Liquid Raises $18M for AI-Powered 24/7 Multi-Asset Trading

Liquid closed an $18 million series seed round co-led by Left Lane Capital and Neo to expand its noncustodial, AI-driven trading platform. The New York-based startup plans to use the financing to build AI research and execution tools and to broaden retail access to crypto and traditional markets.

The round, which closed in January after a fundraising process that began in late November, was structured as equity. The new funding brings Liquid’s total financing to $25.6 million, following a $7.6 million seed round led by Paradigm in November. CEO and co-founder Franklyn Wang declined to disclose the company’s valuation. No outside investors took board, advisory or observer seats; the board remains unchanged and is composed of Wang.

Liquid offers a noncustodial trading venue that lets users trade cryptocurrencies alongside equities, commodities, foreign exchange and pre-IPO assets. The platform also includes a prediction market product, up to 200x leverage and retail-focused features that mirror professional trading tools. Wang said the startup’s AI trading assistant has drawn “incredibly high traction” as the company adds features to speed analysis and execution.

Since launching the platform in August, Liquid reported more than $3 billion in cumulative trading volume across about 40,000 users. Core products from the company’s earlier offering-perpetual DEX aggregation, yield vaults and a point-based rewards system-remain available as the product expands to multiple asset classes.

Liquid intends to advance AI capabilities and grow distribution through partnerships. The company has about 15 employees and plans to hire selectively, with a primary focus on product and engineering roles.

Investors in the round, in addition to Left Lane Capital and Neo, include Paradigm, General Catalyst, Haun Ventures, K5 Global, SV Angel, AntiFund and Sunflower Capital. Matthew Miller, managing partner at Left Lane Capital, noted that retail participation has increased and now accounts for a large share of order flow, and that Liquid aims to serve traders seeking directional exposure without the complexity of traditional derivatives.