MIT-Incubated Optimum Raises $11M to Build Web3’s Missing Memory Layer
Boston, MA, April 15th, 2025, Chainwire
Seed Round Led by 1kx Fuels Development of High-Performance Data Infrastructure for the World Computer.
Optimum, the first decentralized high-performance memory layer for any blockchain, today announced the successful closure of its $11M seed round, led by 1kx with participation from Robot Ventures, CMT Digital, Spartan, Finality Capital, Triton Capital, SNZ, Big Brain, CMS, Longhash, NGC, Animoca, GSR, Caladan, Reforge and more. Optimum is building the missing memory layer of blockchains—revolutionizing how data is stored, accessed, and propagated: faster, cheaper, and truly decentralized.
At the core of Optimum’s innovation is Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC), a data coding breakthrough for distributed systems developed by MIT Prof. Muriel Médard. Refined over more than two decades, Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC) has received notable recognition for its contributions to data networking. It was awarded the IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award in 2022 and has played a role in Muriel Médard’s election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, as well as her induction as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
Optimum, led by an exceptional team of MIT, Harvard, and Meta alumni, is now pioneering high-performance memory for decentralized networks leveraging RLNC.
Wei Dai, Research Partner at 1kx, commented: “It was obvious from our first interaction with the team that the technology around RLNC has far-reaching potential. It’s been impressive to see the Optimum team adapt their core innovations over the past year to solve critical bottlenecks in decentralized networks and supercharge all blockchains.”
“High-performance memory has been the missing link in blockchain infrastructure—most innovation has focused on computation and execution, while data access and networking remain underexplored,” said Muriel Médard, co-founder of Optimum. “A scalable memory layer provides the missing piece, optimizing data retrieval, reducing congestion, and unlocking the speed and efficiency needed for blockchain to serve as the backbone of the decentralized Internet.”
Building the Missing Memory Layer for the World Computer
Blockchains are often called “decentralized world computers” but lack the memory architecture needed for efficient computing. High-performance computers use memory buses and RAM (Random-access memory) for fast data access and propagation. Blockchains store all state data permanently, creating a growing burden on full nodes. Without a scalable memory layer, blockchains face systemic inefficiencies: gossip networks redundantly propagate data, congested mempools cause unpredictable delays, and bloated nodes make retrieval costly and complex. While partial solutions exist, they remain suboptimal.
Optimum is building a provably optimal memory infrastructure that turns blockchains into high-speed, scalable computing networks. It tackles three key issues: inefficient data propagation, redundant storage, and slow access. Powered by RLNC, a powerful coding scheme that encodes data into packets to transmit over a network in a highly efficient and resilient manner.
- OptimumP2P: A pub-sub protocol that functions as a memory bus, complementing outdated gossip networks with coding-based data propagation to reduce redundancy and boost throughput for any network. Increasing speed & APY, optimal transactions, and better UX for any operators from Validators, RPC providers, to DEXs, trading firms, and more.
- Optimum deRAM: A decentralized RAM layer that ensures the properties of atomicity, consistency, and durability (ACID) of data. Resulting in faster, on-demand access, cheaper storage, and lower fees for L1/L2, validators, dApps, and end users.
Optimum is now live on a private testnet with OptimumP2P, and is actively inviting L1s, L2s, validators, and node operators to experience its high-speed, decentralized memory layer in action. This funding will accelerate integration across major ecosystems — enhancing scalability for blockchains, lowering costs, and improving performance for node operators, enabling developers to build faster, more responsive dApps, and ultimately delivering a cheaper, smoother experience for end users.
About Optimum
Optimum is the first decentralized high-performance memory layer for the world computer, designed to eliminate scalability bottlenecks by enabling fast data propagation, efficient storage, and real-time access. Powered by Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC) a patented technology, Optimum scales any L1/L2 and enhances node operators performance & APY by boosting network speed, resilience, and throughput, improving dApp performance and user experience.
Co-founded by MIT professor Muriel Médard, the inventor of RLNC. Backed by 1kx, Robot Ventures, CMT Digital, Spartan, Finality Capital, Triton Capital, SNZ, and more, Optimum is scaling Web3 infrastructure for the next generation of decentralized networks.
Users can learn more at getoptimum.xyz and follow Optimum on x.com/get_optimum.
