Coin98

Coin98 (also known as Coin98 Finance; its investment arm often called Coin98 Ventures or Arche Fund after a rebrand) is a Southeast Asia–origin Web3 ecosystem that builds DeFi products (wallet, exchange, cross‑chain tooling) while operating an early‑stage investment arm to back and accelerate promising blockchain projects[2][3].[3] Coin98’s investment arm focuses on early, protocol‑level and consumer Web3 projects across multiple chains and provides capital plus product, community and go‑to‑market support drawn from Coin98’s product and media wings[2][4].[2]

High‑Level Overview

• Mission: Coin98’s stated mission is to make Web3 and DeFi more accessible by building a full cross‑chain DeFi stack and supporting builders through investment and media channels[2][3].[2]
  - Investment philosophy: The firm prioritizes early‑stage teams and protocol projects that expand cross‑chain DeFi infrastructure and consumer adoption, combining capital with accelerator/incubator resources and ecosystem integrations[4][5].[4]
  - Key sectors: Core focus areas include decentralized finance (DEXs, bridges, liquidity), wallets/custody, layer‑1/2 protocols, NFT marketplaces and tooling for cross‑chain interoperability[2][5].[2]
  - Impact on the startup ecosystem: By pairing product engineering (Coin98 Labs), media/network reach (Coin98 Network), and venture support (Coin98 Ventures/Arche), Coin98 has helped bootstrap and promote regional and cross‑chain projects, contributed early funding to protocols (examples include Perpetual Protocol, Trader Joe, Magic Eden as cited by Coin98 commentary), and increased developer/user onboarding in Southeast Asia[4][5].[4]

Origin Story

• Founding year and evolution: Coin98 traces its roots to a community formed around crypto investing in Vietnam and was established as a company in 2017; over time it grew into three coordinated pillars—Labs (product), Ventures (investment) and Network (media/research)—and underwent a rebrand to Ninety Eight in November 2023 while retaining its investment activities (Arche Fund/Arche Ventures)[3][4].[3]
  - Key partners and leadership: The ecosystem was founded and led by Vietnamese crypto entrepreneurs (public materials cite Thanh Le among founding figures) and expanded with partners who run the Labs, Ventures and Network verticals to provide technical, capital and media support to portfolio projects[4][5].[4]
  - Evolution of focus: Coin98 began as a wallet/exchange and community, then built cross‑chain products (wallet, Space‑Gate bridge, Coin98 Exchange) while launching an investment arm in 2021 to formalize accelerator/VC activities and deepen support for early DeFi builders[2][4].[2]

Core Differentiators

• Integrated ecosystem (product + capital + media): Coin98 pairs an in‑house product stack (wallet, exchange, cross‑chain tooling) with capital and a media/research arm, allowing portfolio projects to tap engineering, liquidity and distribution channels[2][3].[2]
  - Cross‑chain focus: Early emphasis on multi‑chain wallet and cross‑chain bridge technology positions Coin98 to support projects that need interoperability and user onboarding across L1s and L2s[2][4].[2]
  - Regional strength and community: Deep roots in Southeast Asia (Ho Chi Minh City HQ) give Coin98 localized market knowledge and community reach for regional onboarding and event/accelerator activity[5].[5]
  - Accelerator + VC model: Coin98’s Ventures (Arche Fund) operates as both an early‑stage investor and accelerator/incubator (Kompass program, Arche Capital initiatives), offering hands‑on product and go‑to‑market resources beyond pure capital[4].[4]
  - Track record of co‑investments: Coin98 Ventures has participated in rounds alongside notable crypto VCs and ecosystem partners, signaling network access for founders[5].[5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

• Trend alignment: Coin98 rides two major trends—mass adoption of DeFi through simpler UX (wallets, aggregators, bridges) and early funding for cross‑chain infrastructure and consumer crypto apps—positioning it where product, liquidity and distribution intersect[2][3].[2]
  - Why timing matters: As DeFi moves beyond single‑chain silos, projects that solve interoperability and onboarding gain leverage; Coin98’s cross‑chain tooling and regional traction accelerate that transition for users and builders[4][2].[4]
  - Market forces working in their favor: Increasing multi‑chain deployments, demand for seamless bridges and wallets, and growing Southeast Asian crypto adoption create demand for Coin98’s combined product + venture approach[3][2].[3]
  - Influence on ecosystem: By funding early protocols, providing integration into its product stack, and amplifying projects through media channels, Coin98 can help speed liquidity and user acquisition for portfolio projects and shape regional DeFi narratives[4][2].[4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

• What’s next: Expect Coin98 (Ninety Eight) and its investment arm (Arche/Arche Fund) to continue backing cross‑chain infrastructure, consumer Web3 apps, and regional builders while further integrating portfolio projects into its product suite to drive utility for its native token and ecosystem[3][4].[3]
  - Trends that will shape them: Continued emphasis on interoperability, UX improvements for onboarding non‑crypto users, regulatory clarity in Southeast Asia, and institutional interest in Web3 will influence where Coin98 deploys capital and product effort[2][3].[2]
  - How influence might evolve: If Coin98 successfully converts product integrations into durable user growth for portfolio projects, its role may shift from regional accelerator to a recognized cross‑chain growth platform that bridges capital, engineering and distribution for early Web3 companies[4][2].[4]

If you’d like, I can: provide a short list of Coin98 Ventures’ known portfolio companies and rounds (with dates and co‑investors), map the Coin98 product stack and where portfolio projects can integrate, or draft messaging founders could use when approaching Coin98 for funding.