Key Takeaways
- • TurboFlow, a Hong Kong-based onchain trading platform combining prediction markets and perpetual futures, raised $6 million in seed funding led by Pantera Capital, with Susquehanna Crypto and Digital Currency Group as co-investors.
- • The funding round, structured as a SAFE with token warrants and closed in March 2026, positions TurboFlow to capitalize on the Asia-Pacific prediction markets gap, where institutional-grade liquidity remains underdeveloped compared to Western platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
- • Founder Tony He, formerly co-founder and partner at Amber Group, aims to build liquidity through relationships with market makers including Susquehanna Crypto and leverage his background in trading operations.
- • TurboFlow is pursuing a market-by-market compliance approach across APAC, acknowledging that regulatory frameworks for prediction markets vary significantly and remain in evolution across the region.
- • The funding reflects sustained institutional investor appetite for prediction markets and perpetual futures platforms, with both asset classes continuing to attract capital despite regulatory uncertainty in key markets.
Summary
The platform positions itself as the Asia-Pacific equivalent to Kalshi, the U.S.-based prediction markets platform, addressing what He describes as a significant gap in institutional-grade liquidity for prediction markets across the region. While prediction markets and perpetual futures have gained substantial traction in Western markets through platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, these products remain largely underdeveloped in Asia despite regional user interest. TurboFlow's strategy centers on localization and deep regional engagement, with He emphasizing that Asian users have distinct trading preferences and asset interests compared to Western counterparts.
He, a former co-founder and partner at Amber Group, highlighted that TurboFlow intends to serve as a "bridge" between Asian users and institutional-quality liquidity. The platform plans to build depth through established relationships with firms including Susquehanna Crypto and leverage He's market-making expertise. Regarding regulatory compliance, He acknowledged that prediction market frameworks vary substantially across APAC jurisdictions and remain evolving. TurboFlow is pursuing a proactive, market-by-market compliance approach with external advisors to identify sustainable regulatory pathways, though He declined to specify which licenses or jurisdictions the platform is actively pursuing.
The funding announcement reflects continuing institutional conviction in both prediction markets and perpetual futures as asset classes, despite ongoing regulatory scrutiny in many jurisdictions. Pantera Capital, which has maintained a consistent focus on blockchain technology and digital assets since its 2013 founding, has positioned itself at the center of institutional crypto investment thesis, supporting emerging platforms targeting geographical and product gaps in the broader digital asset ecosystem.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.