Five crypto/blockchain startups to watch in 2019

Flexa

Flexa has raised $14.1 million to develop a payment network for retailers. 

It claims that this will reduce costs, overhead and fraud by means of blockchain-based settlements. Investors include 1kx, Access Ventures and Nima Capital and Pantera Capital.

Tyler Spalding, Co-Founder and CEO of Flexa, says: “The anti-fraud and cost benefits of global cryptocurrency payments are enormous, but there are many barriers to mainstream adoption for merchants and consumers alike. Flexa’s going to change that.”

Fastbitcoins

Fastbitcoins, a service that lets people buy Bitcoins in physical retail outlets using cash, recently signed its first strategic partnerships since launching earlier this year. 

It says that the Bitrefill, Breez and Samourai tie ups will help it to “move closer to creating an ecosystem for making buying, spending and storing Bitcoin as simple and seamless as possible for the everyday person”.

Moon

Check out our recent interview with Ken Kruger, Founder and CEO of Moon, a Chrome browser extension that offers an alternative payment method when shopping online, here.

Serve

Serve has built “a next-generation service-gig-economy and logistics platform and created a decentralised, frictionless marketplace connecting users, enterprises and providers”. Check out our interview with Shahan Ohanessian, CEO and Founder, here.

HotNow

HotNow recently announced the first retail partners for its new Evergleam Hill crypto game: American ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins, Thailand’s largest department store and lifestyle brand Robinson, and fast food chain Mister Donut.