Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Ozean Partners with Florence Finance to Bring European Private Credit On-Chain

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Ozean partners with Florence Finance to bring European private credit opportunities on-chain, enhancing the Ozean ecosystem.
  • Florence Finance, with a proven track record in SME credit, integrates with euro stablecoins to expand its reach through Ozean.
  • The partnership aims to transform SME financing by providing direct access to credit via DeFi, leveraging Ozean’s Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure.
  • Ozean’s collaboration with Hex Trust and Clearpool bridges the gap between traditional finance and DeFi, unlocking new liquidity opportunities.

Ozean, a blockchain platform focused on real-world asset (RWA) yield, has announced a partnership with Florence Finance, a leading Euro-denominated RWA project. This collaboration aims to bring European private credit opportunities on-chain to the Ozean ecosystem. The partnership was announced here.

Florence Finance collaborates with small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) lenders to provide diverse credit exposure. It offers an alternative funding source for lenders with a proven track record in managing SME credit. Founded by early blockchain enthusiasts and led by Chiel Ruiter, who has extensive investment banking experience, Florence Finance has originated over €10 million in loans and distributed more than €500,000 in interest to its community members.

The company has integrated with several euro stablecoins, including EURS by Stasis, EURA by Angle Protocol, and most recently EURC by Circle. With its expansion to Ozean, Florence Finance aims to unlock new opportunities for users to access European private credit directly.

Private Credit Shaping Europe’s Financial Landscape

The European private credit market has grown to approximately €400 billion, driven by a shift from traditional bank lending to alternative financing options. According to research by KKR, private credit is expected to play a significant role in financing across Europe, particularly in sectors like healthcare, software, and business services.

Since its launch in 2022, Clearpool has been a leader in decentralized finance (DeFi) private credit, originating over $620 million in loans to major institutions such as Jane Street. Together with Florence Finance’s expertise in European private credit, Ozean is poised to transform SME financing on-chain, providing businesses with direct access to credit through DeFi.

Pioneering a New Era for Private Credit

Hex Trust, in partnership with Clearpool, is launching Ozean to address the challenge of unlocking traditional finance (TradFi) capital on-chain. Their licensed services are crucial in injecting liquidity into private credit opportunities via Florence Finance, bridging the gap between TradFi and DeFi.

Ozean is built as a permissionless Ethereum Layer 2 as part of the Optimism Superchain, featuring an optional compliance layer to enhance interoperability among permissioned protocols. The ecosystem will enable RWAs to be traded, used as collateral, and integrated into DeFi with enhanced functionalities.

Jakob Kronbichler, CEO & Co-founder of Clearpool, stated, “We’re thrilled to welcome Florence Finance to the Ozean ecosystem. Together, we’re pioneering a compliant, accessible pathway for private credit, opening new avenues for SMEs and DeFi users alike to access the benefits of RWAs on-chain.”


Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of CoinsHolder. Content, including that generated with the help of AI, is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers should do their research before taking any actions related to the company and carry full responsibility for their decisions.
Shree Narayan Jha
Shree Narayan Jha
Shree Narayan Jha is a tech professional with extensive experience in blockchain technology. As a writer for CoinsHolder.com, Shree simplifies complex blockchain concepts, providing readers with clear and insightful content on the latest trends and developments in the industry.

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