Nigerian blockchain startup Hyperbridge, founded by Seun Lanlege and David Salami, has raised $5.8 million to address one of the biggest challenges in blockchain technology — interoperability.

The funding includes $2.5 million in a seed round led by the Polkadot Ecosystem Fund, a joint venture between the Web3 Foundation and Scytale Digital, as well as $2.8 million raised through a public sale.

Hyperbridge is designed to enable the seamless transfer of crypto assets across different blockchains, a breakthrough that could solve one of the industry’s most persistent problems.

Lanlege, a blockchain researcher and founder of Polytope Labs, explained that as new blockchains continue to emerge, they often operate in isolation, preventing value from flowing freely between them. “We’re scaling blockchain networks, but if people on Polygon can’t interact with those on Tron, then we’ve recreated the same problem Bitcoin set out to solve,” he said.

Unlike existing blockchain bridges that rely on multisignature (multisig) systems — where multiple private keys control pooled funds — Hyperbridge eliminates this single point of failure. Lanlege noted that multisig bridges are still based on trust, leaving them vulnerable to hacks.

This weakness has led to major security breaches in the past. In 2021, hackers exploited a multisig flaw in the Poly Network bridge, stealing over $600 million in what became one of the largest crypto thefts in history.

Hyperbridge takes a different approach by removing custodial risk and allowing true on-chain interoperability rather than issuing IOUs or wrapped tokens. The platform verifies blockchain states directly, ensuring that transfers are secure and transparent across multiple networks.

Since launch, Hyperbridge has processed over $92.4 million in transaction volume, verified more than 10.2 million finality proofs, and saved an estimated 12.2 trillion in gas fees. Its market valuation peaked at $200 million following the token launch.

Lanlege described the company’s mission as building “a foundational layer for the future of blockchain connectivity.”

In a significant endorsement of its technology, Polkadot DAO has voted to make Hyperbridge the native cross-chain bridge for the Polkadot network, cementing its position as a key player in blockchain infrastructure innovation.

The team’s progress has drawn attention not just for its technological depth but also for its African origin — a sign that world-class blockchain innovation is emerging from Nigeria, one of the fastest-growing crypto markets globally.