The DX Network
The DX Network operates a real-time, subscriptionless marketplace for structured data, built on Ethereum with Semantic Web technology and a native DXN token, serving data consumers, publishers, and developers across the technology industry.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What The DX Network does
The DX Network is a blockchain-based infrastructure company building the first real-time marketplace for structured data. Its platform combines a Semantic Web stack (OWL 2 ontologies with a custom DX/SPARQL query language derived from W3C SPARQL 1.1) with an Ethereum Layer 2 protocol and an extended ERC20 token (DXN) supporting custom one-to-many payment channels. Data is signed and organized semantically so that consumers can pay for, query, and verify individual datapoints through a single API, with cryptographic provenance and whitelist/blacklist controls on data sources. The first marketplace is focused on Tech Industry data covering 40+ categories (organizations, articles, products, investments, investors).
The firm operates a subscriptionless, pay-per-datapoint model mediated by DXN tokens, with revenue derived from transaction fees, marketplace commissions on third-party-operated DX for X marketplaces (vertical-specific public and private data marketplaces), and API usage-based payments. Distribution is API-first and developer-led, supported by a Python SDK, public REST endpoints (DX Tech Industry API and DX Semantic API), dedicated developer documentation at docs.dx.network, a DX Alliance of partner organizations, and a DX Dev Grants program. A planned DX App Store is intended to bind third-party applications into the ecosystem. The team is small (5 core members plus named advisors across academia, R&D, and blockchain law) and is headquartered in London through the Imperial College VCC accelerator.
The DX Network was developed by the founders of Startup Tracker (originally launched at TechCrunch Disrupt London in October 2014 as a CrunchBase browser extension, later used by Thomson Reuters, TechStars, ACM, Gartner, Allianz, Accel Partners, Stanford University, Ogilvy, and Amazon), and began formal development in January 2018 after a nine-month research mission. The platform reached Ethereum testnet alpha in October 2018, was selected for Y Combinator Startup School 2018 (out of 15,000 applicants), completed a community token sale in September 2018, launched on Ethereum mainnet in Q1 2019, and announced multi-vertical expansion (Insurance, Retail, Healthcare, Transportation, Research, Education, Finance, Entertainment) via the DX for X initiative in 2020.
The DX Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The DX Network
- Legal name
- The DX Network
- Website
- https://dx.network
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The DX Network operates a real-time, subscriptionless marketplace for structured data, built on Ethereum with Semantic Web technology and a native DXN token, serving data consumers, publishers, and developers across the technology industry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The DX Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Blockchain Data Marketplace / Data Exchange Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blockchain Data & Indexing Infrastructure for Finance (Nodes, Indexers, Oracles) (FSAGAMAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Centralized Crypto Exchanges (CEX) (FSAPADAA), Spot Crypto Exchanges (Order-Book & Matching Engine) (FSADAAAA), Smart Contract Execution Environments (EVM/WASM, runtimes, precompiles) (FSAPABAA)
Keywords
Where The DX Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The DX Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Data Transaction Fees: Revenue generated from data transactions on the network. Publishers list data for sale on DX marketplaces; consumers purchase data via API with single-datapoint granularity. DX Tokens are used to purchase data and pay for network operations like search. The DX Token's utility is proportional to the amount of data on the network.
- Marketplace Commissions: Organizations can open public or private data marketplaces on the network (DX for X). The network takes a commission on data transactions facilitated through these marketplaces.
- API Usage Fees: Pay-as-you-go model where users pay for data at datapoint granularity. No subscription required, enabling frictionless micropayments for data access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-per-datapoint data purchases |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The DX Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The DX Network operates a real-time, subscriptionless marketplace for structured data built on Ethereum blockchain and the Semantic Web stack. Data publishers list structured datasets (initially focused on the technology industry — companies, products, investors, investments, news) and data consumers purchase them via a single REST API or the custom DX/SPARQL query language, paying at single-datapoint granularity using the native DX Token (DXN). The platform enables both public marketplaces and private/enterprise marketplaces (DX for X), with cryptographic data provenance and direct peer-to-peer payment channels replacing traditional API keys.
