LO:TECH Raises $5M to Enhance On-Chain Trading Services

LO:TECH, a digital asset trading firm based in London, has successfully raised $5 million in a seed funding round led by 13books Capital. This investment aims to accelerate their goal of constructing an integrated, high-frequency infrastructure designed for the on-chain capital markets of the future. Other contributors to this round include Lightspeed Faction, Veris Ventures, CRIT Ventures USA, and angel investors Mark Ransford and Rodney Ngone. The company plans to utilize this capital to broaden its suite of services by incorporating agency execution and OTC trading alongside its current offerings of market data and liquidity provision. LO:TECH describes this funding round as a significant step in its journey towards becoming a leader in the emerging on-chain capital markets. Tim Meggs, CEO of LO:TECH, stated, "We envisioned a unified, high-frequency trading infrastructure that operates across centralized, DeFi, and TradFi platforms. One year after our stealth launch, we have validated our strategy by establishing various revenue-generating business lines on this core infrastructure. This investment from 13books Capital, a prominent player in UK fintech, is exciting as it propels us into the next phase of this evolution, enabling us to provide more comprehensive on-chain capital market services." This fundraising effort coincides with LO:TECH’s commitment to increasing transparency within digital asset markets. Recently, the firm published its "State of Crypto Market Making 2025" report, revealing significant distrust among liquidity providers within the crypto community. The study, conducted with more than 2,000 participants from 98 countries, found that 52% of respondents do not trust market makers, and 70% would seek legal action against them due to their influence on the ecosystem. LO:TECH emphasizes that the principles of real-time visibility outlined in the report will inform its broader product development strategy. The lead investor, 13books Capital, has a history of investing in fintech and infrastructure startups. Partner Michael McFadgen noted that LO:TECH's foundational approach significantly influenced the decision to lead this funding round. "We chose to invest in LO:TECH because they are reconstructing capital market infrastructure from the ground up: rapidly, transparently, and entirely on-chain," he remarked. "In an often fragmented and obscure industry, their dedication to enhancing performance and transparency in token market making is a decisive differentiator. As institutional players enter the sector, LO:TECH is building the framework that will support the next generation of crypto markets and services." Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that provides news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor in The Block, also investing in various companies within the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget serves as a key LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block maintains autonomy to deliver unbiased and timely insights into the crypto industry. Financial disclosures can be found here.