October 28, 2024
By Our Correspondent
R3, a provider of distributed technology and digital services headquartered in New York, is reportedly considering various strategic options for its business, including the possibility of a sale.
According to a report released on October 24 by Bloomberg, R3 is evaluating several avenues, such as forming a joint venture, selling a minority stake, or pursuing a complete sale of the company.
The blockchain startup, which has garnered support from prominent investors like Intel and Bank of America, has initiated preliminary discussions with Ava Labs and the Solana Foundation. Additionally, Bloomberg indicates that R3 has engaged in talks with Adhara, a provider of liquidity management and international payment solutions.
Founded in 2014, R3 rapidly established itself as a leading entity in the blockchain sector, focusing its technology on banks and financial institutions. Its early achievements included participation in a consortium that featured major players like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley, although many banks eventually withdrew as R3 shifted towards venture capital funding.
The combination of a prolonged downturn in the cryptocurrency market and other challenges has compelled R3 to make significant reductions to its workforce, including a 20% layoff in September 2023.
Before these developments, the company successfully raised $122 million in a funding round in 2018, attracting over 40 institutional investors, including Barclays, UBS Group, and Wells Fargo. R3’s Corda technology has been implemented by various institutions operating in regulated markets globally, including the U.S. financial market infrastructure provider Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, Belgium’s Euroclear, SIX Digital Exchange, Spunta Banca, and the Central Bank of the UAE.