Product overview
The DX Network is a real-time marketplace platform for structured data, built on Ethereum blockchain with Semantic Web technology. The core platform enables data consumers and publishers to transact directly via API with datapoint granularity using smart contracts and custom payment channels. The ecosystem includes the DX Token (DXN) - an ERC20-based cryptocurrency enabling pay-per-datapoint transactions without subscriptions; the DX Tech Industry Data Marketplace - the initial vertical-focused marketplace for tech companies, products, investors, investments, and news; two API products (DX Tech Industry API for familiar REST endpoints and DX Semantic API for DX/SPARQL-powered knowledge graph queries); the DX SDK for Python integration; DX Dev Grants program supporting developer ecosystem growth; and the planned DX App Store for third-party applications. Startup Tracker, the predecessor browser extension and search engine, now operates as a node on the DX Network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DX Tech Industry API Wrapper API that provides familiar endpoints for searching organizations and fetching organization details with their associated products, similar to traditional tech industry data provider APIs. Trades query flexibility for familiarity by exposing a simplified interface over the semantic API. For developers and data teams integrating tech-industry data into SaaS, internal apps, and algorithms.
- DX Semantic API Direct API access to the DX Network's knowledge graph using DX/SPARQL, enabling powerful semantic queries across all entities and data models. Allows advanced data discovery, analytics, and enrichment scenarios by querying relationships and data fields defined in the ontology. For developers and data teams needing complex semantic queries.
- DX Python SDK (DX.py) Software Development Kit provided for integrating with the DX Network. Currently includes the Python SDK (DX.py available via PyPI) with example scripts demonstrating wallet loading, payment-channel opening, and data purchasing workflows. For developers integrating data consumption into applications with as little as 3 lines of code.
- DX Tech Industry Data Marketplace The first data marketplace on the DX Network, focused on structured data about technology companies, products, investors, investments, and news. Provides real-time access to data sources via a single API, semantic queries, and pay-as-you-go datapoint pricing. For technology consumers and publishers trading structured tech-industry data.
- DX Token (DXN) Native cryptocurrency of the DX Network that extends the ERC20 token standard for use in the network's custom one-to-many payment channels. Used to purchase data and pay for network operations; enables a subscriptionless, pay-per-datapoint transaction model with machine-payable web capabilities. For data consumers paying for datapoints and publishers receiving revenue.
- DX Network Platform (Open Data Marketplace) The first real-time marketplace for structured data, designed for the Semantic Web and powered by Ethereum. Enables data consumers and publishers to transact directly via a single API with datapoint granularity, using smart contracts and custom one-to-many payment channels for secure, real-time transactions. For organizations buying or selling structured data assets.
Quantifiable outcome
- $3–5 trillion in economic value can be unlocked annually through open data (McKinsey & Company)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The DX Network
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The DX Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
The DX Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Y Combinator Startup SchoolcoreSelected by Y Combinator out of 15,000 applicants for the full advisor track of Startup School 2018. Gained access to network of 2,800 founders across 140 countries with direct access to Y Combinator advisors. Community sale of DX Tokens opened for early supporters.
- Imperial College VCC AcceleratorcoreThe DX Network's development started in January 2018 as the team joined one of the premier accelerators for Science and Technology ventures in the UK at Imperial College London. The partnership provided access to academic expertise in knowledge representation and research validation.
- Oblicity LawcoreLeading blockchain technology law firm providing legal and strategic expertise. CEO Rene Lauk is also a legal counsellor to the Government of Estonia. Provides extensive legal and strategic expertise gained from advising over 20 blockchain ventures.
- Civic TechnologiesminorListed as key advisor & partner on DX Network website. Civic Technologies is a blockchain-based identity verification platform.
- Imperial College Enterprise LabcoreImperial College Enterprise Lab is a key partner providing access to academic resources and validation for the DX Network's technology. Imperial College London was ranked 8th best university in the world by QS World University Rankings 2018.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The DX Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CB Insights: CB Insights is a market intelligence platform focused on tech company data, investments, and emerging trends. Comparable target customer base (VCs, enterprises, researchers) and overlapping data domains with DX Network's Tech Industry marketplace.
