DisrupTech backs Egyptian-founded crypto startup Hamilton: Local fintech- and tech-focused VC DisrupTech Ventures led a USD 1.7 mn pre-seed funding round for real-world assets BTC tokenization company Hamilton, according to a statement(pdf) from the startup. The round also saw participation from South Korean firm DeSpread, Japan-based digital asset manager Hyperithm, seed-stage VC Core Ventures, CMS, and other strategic investors.

Hamilton? Co-founded by Mohamed Elkasstawi and Ehab Zaghloul last year, the startup bridges “traditional finance with BTC by making tokenized real-world assets — such as t-bills, sukuk, and real estate — accessible to institutions and individuals worldwide,” the release said. It plans to do this though its three main offerings — HUSD (a BTC-native stablecoin backed by US treasury bills) and HUST (tokenized US treasuries), which it plans on launching starting Q3 2025, in addition Publius (a platform for financial institutions to tokenize assets on BTC), set to launch following this.

Sound smart: Think of tokenization as creating a digital version of a real-world asset like treasury bills or real estate on a blockchain (in this case BTC). These digital tokens represent ownership of the actual asset, similar to how stocks represent ownership in a company. This process allows traditionally illiquid or high-barrier assets to be divided into smaller, tradeable digital units, making them more accessible to a broader range of investors.

You may not have heard of Hamilton if you’re outside the US — but that may change soon: Hamilton is focused on the US market while building partnerships and eyeing opportunities in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, Zaghloul said.

And that includes you if you’re in Egypt: “Egypt is a priority market for Hamilton,” Zaghloul told us, adding that they plan to enter the Egyptian market within the next 18–24 months. It’s planning to do this through partnerships with local asset managers and institutions, but “navigating the regulatory environment to ensure compliance and seamless integration with local financial systems” remains a challenge.

Hamilton thinks its services will appealing to those in countries struggling with depreciating currencies and inflation: “By combining on-chain security with local market expertise, we aim to provide accessible, stable financial products to regions where currency devaluation and inflation are persistent challenges,” Zaghloul said, highlighting the company’s approach of working with local fintechs, banks, and asset managers.

Expanding its offerings is also part of the plan: The company also plans to expand its offerings by tokenizing ETFs, corporate bonds, and commodities like gold, co-founder Ehab Zaghloul told EnterpriseAM, aiming to broaden access to institutional-grade investments globally.

To do this, some partnerships with some household names could be in the cards: Hamilton is currently in talks with big shots, including BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, to tokenize their products and enhance institutional trust and asset quality, Zaghloul said.

What they said: “BTC isn’t just digital gold — it’s the foundational layer of future capital markets,” Elkasstawi said. “With unparalleled security, decentralization, and resilience, BTC provides the ideal infrastructure to democratize access to capital markets for everyone, everywhere,” he added.

IN OTHER STARTUP NEWS-

HR solutions company Talent 360 closed a six-figure investment round led by Saudi Arabia’s C.Star venture studio, it said in a statement (pdf). The fresh funds will help Talent 360 expand its footprint in Saudi Arabia and introduce AI-powered HR solutions. Talent 360’s entrance into Saudi Arabia last year marked its first expansion outside of Egypt, with CEO Heba Ayad describing it as a “vital market.”

What they said: “Our expansion into Saudi Arabia represents more than just growth — it’s about becoming an integral part of the Kingdom’s dynamic ecosystem. With this investment from C.STAR, we have the resources and support to build AI-powered HR solutions that empower businesses to scale effectively, manage their talent, and achieve their ambitious goals,” said co-founder and head of the startup’s Saudi expansion Ahmed Darkawi.

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