Lighter

Lighter is a perpetual trading protocol based on Ethereum. It is a specialized zk-rollup that utilizes cryptographic methods and data structures to ensure scalability, security, and transparency. The protocol features a verifiable matching engine that enables efficient and auditable trade execution. This solution provides the infrastructure for building digital trading platforms with enhanced capabilities.

November 11, 2025 - Lighter announced had raised $68 million in a new funding round. The round was led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and fintech investor Ribbit Capital, with participation from Haun Ventures and the online brokerage Robinhood, which rarely makes venture investments. The funding valued Lighter at around $1.5 billion, according to sources familiar with the deal. Founded in 2022 by 40-year-old CEO Novakovski, Lighter completed the raise through a combination of equity and token warrants tied to a yet-to-be-released cryptocurrency.