ventures, and different strategic buyers.
The protocol was cofounded by Mohamed Elkasstawi and Ehab Zaghloul, who collectively carry over a decade of expertise constructing blockchain-integrated fintech platforms for rising markets. Hamilton leverages Bitcoin’s unmatched safety and decentralization to tokenize real-world belongings. With the RWA market projected to succeed in $30 trillion by 2030, Hamilton is constructing a protocol to make monetary merchandise extra accessible and inclusive globally, beginning with rising markets.
“Bitcoin isn’t simply digital gold. It’s the foundational layer for the way forward for international finance,” mentioned Elkasstawi, CEO of Hamilton, in an announcement. “By constructing on essentially the most trusted ledger with 99.99% uptime over practically 15 years, we’re bridging conventional finance with Bitcoin, democratizing entry to capital markets for everybody, wherever.”
Hamilton’s options handle systemic obstacles to monetary entry by providing low-cost, steady monetary merchandise in rising markets, the place foreign money devaluation and financial instability usually restrict alternatives for development and monetary safety.
Hamilton is launching three flagship choices: HUSD, the primary native stablecoin on Bitcoin backed by U.S. Treasury payments; HUST, tokenized U.S. Treasuries; and Publius, a platform empowering monetary establishments to tokenize any asset on Bitcoin, guaranteeing safe placement on the world’s most decentralized community. These choices present establishments and people with seamless entry to capital markets.
The corporate mentioned the protocol’s inaugural transaction, accomplished on July 4, 2024, marked a big milestone by tokenizing U.S. Treasury payments on Bitcoin Layer 2 options Stacks, Core, and BoB. The timing, coinciding with America’s Independence Day, displays Hamilton’s imaginative and prescient of advancing monetary independence and innovation by way of decentralized finance (DeFi).
“Investments in gold, Treasury payments, and stuck earnings merchandise have historically been unique to people and establishments with hundreds of thousands in capital. Hamilton is breaking down these obstacles by way of tokenization, enabling anybody, wherever on this planet, to take part in these institutional-grade investments with only one greenback,” mentioned Malek Sultan, cofounder and companion of DisrupTech Ventures, in an announcement.
Centered on rising markets throughout Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, Hamilton bridges conventional finance with blockchain innovation, providing institutional-grade funding alternatives by way of its flagship merchandise.
Kasstawi holds a B.S. in engineering administration, whereas Zaghloul holds a Ph.D. in laptop engineering from Michigan State College specializing in blockchain safety and cryptography.
Requested concerning the identify and pictures, Kasstawi mentioned, “Alexander Hamilton’s laser eyes are a playful nod to the Bitcoin neighborhood’s custom of optimism and perception in Bitcoin’s potential. Laser eyes turned iconic through the push to $100,000 as a logo of collective willpower. For us, it additionally connects to Hamilton’s legacy as a monetary architect—simply as he laid the groundwork for contemporary finance, we see Bitcoin because the infrastructure for the way forward for international finance. It’s a enjoyable option to merge historical past with innovation.”
The workforce has six individuals and is hiring. The corporate began in February 2024.
“Hamilton’s mission is deeply private to me. In 2013, my father retired from Saudi Arabia and sought alternatives to speculate our household’s belongings,” Kasstawi mentioned. “Whereas finding out within the U.S., I noticed early indicators of restoration in the true property market and satisfied him to speculate there. Nonetheless, Egypt had not too long ago launched capital controls, and there have been rising rumors of a foreign money devaluation.”
In an off-the-cuff dialog with some worldwide pupil mates, they talked about going through comparable points in China however mentioned, “We use Bitcoin,” he mentioned.
“At first, I had no concept what Bitcoin was, however after a deep dive—together with watching The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin—I noticed this was the way forward for cash. Bitcoin turned the lifeline that allowed us to maneuver funds for the funding, saving us from the devastating devaluation of the Egyptian pound,” Kasstawi mentioned. “Again then, $1 was price 5 EGP; as we speak, it’s price greater than 50—a staggering 900% loss in worth. Bitcoin didn’t simply allow the funding—it safeguarded our our household’s monetary future from devastating foreign money devaluation.”
Years later, one other member of the family in Qatar confronted a distinct problem, he mentioned. After retiring, they sought fixed-income merchandise to generate month-to-month earnings. With out entry to institutional-grade choices like BlackRock or Franklin Templeton, they relied on native CDs providing high-interest charges, he mentioned.
“When the foreign money devalued, they misplaced a good portion of their wealth, a 233.33% devaluation,” he mentioned. “These experiences led me to ask: How can we create a system the place anybody, wherever—even with simply $1—can entry institutional-grade investments?”
The identify Hamilton honors Alexander Hamilton, the primary U.S. Treasury Secretary and a monetary visionary who redefined finance in his period, he mentioned.
“Impressed by his legacy and Satoshi Nakamoto’s groundbreaking innovation, we intention to leverage Bitcoin’s unmatched decentralization, safety, and resilience to make real-world belongings accessible worldwide,” Kasstawi mentioned. “Our purpose is straightforward: Actual-World Belongings. Accessible to All. Secured by Bitcoin.”
He mentioned you possibly can think about somebody within the U.S. investing in UAE actual property or Treasury Sukuk with as little as $1, having fun with quick 24/7 liquidity. Or somebody in Egypt accessing a BlackRock-managed actual property ETF. By tokenizing real-world belongings on Bitcoin, we’re making this imaginative and prescient a actuality, he mentioned.
“We requested potential clients in rising markets: In case you might entry real-world belongings protected off-chain by way of a belief authorized construction and on-chain as a digital token, the place would you need them? The overwhelming response was clear—on Bitcoin. Its decentralization, safety, resilience, and unmatched uptime make it the perfect infrastructure,” Kasstawi mentioned.
Crypto and deFi confirmed glimpses of an answer, however the consumer expertise stays horrible—advanced and inaccessible to the on a regular basis consumer, he mentioned.
“I couldn’t anticipate my household in Egypt to navigate stablecoins and DeFi protocols, not to mention belief them for monetary safety. That’s why we selected Bitcoin,” he mentioned. “Bitcoin isn’t simply digital gold—it’s the brand new foundational layer of capital markets. By bridging conventional finance with Bitcoin, we’re making a fairer, extra inclusive system for everybody.”
Hamilton isn’t nearly tokenizing real-world belongings; it’s about guaranteeing nobody is left behind, he mentioned. By leveraging Bitcoin’s unmatched infrastructure, we’re bringing institutional-grade monetary merchandise to individuals in every single place, particularly in rising markets.
“That is our mission: to construct a system as resilient and revolutionary because the individuals it serves,” he mentioned.
Authorized Disclaimer: This firm mentioned their press launch is for informational functions solely and doesn’t represent a suggestion to promote or a solicitation of a suggestion to purchase any securities.