- PitchBook: PitchBook is a premium data provider on private and public companies, M&A, and VC/PE deals. Comparable as a comprehensive tech/finance data source, with deep enterprise customer relationships that DX Network would need to displace.
- Crunchbase: Crunchbase is the incumbent provider of structured data on startups, companies, investors, and funding rounds — directly competing with DX Network's Tech Industry marketplace offering, but via subscription model rather than pay-per-datapoint.
Direct peers
- Ocean Protocol: Ocean Protocol is a blockchain-based data marketplace where data providers can monetize datasets while preserving privacy. Most direct competitor to DX Network's data-exchange-on-blockchain thesis, with similar token-based micropayment model and developer tools.
- Streamr: Streamr operates a decentralized real-time data marketplace built on Ethereum with DATAcoin token economics. Directly comparable to DX Network's machine-payable, real-time structured data exchange model.
- Datum: Datum is a blockchain-based decentralized data marketplace where users monetize personal data via DAT token. Comparable as a blockchain data marketplace, though more focused on personal data (Datum) vs. structured business data (DX Network).
- Databroker DAO: Databroker DAO is a blockchain-based marketplace for IoT and sensor data with DTX token. Comparable as a blockchain data exchange marketplace targeting B2B and machine-to-machine data transactions.
- IOTA Data Marketplace: IOTA launched a data marketplace for IoT sensor streams using feeless Tangle transactions. Comparable as a blockchain-based data marketplace targeting machine-to-machine data exchange, though focused on sensor streams rather than structured business data.
Emerging players
- The Graph: The Graph provides blockchain data indexing infrastructure via GraphQL APIs (subgraphs), enabling querying of on-chain data. Partially comparable to DX Network's semantic query layer (DX/SPARQL) for blockchain-organized datasets.
- Stardog: Stardog is an enterprise knowledge graph platform using RDF/SPARQL technology — the same Semantic Web stack DX Network is built on. Comparable in ontology-driven data modeling and SPARQL query capabilities, though serving enterprise data integration rather than open marketplaces.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The DX Network social profiles
Digital presenceThe DX Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The DX Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The DX Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The DX Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The DX Network 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 The DX Network
What does The DX Network do?
The DX Network operates a real-time, subscriptionless marketplace for structured data built on Ethereum blockchain and the Semantic Web stack. Data publishers list structured datasets (initially focused on the technology industry — companies, products, investors, investments, news) and data consumers purchase them via a single REST API or the custom DX/SPARQL query language, paying at single-datapoint granularity using the native DX Token (DXN). The platform enables both public marketplaces and private/enterprise marketplaces (DX for X), with cryptographic data provenance and direct peer-to-peer payment channels replacing traditional API keys.
Is The DX Network a public or private company?
The DX Network is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was The DX Network founded?
The DX Network was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The DX Network based?
The DX Network is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does The DX Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Data Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are marketplace Commissions and API Usage Fees.
Who are The DX Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CB Insights, PitchBook and Crunchbase. Direct peers are Ocean Protocol, Streamr, Datum, Databroker DAO and IOTA Data Marketplace. Emerging players are The Graph and Stardog.
Does The DX Network have an API?
Yes. The DX Network offers a public REST API enabling developers to search, fetch, and query structured data from its data marketplace. The API provides two main interfaces: (1) The DX Tech Industry API - a wrapper API similar to traditional tech industry data providers for searching organizations and fetching organization details with their associated products; (2) The DX Semantic API - direct access to the network's knowledge graph using DX/SPARQL, a simplified version of W3C SPARQL 1.1, enabling powerful semantic queries across all data models. Authentication uses Ethereum payment channels on the blockchain rather than traditional API keys. Available endpoints include GET /techindustry/organizations for search, GET /techindustry/organizations/:uuid for fetching organizations, GET /semantic/search for semantic queries, and GET /semantic/fetch for fetching entities by URN. Developer documentation is at docs.dx.network.
What industry is The DX Network in?
The DX Network's product category is Blockchain Data Marketplace / Data Exchange Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAMAL, Blockchain Data & Indexing Infrastructure for Finance (Nodes, Indexers, Oracles), with a secondary code of FSAPADAA, Centralized Crypto Exchanges (CEX). Its NAICS code is 523210 and its SIC code is 6200.