BLUFF, a betting and entertainment platform aimed at the next generation of players, has raised $21 million in a strategic investment round led by global blockchain technology fund 1kx. Other investors named as participants include Makers Fund, Maximum Frequency Ventures, Delphi Ventures Founders and individual backers such as sports champion and tech investor Tristan Thompson.
The company’s senior team draws on leadership experience from established operators in the space, with former executives from Stake, Bet365, William Hill and Bodog among its ranks. BLUFF says it will apply the new capital to develop its platform further and to support a large-scale launch.
Product focus and platform design
BLUFF positions itself as a social-first sportsbook and iGaming destination. The platform emphasizes speed, transparency and alignment with players through features the company highlights as instant onboarding, real-time settlement, provably fair games, and reward structures designed to let users participate directly in the ecosystem.
“When we began building BLUFF, we set out to create a betting platform for the new generation of betters who prioritise fast, high-engagement gameplay, real-time experiences, real stakes and the social energy that defines how players engage online today,” said BLUFF’s Founder. “This funding, and the investors who have backed us, validates our mission of what the future of online betting can look like. Novel content, user-experience obsessed, deep community focus, and hyper-engaging for all users.”
In addition to traditional iGaming and sports wagering, BLUFF is developing a unified experience that integrates betting, live prediction markets, binary outcomes and creator-led community events within a single platform. The company also runs a VIP matching initiative intended to facilitate migration for users coming from legacy platforms such as Stake, Shuffle and Rollbit, offering bonuses, rewards and continuous VIP service including a 24/7 concierge.
Beta traction and early metrics
BLUFF reported substantial engagement during its pre-release phase. Over the course of three months in beta, the platform registered more than 600,000 sign-ups, retained tens of thousands of daily active users and processed in excess of 125,000,000 bets. The company frames this performance as one of the fastest scaling trajectories for a new betting platform, and says it has established strategic relationships across crypto, gaming and consumer entertainment sectors.
Commenting on the round, Peter Pan, Partner at 1kx, is quoted as saying: “The speed of execution and level of organic demand we’ve seen from BLUFF is rare. They’re building a category-defining platform with the potential to become the number one destination in betting and entertainment. BLUFF is exactly what the next generation of users is demanding.”
Andrew Willson, Partner at Makers Fund, added: “We are thrilled to back the BLUFF team. They bring a deep, nuanced understanding of player needs combined with an innovative approach to company building and platform design. By prioritizing players and offering a differentiated experience, we expect BLUFF to become a disruptive brand in the betting space.”
Founding team and backing
The founding team includes operators and executives with experience at category-defining betting platforms, names the company lists include Stake, Bet365, William Hill, Bodog and YOLO. The round’s backers span venture funds focused on blockchain and gaming as well as individual and cultural investors.
Next steps and where to access
BLUFF has said it will devote the proceeds from the financing to continue platform development and to support a scaled launch. The company directs interested users to Bluff.com to learn more and to begin using the platform.
About BLUFF
BLUFF is described by the company as a global sports betting and iGaming platform built for the new generation of players, combining gaming, real stakes, culture and community. It begins as a betting platform and sportsbook and is intended to expand into additional features, including novel bet types, loot boxes and trading mechanics that the company says will create a differentiated betting experience. The founding team brings experience from several long-standing industry platforms.
About 1kx
1kx is presented as a research-driven, fundamentals-focused global investment firm founded in 2018 by Lasse Clausen and Chris Heymann. The firm invests at key inflection points for blockchain technologies and says it partners with a diverse global investor base while supporting startups in the space.
Contact
Press inquiries: [email protected]