Fuse.io

Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Fuse.io is a blockchain company established in 2019 by CEO Mark Smargon, who has been building internet companies since the age of 14. Smargon's journey into blockchain began around 2014 with the Colu project, which focused on payments over the Bitcoin network, an experience that provided foundational insights for Fuse. Fuse was conceived from the belief that traditional payment systems are fragmented and costly, disproportionately affecting small businesses and emerging markets. The company aims to provide a decentralized, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to these legacy systems.

Fuse operates as a Layer-2 blockchain designed to simplify the integration of financial services, with a particular focus on Web3 payments for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and emerging markets. Its business model is centered on a Web3 business subscription service, offering all-inclusive fixed pricing for access to its decentralized services. This model is intended to empower businesses by providing the necessary tools and infrastructure to adopt Web3 financial models on a scalable and secure platform. The company targets businesses, referred to as "Operators," that want to provide real-world services to customers and incentivizes them to build on the Fuse platform. These Operators pay network fees on behalf of their users, abstracting the complexities of blockchain from the end-user experience.

The core of the company's offering is the Fuse Network, an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible blockchain that facilitates low-cost Web3 payments. A key product is Fuse Ember, a zkEVM Layer 2 architecture built using Polygon's CDK, designed to enhance scalability, privacy, and business integration. This technology enables features like zero-knowledge proofs for private transactions and increased transaction throughput. The platform also includes tools for developers, such as Fuse Staking, Fuse Bridge for moving funds between networks, and Safe for managing digital assets. For end-users, Fuse technology enables the creation of wallets and the minting of custom-branded currencies, facilitating frictionless mobile payments. Since its mainnet launch in 2019, the network has processed over 130 million transactions and created more than 1.4 million wallets.

Keywords: blockchain payments, Web3 business solutions, decentralized finance, financial inclusion, Layer-2 blockchain, SMB payments, emerging markets crypto, EVM-compatible chain, mobile payments platform, open-source blockchain, crypto payment stack, Fuse Network, Mark Smargon, B2B2C blockchain, zkEVM, Polygon CDK, delegated proof of stake, fee abstraction, real-world assets, crypto payment infrastructure, stablecoin issuance, decentralized applications, digital asset management, crypto loyalty programs, Web3 subscription model