HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

ConsenSys is a
blockchain A blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) that consists of growing lists of records, called ''blocks'', that are securely linked together using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a ...
software technology company founded by Joseph Lubin and based in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.


History

Joseph Lubin founded ConsenSys in early 2015 as a software foundry to develop decentralized software services and applications that operate on the Ethereum blockchain. On October 31, 2018, ConsenSys acquired
Planetary Resources Planetary Resources, Inc., formerly known as Arkyd Astronautics, was an American company that was formed on 1 January 2009,ARKYD Astronautics Founded http://www.planetaryresources.com/2009/01/draft-arkyd-astronautics-founded/ and reorganized an ...
, an asteroid mining company. In December 2018, ConsenSys announced a restructuring with projected layoffs of thirteen percent of its 1,200 staff, and in February 2020 announced the layoffs of a further 14% of staff. In August 2020, ConsenSys acquired Quorum from JPMorgan Chase & Co. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In November 2021, ConsenSys raised $200 million at $3.2 billion valuation from Animoca Brands, Coinbase Ventures and
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc is a British multinational universal bank and financial services holding company. It is the largest bank in Europe by total assets ahead of BNP Paribas, with US$2.953 trillion as of December 2021. In 2021, HSBC had $10.8 tri ...
among others. In March 2022, ConsenSys raised $450 million in a new round led by ParaFi Capital, with
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...
, SoftBank, and
Temasek Temasek (also spelt Temasik) is an early recorded name of a settlement on the site of modern Singapore. The name appears in early Malay and Javanese literature, and it is also recorded in Yuan and Ming Chinese documents as ''Danmaxi'' ( or ). ...
also joining as new investors in the company.


Projects

ConsenSys is involved in many different projects and services for
blockchain A blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) that consists of growing lists of records, called ''blocks'', that are securely linked together using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a ...
uses and applications.
MetaMask MetaMask is a software cryptocurrency wallet used to interact with the Ethereum blockchain. It allows users to access their Ethereum wallet through a browser extension or mobile app, which can then be used to interact with decentralized applica ...
is an Ethereum wallet application which allows users to store and transfer
cryptocurrencies A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or crypto is a digital currency designed to work as a medium of exchange through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank A bank is a financial i ...
and tokens, as well as access and interact with decentralized applications built on the Ethereum blockchain. The software is free to use on desktop as a
browser extension A browser extension is a small software module for customizing a web browser. Browsers typically allow a variety of extensions, including user interface modifications, cookie management, ad blocking, and the custom scripting and styling of web p ...
or through its mobile app. Infura is a blockchain node infrastructure service that allows apps and developers to get data from, and broadcast transactions to, the Ethereum blockchain. Infura's network is utilized as a backend for Ethereum services and applications, including
MetaMask MetaMask is a software cryptocurrency wallet used to interact with the Ethereum blockchain. It allows users to access their Ethereum wallet through a browser extension or mobile app, which can then be used to interact with decentralized applica ...
and many others not associated with ConsenSys. The company has started or invested in several different projects that are not considered to be core to their business, have been spun out into more independent entities, or are not wholly owned by ConsenSys. Some of these include ''Meridio,'' a platform used to create, manage, and trade fractional-share ownership in real estate assets, and ''Gnosis,'' a blockchain-based predictions marketplace.


ICOs

Several ConsenSys companies and projects have raised capital from the public in the form of initial coin offerings (ICOs). ''Gnosis'', a ConsenSys-backed prediction market project sold GNO tokens to the public in an ICO in April 2017. The company raised $12.5 million at $300 million valuation, completing its ICO in under 12 minutes. The valuation was criticized by several prominent members of the community. ''Grid+'', a ConsenSys company in the electricity distribution niche sold GRID tokens to the public in an ICO in September 2017. The company raised $29 million in the public token sale. ''Civil Media'', a ConsenSys-backed company that claims to use cryptocurrency to save journalism sold CVL tokens to the public in an ICO in October 2018. Civil was able to raise $1.8 million, less than the $8 million soft cap. It was later revealed that ConsenSys was the largest buyer of CVL tokens, buying 80% of the CVL tokens that went on sale. Virtue Poker is a ConsenSys-incubated company that uses the unique features of blockchain technology, in conjunction with peer-to-peer networking, to provide a safe and honest environment in which to play online poker.They raised 18 million dollars in the 2018 ico boom.


Controversies

Consensys has been involved in several controversies and lawsuits during the past few years. This includes a High Court challenge in Ireland against the ruling of the Workplace Relations Commission.


References


External links

* {{Official website, https://www.consensys.net/ Blockchain entities Companies based in Brooklyn Ethereum Software companies based in New York City