Protocol Labs

Protocol Labs

Zero-knowledge cryptography and Web3 startup network

Overview

Protocol Labs operates as an innovation network in the Web3 and cryptographic technology space, focusing on zero-knowledge proofs and data confidentiality. It connects startups with capital, technical expertise, and Web3 native services, providing tools and resources that help these ventures develop scalable blockchain solutions. Its offerings include projects and infrastructure for blockchain scalability, randomness and timelock encryption, blockchain-based data storage, compute-over-data networks, and content delivery networks. This setup differentiates Protocol Labs from typical product vendors by combining funding, partnerships, and hands-on support to accelerate startup growth while advancing secure, private, and efficient decentralized internet technologies. The company’s goal is to push forward secure, private, and scalable Web3 infrastructure by fostering innovation and building a broader ecosystem of cryptographic and decentralized technologies.

YC Company

About Protocol Labs

Simplify's Rating
Why Protocol Labs is rated
B
Rated A on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Data & Analytics

Venture Capital

Cybersecurity

Crypto & Web3

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

ICO

Total Funding

$10.9M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2014

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • IPFS already serves millions of users and tens of thousands of developers.
  • Demand for decentralized storage grows as teams diversify beyond centralized cloud providers.
  • Open-source R&D lowers build costs and accelerates adoption across adjacent protocol products.

What critics are saying

  • Ethereum rollups commoditize generic Web3 infrastructure and siphon developer attention.
  • SEC scrutiny around tokens and staking suppresses Filecoin-style adoption and fundraising.
  • Cloud hyperscalers bundle storage and compute, weakening Protocol Labs' standalone infrastructure sales.

What makes Protocol Labs unique

  • Protocol Labs built IPFS, Filecoin, and libp2p as open-source internet primitives.
  • Its network spans 760+ independent teams across web3, AI, and hardware.
  • Bacalhau and FVM extend storage into verifiable compute and programmable markets.

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Funding

Total Funding

$10.9M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

3 Rounds

Notable Investors:
Ico funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Ico Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Parental leave

Contributions to your retirement

Competitive pay and unlimited time off

For U.S.-based employees: platinum-level health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

2%

2 year growth

-20%
SiliconANGLE Media
Mar 2nd, 2026
Akave raises $6.65M for compute-agnostic cloud storage with no egress fees

Akave, a cloud infrastructure startup, has launched an S3-compatible object storage service and raised $6.65 million in seed funding. The platform offers compute-agnostic storage at $14.99 per terabyte per month with no egress fees or data transfer charges. Founded by Stefaan Vervaet, Akave decouples storage from compute infrastructure, allowing enterprises to move data across public clouds, neoclouds and on-premises environments without vendor lock-in. The platform uses cryptographic hashes and blockchain-based immutable ledgers to create tamper-evident audit trails whilst keeping actual data off-chain. Akave has been qualified as an external storage provider for Snowflake and integrates with Apache Iceberg. Investors include No Limit Holdings, Protocol Labs, Big Brain Holdings, Avalanche VC and the Filecoin Foundation. The funding will primarily support sales and marketing expansion.

FinSMEs
Dec 19th, 2025
Enlightra Raises $15M in Funding

Enlightra, a Lausanne, Switzerland based deeptech startup building chip-scale multiwavelength lasers for future data transmission, raised a total of $15m in funding

Deriv
Nov 7th, 2025
Is Filecoin's price surge the start of a broader crypto market recovery?

