Poker Professionals Raised $130 Million for DeFi Deals Asce | Top DeFi

Poker Professionals Raised $130 Million for DeFi Deals

Ascensive Assets, an investment firm led by former professional poker players, has raised a $130 million fund that will focus on the DeFi market.

The latter fund eclipses Ascensive's $24 million fundraising back in 2019, which supported the likes of Polkaswap, Benqi, Yield Guild Games and JennyDAO. From an investor perspective, the round was mostly filled with wealthy people from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia, many of whom are connected to the world of professional poker and gambling, Ascensive Assets partner Oliver Blakey said.

"These are casino owners, private bookmakers and Asian wealthy people, usually from the gambling world," Blakey said in an interview. "I think the gambling mentality is in their DNA. We've always known this world and of course everyone wants to get to know this industry now."