MARA, a Pan-African crypto exchange, recently launched and announced $23 million in funding from Coinbase Ventures, Alameda Research (FTX), Distributed Global, TQ Ventures, DIGITAL, Nexo, Huobi Ventures, Day One Ventures, Infinite Capital, DAO Jones (investment DAO backed by Mike Shinoda, Steve Aoki and Disclosure), and nearly 100 other crypto investors, and angels including Amit Bhatia and Hamad Alhoimaizi.
The company also announced a partnership with the Central African Republic, which just passed a bill legalising Bitcoin as legal tender.
As part of this partnership, MARA will become the official crypto partner of the Central African Republic and an advisor to the President on crypto strategy and planning.
The MARA executive team is led by Chi Nnadi, Lucas Llinás Múnera, Dearg OBartuin and Kate Kallot. The team is joined by board advisors Kojo Annan and Tatiana Koffman revealed that “MARA’s mission is to facilitate a more equitable distribution of capital by providing a decentralized alternative that spans across tribes, class, cultures, and countries, and it’s goal is to close the gap in opportunities for Sub-Saharan individuals and establish a financial infrastructure that they can build their lives upon.