Atrya Raises €1.52 Million Pre-Seed to Expand Compliant Blockchain-Based Payment Infrastructure
Atrya, the Hamburg-based fintech startup focused on building a compliant, blockchain-native payments infrastructure using e-money tokens, has raised €1.52 million (approximately $1.75 million) in a pre-seed financing round to accelerate development of its on-chain payment network and expand its global presence. The investment represents a significant early milestone for the company as it works to bring programmable, compliant digital payment rails to financial institutions, payment service providers (PSPs) and enterprise clients.
The pre-seed funding round was led by Web3 investor Gnosis VC, a venture firm known for backing infrastructure projects that bridge regulated financial environments with decentralized technologies. Joining the round were participants including Heartfelt, regional development financier IFB Hamburg, industry expert Andrew Bosomworth, former managing director of PIMCO Deutschland, and angel investors such as Volker Jacobs and Markus Franke.
Founded in 2024 by Lorian Qorraj, Benjamin James and Julia Beermann, Atrya was originally launched under the name Caplend and has since pivoted to concentrate on building a next-generation payments platform powered by blockchain technology. The company’s infrastructure is designed to leverage regulatory-compliant e-money tokens, developed with partners such as Dutch stablecoin provider Quantoz, to create programmable, transparent and efficient payments that operate alongside existing financial systems. This focus on compliance — particularly under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) in the European Union — positions Atrya to deliver digital-native payments in a manner that meets stringent regulatory standards while harnessing the benefits of blockchain.
Atrya’s platform aims to support a range of use cases that include cross-border transfers, agent-to-agent payments, refinancing operations, e-commerce settlements, and programmable transactions via APIs. By building a scalable, MiCAR-ready payment network, the company seeks to address longstanding inefficiencies in traditional payment systems, reducing settlement times and costs while enhancing transparency and interoperability. Early pilots are underway with partners across Europe, the United States, Asia, and Latin America as Atrya tests its infrastructure with real-world payment flows and prepares for broader commercial rollout.
The capital raised in this pre-seed round will be directed toward product development, regulatory engagement, and strategic partnerships that support global expansion. Atrya’s leadership has emphasized the importance of building not just a technology stack but a compliant, resilient financial network that can integrate with existing payment ecosystems and meet the needs of regulated entities. With APIs that enable programmable wallets and payment functionality for both enterprises and emerging AI-driven commerce applications, Atrya is positioning itself at the intersection of regulated finance and decentralized innovation.
CEO Lorian Qorraj has highlighted that a very small percentage of Germany’s international payments currently utilize stablecoin or blockchain-based rails, underscoring the opportunity for Atrya to serve as a bridge between legacy systems and modern, tokenized payment protocols. By providing infrastructure compliant with extant law and regulatory frameworks such as MiCAR, the company aims to reduce friction in cross-border payments and enable programmable settlement features that go beyond the capabilities of traditional networks like SEPA or ACH.
Investor support from Gnosis VC and others reflects confidence in Atrya’s approach to combining compliant digital asset rails with the robustness required by regulated financial players. Gnosis VC’s leadership in the financing aligns with its broader strategy of backing foundational Web3 infrastructure that connects decentralized technologies with established financial frameworks, helping projects navigate the regulatory landscape while scaling technology adoption.
Regional support from IFB Hamburg, a public bank focused on fostering innovation and economic development in the Hamburg metropolitan area, further underscores the strategic importance of fintech innovation hubs in Europe. The involvement of angel investors with experience in both traditional finance and digital assets provides additional industry insight as Atrya grows beyond its initial founding stage.
As Atrya continues to refine its platform and expand its partner network, the company is well-positioned to contribute to the evolution of payment infrastructure — moving global money movement toward more efficient, transparent, and programmable models. With regulatory compliance and blockchain technology at its core, Atrya’s pre-seed funding sets the stage for future growth as demand increases for digital payments that can operate seamlessly across borders and jurisdictions.
