As the world advances into a new phase of technological transformation, digital infrastructure is becoming the backbone of economic progress. Cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and data ownership now define digital sovereignty and competitiveness. Blockchain, once tied mainly to crypto, is now essential for secure data interaction — PwC, the second-largest professional services network in the world and is one of the Big Four accounting firms, estimates blockchain could add up to $1.76 trillion to global GDP by 2030.
Vietnam is rapidly emerging as a leading Web3 hub in Southeast Asia, with a top-five global ranking in blockchain adoption (Chainalysis) and more than 10 startups surpassing $100 million valuations. The launch of the National Blockchain Strategy in October 2024 further reflects a strong public-private commitment to a transparent, secure, and future-ready digital economy.
In a landmark move, SSI Digital (SSID) — the tech arm of SSI Securities Corporation, Vietnam’s top financial institution — has officially led the Series A funding round for U2U Network. This strategic investment marks a major milestone not only for U2U Network but also for Vietnam’s ambition to build a “Make in Vietnam” digital infrastructure for the world.
SSID — A Financial Giant Steps into Web3
SSI Securities Corporation (SSI) is a long-time leader in Vietnam’s financial sector, which had reported total assets of around USD 3.92 billion as of December 31, 2024. With over 25 years of experience, SSI holds the largest equity capital in the country’s securities market and consistently ranks among the top firms on Vietnam’s two main stock exchanges.
To realize its vision of becoming a comprehensive financial-tech group, SSI established SSI Digital (SSID), a tech-focused subsidiary dedicated to building digital infrastructure and ecosystems. As SSI’s strategic tech arm, SSID is driving Vietnam’s digital transformation with expertise in AI, blockchain, distributed systems, data security, and Web3 applications. Its platforms target vital sectors like finance, education, healthcare, and agriculture to support a sustainable and globally integrated digital economy.
Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung, Chairman of SSI, shared: “In finance, we’re used to measuring trust with numbers. But with blockchain, trust requires a new metric: the ability to establish decentralized trust.”
Through SSID, SSI is actively shaping a tech-finance ecosystem with real impact. Complementing this is SSIAM’s $200 million SSI Digital Ventures fund (with up to $500 million in co-investment potential), designed to support cutting-edge blockchain and digital innovation.
To fulfill this mission, SSID sought more than technical expertise — it needed a partner who shared its deep commitment to building a national digital infrastructure that’s open, inclusive, and built to last. A partner aligned with the mission of creating a “Make in Vietnam” digital infrastructure for the world. That partner is U2U Network.
Why Did SSID Choose U2U Network?
Deep Tech Meets Real-World Utility
U2U Network is one of the few Vietnamese-built Layer-1 blockchains gaining international recognition. Its architecture, which combines DAG technology and flexible subnets, allows for high-throughput, parallel data processing — optimized for DePIN, digital assets, and real-world asset (RWA) applications.
Ms. Chloe Phung, CEO of U2U Network and the driving force behind bringing Vietnamese infrastructure technology to the global stage, stated: “We’re not just building a blockchain for Web3 users, we’re building a digital infrastructure that enterprises can easily access and adopt.”
This vision has always been core to U2U Network — and it’s taking shape through real-world partnerships like Staex, a Web3 platform for IoT and an award-winning leader in secure, zero-trust network management. U2U is advancing decentralized IoT for smart cities. Meanwhile, its collaboration with Nubila, a pioneer in decentralized IoT and MachineAI, is bringing blockchain-based weather data to agriculture and insurance. U2U Network is proving its versatility and delivering real-world value beyond the blockchain buzz.
This direction aligns closely with SSID’s long-term mission to build impactful and future-ready digital infrastructure.
Driven by Talent
Led by a seasoned team that combines both local and global expertise with experience from top global tech companies like Google, Salesforce, and OKX, U2U Network brings a strong domestic and international perspective.
Under their leadership, the platform has grown to support over 1 million users, 80+ dApps, and 40+ DePIN projects, and has secured listings on major exchanges like Bitget, KuCoin, MEXC, BingX, and Gate.io.
Shared Vision
SSID’s decision to lead U2U Network’s Series A round was not about control, but collaboration. U2U brings the technical foundation, while SSID contributes strategic planning, capital, and enterprise network development, forming a balanced partnership aligned with Vietnam’s national digital goals.
Long-Term Strategic Relationship
Our relationship has been years in the making. Over the past two years, SSID and U2U Network have co-developed a decentralized infrastructure and co-hosted large-scale events like the Digital Asset Summit (DAS) and Vietnam Tech Impact Summit (VTIS), attracting over 20,000 attendees, including enterprises, regulators, and investors, etc.
VTIS 2024 was especially impactful, bringing together finance, tech, and Web3 leaders on one national platform to foster cross-sector collaboration and investment in Vietnam’s digital ecosystem.
Mr. Mai Huy Tuan, CEO of SSID, stated: “We chose U2U not just for their technology, but for their deep market insight and long-term vision. SSID wouldn’t invest to own, we invest in walking alongside partners who share our values and commitment to building sustainable digital infrastructure for the nation’s benefit.”
More Than an Investment
This partnership is more than just funding — it represents the convergence of deep technology and real-world impact. SSID will leverage U2U’s infrastructure to build inclusive Web3 platforms and blockchain-based digital asset solutions. In return, U2U gains the strategic backing needed to scale its DePIN and Web3 services globally.
More importantly, this collaboration advances Vietnam’s National Blockchain Strategy 2030 and strengthens the country’s position as an emerging leader in global digital innovation.
SSID and U2U Network are laying the groundwork for a sustainable digital economy — built in Vietnam, for the world.
Source: Medium
