Ethereum DeFi Protocol That Just Raised $175 Million From a16z And Paradigm Has A Bold Message For Wall Street
Morpho, a decentralized lending protocol on Ethereum, HyperEVM, and other chains with $6.6 billion in total value locked, raised $175 million in a round led by Paradigm, Ribbit Capital, and a16z crypto. The funding reportedly values Morpho at up to $2 billion and signals preparation for a possible public debut. The round also included Apollo Funds, Circle’s venture arm, and VanEck, reflecting strong interest from both crypto-native and traditional finance investors. Founded by 25-year-old Paul Frambot and three French co-founders, Morpho lets users create customizable onchain lending markets, positioning it as a flexible alternative to Aave. Its infrastructure is already used by major firms including Coinbase, Kraken, Anchorage Digital, and Galaxy Digital. Frambot is targeting Wall Street institutions with a yield-focused pitch, suggesting decentralized lending is moving from a crypto niche toward mainstream financial infrastructure.
