Raise, a global gift card platform focused on blockchain-powered payments and loyalty, has announced a successful $63 million investment in its latest funding round. Led by Haun Ventures, the round also attracted participation from Amber Group, Anagram, Blackpine, Borderless Capital, GSR, Karatage, Paper Ventures, Pharsalus Capital, Selini Capital, Sonic Boom Ventures, and the Web3 Foundation, along with notable angel investors. This infusion brings the company’s total funding to over $220 million and underscores investor confidence in Raise’s expansion within the multi-trillion-dollar gift card sector.
Although no valuation details were disclosed, the newly raised capital marks a significant milestone for a company that is shaping how consumers interact with gift cards. Prior backers include Accel, PayPal, and New Enterprise Associates (NEA), further highlighting Raise’s established presence in the fintech ecosystem.
The gift card industry is projected to exceed $2.3 trillion by 2030, reflecting its importance as both a loyalty tool and an everyday retail transaction method. As George Bousis, Founder and CEO of Raise, stated: “Raise has redefined how consumers interact with and value gift cards – it’s about loyalty and share of wallet, not just gift-giving. For over a decade, we’ve invested tens of millions of dollars in bringing gift cards and loyalty programs on-chain. Now, we’re making a nin-figure commitment over the next several years to fully realize this vision.”
Diogo Monica, General Partner at Haun Ventures, emphasized Raise’s potential, adding:
“Raise is seizing a massive, outdated market with the right mix of experience, infrastructure, and blockchain expertise. With deep industry ties and a real plan for adoption, this isn't just a bet on the future of gift cards—it's an investment in a proven team solving a trillion-dollar problem.”
With the new capital, Raise will continue to develop its proprietary blockchain-enabled program—Smart Cards—and strengthen the Retail Alliance Foundation, a nonprofit coalition aimed at uniting brands to create a more secure, interoperable, and fraud-resistant gift card network. By seeding the Alliance with intellectual property and collaborating with BFG Labs (a subsidiary of Raise Holdings Ltd.), the company seeks to transform gift cards into a fully programmable, retail-focused currency.
The brand also plans to expand on recently announced partnerships, including the upcoming integration of DOT Wallet via the Polkadot Community Foundation, which will enable swift on-chain transactions within the Raise application. Additional collaborations through WalletConnect will connect Raise with key digital wallets like Coinbase, MetaMask, Phantom, Trust, and more, further fueling the company’s blockchain-based growth strategy.
Founded in 2013 by George Bousis, Raise has long been at the forefront of transforming gift card usage. Since its inception, the platform has facilitated over $5 billion in consumer transactions and built partnerships with more than 1,000 brands. Its comprehensive offerings include a consumer-facing app, a gift card exchange (GCX), and a B2B platform (Raise for Business).
The company has also assembled a high-profile Board of Directors to guide its next phase. Industry figures such as Marco Santori (former CLO at Kraken and former President of Blockchain.com), George Ruan (co-founder and former CEO of Honey), Matt Maloney (founder and former CEO of Grubhub), and Bjorn Wagner (CEO of Parity Technologies) will provide strategic oversight as Raise evolves.
In addition to Haun Ventures, the current round’s roster of investors spans a range of industries and includes venture capital powerhouses as well as influential angels. This funding builds on earlier rounds led by Accel, PayPal, and NEA, collectively fueling Raise’s mission to modernize the gift card ecosystem and drive broader adoption of blockchain-based loyalty solutions.
Raise’s approach to payment solutions, combined with deep retail and technical expertise, has consistently attracted prominent backers. By coupling blockchain infrastructure with traditional loyalty programs, Raise aims to spark a new wave of consumer engagement and trust in a sector traditionally plagued by fraud and inefficiency.
