Cera
Cera is a Y Combinator-backed brokerage platform that lets global retail users deposit USDC or USDT stablecoins and trade US stocks — including fractional shares from $2 — via mobile and web apps, with funds custodied by Fireblocks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Cera does
Cera is a Y Combinator-backed, stablecoin-funded brokerage platform that lets users worldwide deposit USDC or USDT and trade US equities (including fractional shares from a $2 minimum) through iOS, Android, and web applications. The product is delivered by Finwise (BVI) Ltd., a British Virgin Islands entity, with user funds custodied through Fireblocks using MPC-CMP combined with hardware isolation, and stablecoin deposits matched 1:1 into a USD cash balance to neutralize de-pegging exposure. Distribution is fully self-serve via the App Store, Google Play, and getcera.com, and the platform layers a Reward Center ($2 sign-up bonus plus task-based rewards up to $50) and a Referral Program (up to $50 per eligible referee, paid in USDC and force-converted to a user-chosen stock) on top of the core trading experience to drive viral acquisition in the global web3 community.
The business model is anchored in transaction-related revenue: the Terms of Service reference revenue Cera obtains in connection with rendering the services, with the majority of user digital assets reportedly deposited with third-party Value Generating Platforms (VGPs), implying spread, fee, or yield intermediation on parked balances. Withdrawal fees may apply as published on the platform, and the forced USDC-to-stock conversion of reward and referral payouts creates an additional intermediation surface. No public trading commission schedule, subscription fee, or minimum deposit beyond the $2 fractional-share floor is disclosed; account registration is free and KYC is required before trading.
Cera serves three overlapping retail segments: global crypto/stablecoin holders seeking US equity exposure, non-US residents blocked from opening US brokerage accounts, and low-budget or first-time investors wanting fractional access to high-priced US stocks. The company is privately held, employs 1–10 people, is headquartered in San Francisco (with the legal seat in Road Town, BVI), and is led by co-founders Jasmine Huynh (CEO) and Phi Dang (CTO), both described as former Google engineers.
Cera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cera
- Legal name
- Finwise (BVI) Ltd.
- Website
- https://getcera.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cera is a Y Combinator-backed brokerage platform that lets global retail users deposit USDC or USDT stablecoins and trade US stocks — including fractional shares from $2 — via mobile and web apps, with funds custodied by Fireblocks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Brokerage
- NAICS
- Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail Crypto Brokerages (Simple Buy/Sell) (FSADAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Crypto Custody & Exchange Wallet Services (Integrated) (FSADAAAG), Fiat On/Off-Ramps & Payment Rails (Exchange-Operated) (FSADAAAF)
Keywords
Where Cera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Service fees and value-generating platform (VGP) intermediation: Cera acts as an intermediary depositing the majority of user digital assets with third-party Value Generating Platforms (VGPs); the Terms of Service reference 'revenue that Cera obtained in connection with rendering the Services' suggesting a spread, fee, or yield intermediation revenue model. Withdrawal fees may apply as published on the Platform.
- Referral reward float / forced-conversion reward mechanics: Referral rewards are paid in USDC and forced-converted into a stock of the user's choice upon collection, allowing Cera to intermediate the USDC-to-stock conversion (potentially earning spread).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free account registration; trading fees not publicly disclosed |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Reward Center: $2 sign-up, up to $50 per eligible task |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Referral Program: up to $50 per friend (USDC paid out, force-converted to stock) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cera is a mobile and web brokerage platform that lets users worldwide fund stock purchases with stablecoins (USDC, USDT), each pegged 1:1 to USD on deposit, and trade fractional shares of US-listed equities (hundreds of tickers including TSLA, AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, NKE) with a $2 minimum. Custody of digital assets is handled via Fireblocks' MPC-CMP infrastructure with hardware isolation, and supporting modules include a Reward Center for sign-up and task-based incentives and a Referral Program paying USDC rewards (forcibly converted to stock) for eligible referee deposits.
Product overview
Cera is a unified cross-border investing platform delivered through the Cera App (iOS/Android) and the Cera Web Platform at getcera.com. Its core offering lets users worldwide deposit stablecoins (currently USDC and USDT, 1:1 matched into USD cash in the platform) and trade US stocks — including fractional shares from $2 — across hundreds of tickers, with watchlist and portfolio tooling. Two embedded incentive modules extend the platform: the Reward Center, which issues sign-up and task-based cash rewards convertible into user-chosen stocks, and the Referral Program, which pays verified referrers USDC-denominated rewards (forcibly converted to stock) for each eligible referee who meets deposit milestones. Together, the trading core and these two reward modules form Cera's complete product surface for global investors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cera App Mobile application distributed via the iOS App Store and Google Play that lets users worldwide fund US stock purchases with USDC/USDT stablecoins, search and trade across hundreds of US tickers (TSLA, AAPL, MSFT, NKE, AMZN), buy fractional shares from a $2 minimum, earn dividends, and manage watchlists and portfolios via a mobile-first interface.
- Cera Web Platform Web application hosted at getcera.com that delivers the Cera investment experience in a browser, including stablecoin deposit via a unique one-time virtual wallet address, stock search, trade placement, watchlist, and portfolio tools for global retail investors.
- Cera Referral Program Refer-a-friend program built into the Cera platform that lets verified users invite unlimited referees and claim USDC-denominated rewards valued $1 to $50 per eligible referral, with rewards forcibly converted into a user-chosen stock on collection subject to net-deposit milestones and balance-holding requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Minimum investment of $2 enables fractional share access to high-priced US stocks
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cera
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Cera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cera social profiles
Digital presenceCera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cera 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 Cera
What does Cera do?
Cera is a mobile and web brokerage platform that lets users worldwide fund stock purchases with stablecoins (USDC, USDT), each pegged 1:1 to USD on deposit, and trade fractional shares of US-listed equities (hundreds of tickers including TSLA, AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, NKE) with a $2 minimum. Custody of digital assets is handled via Fireblocks' MPC-CMP infrastructure with hardware isolation, and supporting modules include a Reward Center for sign-up and task-based incentives and a Referral Program paying USDC rewards (forcibly converted to stock) for eligible referee deposits.
Is Cera a public or private company?
Cera is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cera founded?
Cera was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cera based?
Cera is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cera make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Service fees and value-generating platform (VGP) intermediation is the primary driver. The others are referral reward float / forced-conversion reward mechanics.
Does Cera have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cera.
What industry is Cera in?
Cera's product category is Retail Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADAAAB, Retail Crypto Brokerages (Simple Buy/Sell), with a secondary code of FSADAAAG, Crypto Custody & Exchange Wallet Services (Integrated). Its NAICS code is 523150 and its SIC code is 6200.