Yellow
Yellow (Layer3 FinTech Ltd.) operates a Layer-3 Web3 clearing network providing a chain-agnostic SDK, white-label brokerage tooling (NeoDAX), and the $YELLOW utility token. It serves developers, startups, and enterprises building cross-chain decentralized financial applications using State Channel technology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersSouth San Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Yellow does
Yellow (Layer3 FinTech Ltd.) is a Web3 infrastructure company building a Layer-3 clearing network for cross-chain financial applications. Its core technology stack combines State Channel technology, which routes transactions off-chain with only final settlement on-chain, and the Nitrolite Protocol (ERC-7824 standard), a modular infrastructure combining a real-time clearing engine, the Yellow SDK, and a network of smart nodes. The protocol is chain-agnostic and compatible with any EVM chain; via integration with the XRPL EVM Sidechain it connects to over 80 blockchains. Core products include the Yellow SDK (developer toolkit), NeoDAX (white-label crypto brokerage toolset), the Yellow Clearing Network (aggregated orderbooks and cross-chain collateral), and the $YELLOW utility token.
The company monetizes through transaction fees paid in $YELLOW tokens for blockchain transactions, dynamically priced clearing fees on batch settlements denominated in USD, $YELLOW deposits held by apps to incentivize responsible behavior, and shared trading fees distributed to liquidity providers on the Yellow Clearing Network. Distribution is product-led and community-led: developers self-onboard via documentation and a Builder Program offering up to $50,000 in grants against structured milestones (M0–M3), with ecosystem support from the Yellow Builders Alliance and a Canary Testnet (Duckies) for staged validation before mainnet. Customer segments are horizontal — independent developers, startups, and enterprises building decentralized applications for micropayments, high-frequency trading, real-time gaming economies, cross-chain DeFi, and creator subscriptions.
Yellow is privately held, backed by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen (who led a $10M round in June 2025) and accredited investors via a Regulation D-compliant $YELLOW token sale on Republic in August 2025. The leadership team combines consensus-protocol expertise (ex-Tendermint CTO Alessio Treglia), exchange engineering (former BybitX Head of Exchange Tech Hongtao J), fintech security architecture (Camille Meulien), and Web3 marketing (ex-Polkadot/Kusama/DappRadar CMO Shyla Khan). The $YELLOW token and mainnet trading platform launched in March 2026 alongside the Builders Alliance, marking the company's transition from protocol development to live ecosystem operation.
Yellow firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Yellow
- Legal name
- Layer3 FinTech Ltd.
- Website
- https://yellow.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Yellow (Layer3 FinTech Ltd.) operates a Layer-3 Web3 clearing network providing a chain-agnostic SDK, white-label brokerage tooling (NeoDAX), and the $YELLOW utility token. It serves developers, startups, and enterprises building cross-chain decentralized financial applications using State Channel technology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Yellow industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Blockchain Infrastructure / Web3 Clearing Network
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Institutional API Connectivity, OMS/EMS & FIX Gateways (FSADAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Yellow is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Yellow business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- $YELLOW Token Utility: The $YELLOW token serves as the native utility token of the Yellow ecosystem with multiple revenue-generating functions: users pay transaction fees in YELLOW tokens for blockchain transactions across multiple chains; apps collect YELLOW tokens as deposits to incentivize responsible transaction behavior; both parties pay dynamically priced clearing fees on batch settlements sized in USD evaluation. The token also serves as an access layer for SDK modules, wallets, and routing tools.
- Liquidity Provision Fees: Liquidity providers on the Yellow Clearing Network share profits from trading fees generated by aggregated orderbooks connecting multiple exchanges. This creates a win-win scenario where both startups and large players benefit from shared liquidity.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Yellow product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Yellow develops and operates a Layer-3 Web3 clearing network built on State Channel technology and the Nitrolite Protocol (ERC-7824). It sells the Yellow SDK (chain-agnostic developer toolkit), the NeoDAX white-label crypto brokerage solution, the $YELLOW utility token, and the Yellow Clearing Network — together providing non-custodial, cross-chain trading infrastructure that combines centralized-exchange speed with decentralized-exchange security for developers, brokerages, and enterprises.
Product overview
Yellow is a Web3 clearing network providing a modular platform architecture for decentralized finance. The core portfolio includes Yellow SDK (chain-agnostic development toolkit), NeoDAX (crypto brokerage toolset), Yellow Network (Layer-3 clearing infrastructure), and the $YELLOW utility token. Supporting infrastructure includes Yellow Clearing Network (cross-chain trading with aggregated orderbooks), Yellow Clearnet (Layer-3 clearing for RWAs), and Nitrolite Protocol (ERC-7824 modular stack). The ecosystem operates through state channel technology enabling off-chain execution with on-chain settlement, combining centralized exchange speed with decentralized security. The Yellow Builder Program provides grants up to $50K for developers building on the SDK, while the Canary Testnet (Duckies) serves as the test environment for the network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NeoDAX: The flagship product built on Yellow SDK, positioned as the #1 toolset to build a crypto brokerage with turnkey liquidity, serving as a technology enabler for Yellow Network's capacities
- Yellow SDK
- Nitrolite Protocol
- Yellow Clearnet
- Yellow Builders Alliance
- Duckies
- Yellow Clearing Network
- $YELLOW Token
Products and services
- Yellow SDK High-performance, chain-agnostic development toolkit that unlocks the next generation of decentralized applications. Provides modular SDK and tools for enterprises and startups to perform non-custodial financial operations on chain, abstracting away blockchain friction and supporting WebSocket and JSON integration with real-time events.