Is Filecoin's price surge the start of a broader crypto market recovery? According to experts, Filecoin's 50% surge could mark the early stages of a broader recovery across the cryptocurrency market, driven by renewed interest in utility-based blockchain assets. The decentralised storage token's sharp rebound above the $2 level has placed it at the forefront of the DePIN (Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Network) rally - a niche sector that has gained roughly 11% overall in recent days. Analysts point to rising network activity, strong developer funding, and growing institutional focus on real-world blockchain utilities as reasons why Filecoin's latest move may represent more than just a speculative bounce. Still, whether the rally extends further will depend on broader market sentiment and sustained adoption within the decentralised storage ecosystem. Key takeaways. * Filecoin leads crypto recovery: Up over 50% in 24 hours, Filecoin is outperforming most major tokens and driving gains in the DePIN sector. * DePIN sector strength: Decentralised infrastructure projects have collectively gained 11%, signalling investor interest in tokens with tangible use cases. * Ecosystem investment expanding: Protocol Labs has launched RetroPGF Round 3, allocating 585,000 FIL to support developer projects from November 2024 to September 2025. * Market capitalisation: Filecoin's valuation now stands at $1.52 billion, ranking it among the top 50 public blockchains. * A short-term focus on maintaining momentum above $2 could pave the way for a move to $3, a key technical resistance level. * Long-term outlook: Experts see Filecoin as a leading project in the growing Web3 infrastructure and decentralised storage economy. Filecoin rally leads the market's structural recovery. Filecoin's performance is part of a broader market trend where investors are shifting capital towards utility-based projects - tokens that provide real-world functionality. Within this trend, DePIN networks stand out. These projects bridge physical resources such as computing power, energy, and data storage with blockchain incentive mechanisms, creating measurable productivity within decentralised systems. The DePIN sector's 11% rise reflects a shift in sentiment from speculative trading towards functional blockchain services. Filecoin's 50% rally to above $2.00 has cemented its status as the flagship token for decentralised storage and one of the strongest indicators that the market is rediscovering value in blockchain infrastructure. Filecoin vs traditional cloud storage. Launched in October 2020 by Protocol Labs, Filecoin provides a peer-to-peer marketplace for data storage. It enables users to rent out unused hard drive space, earning FIL tokens in exchange. Unlike traditional storage services such as Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox, Filecoin's system operates without a central authority - meaning that pricing, availability, and access are determined entirely by the network. The system relies on two unique consensus mechanisms: * Proof-of-Replication (PoRep): Verifies that storage providers hold exact copies of the data they claim to store. * Proof-of-Spacetime (PoSt): Confirms that the data remains stored for the entire agreed period. Together, these mechanisms make Filecoin's network verifiable, secure, and tamper-resistant, addressing long-standing challenges in data storage trust and transparency. Decentralised storage: from research to real-world impact. Filecoin's origins date back to 2014, when Protocol Labs developed the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) - a decentralised file-sharing protocol designed to replace centralised web servers. Filecoin was later introduced as the economic layer of IPFS, incentivising users to store and maintain data using blockchain rewards. In August 2017, Filecoin completed one of the largest token offerings in crypto history, raising $257 million in its Initial Coin Offering (ICO). Major investors, including Sequoia Capital, Union Square Ventures, and Digital Currency Group, backed the project. By the time its mainnet launched in October 2020, Filecoin had become one of the most anticipated blockchain networks globally. Its price soared to an all-time high of $236.97 in 2021 before correcting sharply alongside the broader market downturn. Despite that decline, the network has continued to expand and maintain strong developer interest, positioning it as one of the most credible decentralised storage solutions in the Web3 space. Filecoin's ecosystem expansion reinforces fundamentals. While price volatility has dominated headlines, Filecoin's ecosystem growth has been quietly strengthening. Protocol Labs recently launched RetroPGF Round 3, allocating 585,000 FIL to projects that contributed to the ecosystem between late 2024 and 2025. This round follows two earlier programmes that rewarded nearly 200 development teams, supporting innovations in decentralised computing, data retrieval, and dApp integration. The funding initiative underscores Filecoin's commitment to sustainable growth - a key differentiator in