Arda Raises Pre-Seed to Build Real Estate’s Operating System, Led by Ex-Goldman MD & JPMC Crypto Head

March 19th, 2025 – New York, United States

Arda, a company developing a universal operating system for real estate, has raised $3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Lightshift. The investment supports Arda’s initiative to enhance efficiency in the $380 trillion real estate sector by addressing its fragmented and opaque infrastructure.

Arda is building a digital framework designed to unify real estate assets, data, and financial services into a single, interoperable system. Leveraging AI and blockchain technology, the platform aims to reduce transaction times and enhance transparency by enabling real-time ownership and financial processes.

A Purpose-Built Digital Infrastructure for Real Estate

Arda’s platform introduces a programmable execution layer for real estate, integrating digital rights management, AI-driven automation, and seamless data interoperability. Key features include:

• Digital Asset Profiles: A verifiable record of property history to streamline due diligence.
• Real-Time Money Movement: Payments directly linked to transactions for improved settlement efficiency.
• Integrated Data and Automation: Automated workflows reducing administrative friction in asset management.

Industry Leadership and Institutional Backing

Arda was founded by Oli Harris, former Managing Director in Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs and Head of Crypto Assets Strategy at JPMorgan Chase. Harris played a key role in the development and commercialization of Quorum, an enterprise Ethereum platform, and contributed to institutional digital asset adoption. His experience includes board positions at Anchorage, BitGo, Blockdaemon, and TRM Labs.

“Real estate remains one of the most valuable yet operationally fragmented asset classes,” said Oli Harris, Founder & CEO of Arda. “By creating a programmable, trust-based system, we aim to bring real estate transactions in line with modern digital financial infrastructure.”

A Market Evolving Toward Digitization

As institutional investment in digital assets grows, governments and industry leaders are exploring frameworks for secure, verifiable digital property transactions. Regions such as the Gulf are advancing adoption, while U.S. policymakers are shaping regulations to integrate digital assets into mainstream financial systems.

“We invest in founders who are building the foundations of next-generation industries,” said Simao Cruz, Founding Partner at Lightshift. “Arda is developing purpose-built infrastructure that could redefine how real estate is owned, transacted, and financed.”

About Arda

Arda is developing a real estate operating system designed for institutions, enterprises, and governments. Its platform enables digital interoperability, automated transactions, and real-time execution in the global real estate sector. Founded by Oli Harris, Arda is backed by investors supporting the evolution of digital real estate infrastructure.

For more information, users can follow @arda_labs on X (Twitter) or contact contact@arda.xyz.

About Lightshift

Lightshift is a venture firm investing in early-stage companies focused on digital infrastructure and programmable assets. The firm partners with founders to provide capital, technical expertise, and strategic insights for market-defining innovation.

For more information, users can visit www.lightshift.xyz or contact katy.campbell@lightshift.xyz.

Contact

CEO and Founder
Oliver Harris
Arda
oli@arda.xyz