Cryptocurrency Market Gets Major Boost from Zerohash Investment

## Zero Hash: A Comprehensive Overview Zero Hash is a pioneering digital-assets-as-a-service company, founded in 2015 by Edward Woodford, although some sources incorrectly state 2017[1][5]. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Zero Hash specializes in providing infrastructure for financial institutions and fintech companies to build products related to stablecoins, crypto trading, and tokenization. This involves enabling companies to accept cryptocurrencies and manage digital assets like NFTs[3][4]. ### History and Funding Zero Hash has experienced significant growth, with notable funding rounds. In January 2022, it raised $105 million in a Series D funding round[1][3]. More recently, in 2025, Zero Hash secured $104 million at a valuation of $1 billion, marking a substantial increase from its previous valuation of $340 million in 2022[2]. This valuation jump reflects the growing institutional demand for blockchain technology. ### Key Achievements - **Infrastructure Development**: Zero Hash offers modular on-chain infrastructure that supports brokerage, payments, and tokenization, facilitating operations for millions of users worldwide[4]. - **Regulatory Compliance**: It is a FinCEN-registered Money Service Business and a regulated Money Transmitter in the U.S., operating in 51 jurisdictions[4]. - **Global Reach**: Zero Hash supports over 200 countries and more than 80 assets, with a transaction volume exceeding $50 billion[4]. ### Current Status Zero Hash continues to expand its services, with a focus on stablecoins and tokenization. It has attracted investments from prominent financial institutions such as Interactive Brokers, Morgan Stanley, and Apollo Global Management[2]. The company's growth is underscored by its ability to support complex blockchain applications, making it a key player in the digital asset sector. ### Notable Aspects - **Institutional Backing**: Zero Hash's recent funding round highlights the increasing interest of traditional finance giants in blockchain technology[2].

Morgan Stanley is a premier American multinational investment bank and financial services firm headquartered in New York City, established on September 16, 1935, following the Glass-Steagall Act that mandated the separation of commercial and investment banking[1][2]. Founded by Henry Sturgis Morgan (grandson of J.P. Morgan) and Harold Stanley, the firm initially focused on investment banking, quickly capturing a 24% market share in public offerings and private placements in its first year[1][2]. The company has evolved into a global powerhouse with over 80,000 employees across more than 40 countries, serving corporations, governments, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals[2][3]. Its business is organized into three main divisions: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management[2]. Institutional Securities offers services including capital raising, underwriting, mergers and acquisitions advisory, and restructuring, catering to major corporate and governmental clients[1][2]. Wealth Management and Investment Management provide financial advisory and asset management services to individuals and institutions. A significant milestone in Morgan Stanley’s history was the 1997 merger with Dean Witter Discover & Co., which expanded its retail brokerage and wealth management capabilities; the company reverted to the Morgan Stanley name in 2001[2]. The firm is recognized as systemically important by the Financial Stability Board, reflecting its critical role in the global financial system[2]. Morgan Stanley’s legacy includes underwriting major public offerings post-World War II, such as for General Motors and IBM, fueling technological and industrial growth[4]. The firm also emphasizes sustainable investing through its Institute for Sustainable Investing, aiming to leverage private capital to address environmental and social challenges[5]. Celebrating over 90 years, Morgan Stanley remains a leader in finance with a commitment to innovation, client service, and responsible investing[3][5].

SoFi—officially Social Finance, Inc.—is a leading U.S.-based fintech company that has transformed from a niche student loan refinancer into a comprehensive digital financial services platform[1][2]. Founded in 2011 by Stanford University alumni Mike Cagney, Dan Macklin, James Finnigan, and Ian Brady, SoFi initially aimed to offer better student loan options by connecting students and recent graduates with alumni and institutional investors[1][5][7]. This alumni-funded model was designed to provide lower interest rates than federal loans, leveraging data science to assess risk and minimize defaults[5][7]. Over the past decade, SoFi has rapidly expanded its product portfolio to include personal loans, mortgages, investment products, insurance, digital checking and savings accounts, and even cryptocurrency trading[1][2][3]. Its business model is direct-to-consumer, emphasizing a seamless, mobile-first experience that integrates all financial services—banking, lending, investing, and insurance—into a single digital platform[2][3]. This approach has resonated strongly with young professionals, high earners not yet wealthy (HENRYs), and tech-savvy millennials and Gen Z consumers[2][4]. The company’s proprietary risk assessment models use artificial intelligence and machine learning to evaluate factors beyond traditional credit scores, such as education and career potential, enabling more nuanced lending decisions[3]. SoFi’s growth has been marked by significant milestones: a $1 billion funding round led by SoftBank in 2015, the launch of SoFi Money (digital banking) and SoFi Invest (investment services), and the acquisition of the payments platform Galileo, which provides technology services to other fintech companies[1][3]. Today, SoFi is publicly traded and serves millions of members nationwide, with a valuation exceeding $8 billion[3]. Its app consistently receives high user ratings, reflecting a focus on member experience, community-building (including career coaching and exclusive events

Apollo Global Management, Inc. is a leading American asset management firm specializing in alternative assets, with a focus on private equity, credit, and real assets such as real estate and infrastructure. As of 2025, Apollo manages approximately $840 billion in assets across various investment strategies, including mezzanine capital, hedge funds, non-performing loans, collateralized loan obligations, and private equity[1][2]. Founded in 1990 by former Drexel Burnham Lambert bankers Leon Black, Josh Harris, and Marc Rowan, Apollo has grown into one of the world’s largest private equity firms. It is headquartered in New York City, with a global presence across North America, Europe, and Asia[1]. The firm serves a wide range of clients, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, financial endowments, and individual investors, offering tailored investment solutions aimed at delivering strong risk-adjusted returns and long-term financial security[1][4]. Apollo’s business model emphasizes rigorous origination capabilities and disciplined investment across market cycles. This approach has led to robust capital inflows and consistent growth, with $61 billion raised in Q2 2025 alone and a 21% year-over-year increase in assets under management[2][3]. The firm’s portfolio spans diverse industries such as chemicals, technology, energy, manufacturing, and sustainable sectors, including clean energy and climate solutions[6]. Significant corporate milestones include the 2022 merger with Athene, a retirement solutions business that now helps millions with financial security, and recent acquisitions like Bridge Investment Group in early 2025, enhancing Apollo’s infrastructure and credit capabilities[5][8]. The company maintains a transparent governance structure with a majority independent board and a one-share, one-vote system, reinforcing investor confidence[5]. Despite challenges, including the 2021 resignation of founder Leon Black amid controversy, Apollo continues to innovate and expand, driving growth and delivering value as a high-growth global alternative asset manager[