a market often driven by short-term speculation. Such ecosystem support not only encourages innovation but also signals confidence to institutional investors who are increasingly assessing Web3 infrastructure projects as long-term opportunities. Market outlook: can Filecoin sustain momentum? Breaking past the $2 psychological level marks a pivotal moment for Filecoin. The next major resistance sits near $3, a level last tested in mid-2023. Technical analysts suggest that continued momentum could propel prices toward this mark if trading volumes remain high and the DePIN rally sustains. However, Filecoin still trades far below its 2021 highs, underscoring both its potential for recovery and its vulnerability to market sentiment. Short-term corrections are possible as traders take profits, but experts say the latest surge is supported by more robust fundamentals than previous speculative rallies. With a market cap of $1.52 billion and growing integration across decentralised applications, Filecoin is viewed as a key player in Web3's evolving infrastructure layer. Its combination of utility, decentralisation, and developer support could allow it to benefit from the next major rotation into functional crypto assets. Filecoin technical analysis. At the time of writing, Filecoin (FIL/USD) is trading around $2.12, extending its rally after rebounding from the $1.36 support level. The Bollinger Bands have expanded, reflecting heightened volatility, with price now testing the upper band - often a sign of short-term exhaustion. The RSI, at 64.3, is rising sharply toward the overbought zone, suggesting momentum remains strong but could soon face a cooling period. Meanwhile, the MACD has turned positive with a fresh bullish crossover, reinforcing the current uptrend. However, traders should monitor momentum closely as the histogram begins to flatten. The next key resistance levels sit at $2.28 and $2.57, where profit-taking or renewed buying may occur. On the downside, $1.36 remains the critical support level - a break below it could trigger another wave of selling. To explore and analyse these setups in real-time, traders can track Filecoin price action directly on Deriv MT5, which provides advanced charting tools, indicators, and multi-asset trading access for crypto, forex, and commodities markets. Filecoin's short-term outlook is bullish but nearing overbought territory, hinting at a potential cooldown if resistance levels hold. Filecoin investment implications. For traders, Filecoin's recent breakout offers short-term momentum opportunities above the $2 level, with upside potential towards $3 if DePIN sector strength continues. Caution remains warranted given crypto market volatility, but the technical setup favours buyers as long as Filecoin holds its newly reclaimed support zone. For long-term investors, Filecoin stands out as one of the few blockchain networks with clear real-world use cases. Its robust developer base, institutional backing, and role in the decentralised data economy make it an appealing bet on the future of Web3 infrastructure. Competition from centralised cloud giants and other blockchain storage protocols could cap growth if adoption plateaus. Filecoin's success will depend on scaling efficiently, maintaining ecosystem incentives, and integrating more deeply into decentralised application frameworks. Before entering Filecoin positions, traders can use the Deriv trading calculator to estimate potential profit and loss based on position size, leverage, and price movement - an essential tool for managing risk in volatile crypto markets. Trading Filecoin on Deriv. * Momentum trading: Traders can use RSI and MACD crossovers on Deriv MT5 to capture short bursts of volatility during rallies above key breakout levels. * Range trading: When Filecoin consolidates between $1.80 - $2.50, short-term traders may use Bollinger Band reversals to enter positions at range extremes. * Breakout strategy: A sustained move above $2.57 could signal a new bullish leg toward $3.00 - traders can confirm signals using MT5's volume indicators and EMA crossovers. The performance figures quoted are not a guarantee of future performance. What makes Filecoin different from traditional cloud storage? Is the Filecoin rally sustainable or just temporary?

finanzen.net
Oct 8th, 2025
TransCrypts Raises $20M CDN for AI Fraud Combat

TransCrypts, a Canadian startup, raised $15M USD ($20M CDN) in seed funding led by Pantera Capital, with investors like Mark Cuban and Lightspeed Faction. The company, which has grown 15-fold in 24 months, serves 450+ enterprises and 4 million users, including Fortune 500 companies. TransCrypts aims to combat AI fraud and enhance digital identity verification, expanding into health and educational records. The funding will help double its team and establish a new co-headquarters in Toronto.

io.net
Jun 27th, 2025
How io.net Cut AI Research Costs 92.8% for Frodobots-UC Berkeley Breakthrough

Frodobots raised $8M in funding from investors including Protocol VC, Solana Ventures, and Solana co-founders.

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