- NeoDAX White-label crypto brokerage toolset built on Yellow SDK, serving as a turnkey technology enabler for exchanges and brokerages. Provides quick guided setup, modular and scalable architecture designed to handle hundreds of thousands of transactions per second, and battle-tested open-source security.
- $YELLOW Token Native utility token of the Yellow ecosystem providing immediate utility for transaction fees, network access, clearing fees on batch settlements (sized in USD evaluation), and tooling access across SDK modules, wallets, and routing tools.
- Nitrolite Protocol Modular infrastructure stack for building fast, scalable, cross-chain applications. Combines a real-time clearing engine, a Software Development Kit (Yellow SDK), and a network of smart nodes, implemented on the ERC-7824 standard and compatible with any EVM chain.
- Yellow Clearing Network Layer-3 clearing network powered by state channel technology enabling real-time cross-chain trading without intermediaries. Features aggregated orderbooks connecting multiple exchanges to share liquidity, non-custodial asset management via secure multisig smart contracts, and connection points in every major blockchain for cross-chain collateral and settlements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Non-custodial architecture eliminates counterparty risk as exchanges do not hold users' funds — funds are locked with secure multisig smart contracts.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Yellow
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Yellow technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Yellow partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- RipplecoreYellow Network integrated its Layer-3 clearing network (Yellow Clearnet) with the XRPL EVM Sidechain developed by Peersyst in collaboration with Ripple. The integration enhances liquidity and traceability of real-world assets and connects Yellow to a network that interoperates with over 80 blockchains.
- PeersystcorePeersyst developed the XRPL EVM Sidechain in collaboration with Ripple, which Yellow Network integrated with to connect its Layer-3 clearing network to over 80 blockchains and enhance real-world asset liquidity and traceability.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Yellow competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Connext: Cross-chain interoperability protocol built on state channel technology for trustless asset bridging. Connext is the closest technical analog to Yellow's Nitrolite/State Channel architecture and competes directly for the same cross-chain liquidity clearing use case.
- LayerZero Labs: Omnichain messaging and cross-chain infrastructure protocol widely used by exchanges and DeFi apps. LayerZero competes for the same cross-chain developer mindshare and institutional partner relationships that Yellow is targeting.
- Wormhole: Cross-chain messaging protocol connecting 30+ blockchains, used by major exchanges and DeFi protocols for bridging and liquidity routing. Wormhole is a direct competitor in the cross-chain clearing and bridging infrastructure space.
- Across Protocol: Cross-chain bridge optimized for speed and low-cost transfers using an optimistic verification model. Across competes directly for cross-chain transaction volume and developer integrations in the same DeFi clearing niche.
- Stargate Finance: Cross-chain liquidity transport protocol built on LayerZero for native asset swaps between chains. Stargate competes for the same aggregated liquidity and cross-chain settlement use case that Yellow Clearnet targets.
- Axelar Network: Decentralized interoperability platform providing cross-chain messaging and general message passing for dApps. Axelar competes directly for institutional-grade cross-chain infrastructure partnerships and developer adoption.
- dYdX Trading: Decentralized perpetuals exchange built on its own app-chain with off-chain matching and on-chain settlement. dYdX is a direct architectural analog — using off-chain execution with on-chain finality — and competes for high-frequency DeFi trading volume.
Broad incumbents
- Fireblocks: Institutional digital asset custody, settlement, and trading infrastructure provider serving banks and trading firms. Fireblocks is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Yellow's institutional clearing ambitions at a much larger scale.
- Polygon Labs: Major L2 scaling ecosystem (Polygon PoS, Polygon zkEVM, AggLayer) with massive developer adoption. Polygon competes as a general-purpose scaling layer that many cross-chain clearing use cases are being built on rather than through specialized protocols like Yellow.
- Chainlink: Decentralized oracle network with its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) targeting institutional cross-chain transfers. Chainlink is a broader infrastructure incumbent that overlaps with Yellow's institutional clearing positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Yellow social profiles
Digital presenceYellow financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Yellow leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Yellow funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Yellow M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Yellow
What does Yellow do?
Yellow develops and operates a Layer-3 Web3 clearing network built on State Channel technology and the Nitrolite Protocol (ERC-7824). It sells the Yellow SDK (chain-agnostic developer toolkit), the NeoDAX white-label crypto brokerage solution, the $YELLOW utility token, and the Yellow Clearing Network — together providing non-custodial, cross-chain trading infrastructure that combines centralized-exchange speed with decentralized-exchange security for developers, brokerages, and enterprises.
Is Yellow a public or private company?
Yellow is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Yellow founded?
Yellow was founded in 2023. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Yellow based?
Yellow is headquartered in South San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Yellow make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. $YELLOW Token Utility is the primary driver. The others are liquidity Provision Fees.
Who are Yellow's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Connext, LayerZero Labs, Wormhole, Across Protocol, Stargate Finance, Axelar Network and dYdX Trading. Broad incumbents are Fireblocks, Polygon Labs and Chainlink.
Does Yellow have an API?
Yes. Yellow provides SDK connectivity through Yellow SDK / Nitrolite RPC with WebSockets and JSON, enabling real-time events and simple integration. Developers can build applications that connect to Yellow Node - a lightweight ledger and message broker that routes messages and tracks off-chain state. Finality and disputes are handled on-chain via smart contracts. The SDK supports building applications for micropayments, gaming economies, high-frequency trading, content subscriptions, and cross-chain DeFi. Developer documentation is at docs.yellow.org.
What industry is Yellow in?
Yellow's product category is Blockchain Infrastructure / Web3 Clearing Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADAJAJ, Institutional API Connectivity, OMS/EMS & FIX Gateways. Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6200.