Understanding Sign in One Article: A Comprehensive Analysis of the $55 Million Financing for Global Trust Layer Infrastructure

In 2025, as Blockchain and traditional infrastructure accelerate their integration, an infrastructure project dedicated to building a global trust layer, Sign, has completed a strategic financing round led by YZi Labs for 25.5 million dollars, bringing the total financing amount to over 55 million dollars.

What is Sign? Essentially, it is a blockchain project focused on building secure and verifiable digital infrastructure, aimed at providing underlying support for digital identity, payment systems, and public services through four core products. The project has received continuous investment from top institutions such as Sequoia Capital's three branches and IDG Capital, showcasing the strong confidence of the capital market in the empowerment of traditional infrastructure by blockchain, with a plan to achieve a core target of 50 million users within its initial year of operation.

01 In-depth Analysis of the Project: Technical Architecture and Application Scenarios of the Four Core Products

What is the core product matrix of Sign? The project has built a complete infrastructure solution to achieve the technical vision of a global trust layer through four core products. The digital identity system is based on a verifiable credential architecture, providing users with self-sovereign identity management and supporting cross-platform identity authentication and data authorization; the digital signature service utilizes the immutability of Blockchain to provide legally effective electronic signatures for contract signing and document verification; the payment settlement network constructs secure and efficient cross-border payment channels, supporting multi-currency settlement and real-time clearing; the public service framework provides digital transformation tools for government departments, covering scenarios such as voting systems, qualification certification, and public record management.

In terms of technical architecture, Sign adopts a multi-layered design concept. The underlying layer is based on the Hyperledger Fabric enterprise-level Blockchain framework, ensuring high performance and scalability of the system; the middle layer integrates Zero-Knowledge Proof technology to achieve privacy protection and minimal data disclosure; the top layer connects different Blockchain networks and traditional IT systems through Cross-Chain Interoperability protocols. This architecture enables Sign to meet the differentiated needs from individual users to sovereign nations, providing a solid technical foundation for commercialization.

The application scenarios have covered multiple fields such as digital government, financial services, healthcare, and supply chain. The collaboration with Singapore's Singpass system demonstrates the maturity of its technology in practical applications, while partnerships established with the governments of Thailand, South Korea, as well as several countries in Central Asia and the Middle East showcase the project's globalization capabilities. It is particularly noteworthy that Sign aims to become the first blockchain infrastructure company to implement a nationwide digital currency system, and this strategic positioning gives it a unique advantage in the sovereign blockchain track.

02 Team and Financing: Continuous Investment Recognition and Strategic Layout

The background of the Sign team reflects a perfect combination of technical depth and business breadth. The founding team consists of cryptography and computer science experts from top universities such as Harvard and Stanford, possessing a strong academic background and industry experience. Core members include former hardware engineer turned cryptocurrency investor Xin Yan serving as CEO, and blockchain education expert Jack Xu responsible for ecological development, ensuring precise grasp of technological trends and market demands.

The financing journey demonstrates the high confidence and sustained optimism of institutional investors in the project. In 2022, a seed round financing of 14 million dollars led by three branches of Sequoia Capital (USA, China, and India/Southeast Asia) provided crucial support for the project's launch. In January 2025, YZi Labs led a Series A financing of 16 million dollars, marking its first investment after separating from CEX and transforming into the family office of former CEO Zhao Changpeng. In October 2025, a strategic round of 25.5 million dollars was again led by YZi Labs, with participation from IDG Capital, creating a rare pattern of consecutive investments within the same year.

From a capital strategy perspective, Sign has successfully built a diversified shareholder structure that includes traditional venture capital, specialized cryptocurrency institutions, and strategic investors. Sequoia Capital's global network, YZi Labs' industry resources, and IDG Capital's cross-border experience provide comprehensive support in technology, market, and policy aspects for the projects. This combination of capital is extremely rare in blockchain infrastructure projects, offering a unique advantage for the expansion of sovereign businesses.

03 Token Economy: The Value Mechanism and Ecological Functions of SIGN Token

Total Supply design needs to balance the special requirements of sovereign blockchain projects and the sustainability of token economics.

SIGN is the utility and governance token in the Sign ecosystem:

• Total Supply: 10 billion
• Initial Circulating Supply: 1.2 billion (12% of total supply)
• Application Scenarios: Payment transaction fees, participation in governance, and distribution of staking rewards and community incentives, etc.

The distribution mechanism of the SIGN token includes airdrops for early users and community members, aimed at promoting the decentralization of token ownership.

On April 25, 2025, mainstream CEX announced that SIGN would be the 16th project to launch in its HODLer airdrop program. From April 15 to 19, users who subscribe to BNB capital protection earning coins or on-chain earning coin products can receive airdrop rewards. The HODLer airdrop program allocated a total of 200 million SIGN tokens, accounting for 2% of the total supply. In addition, SIGN has been listed for trading on the platform with a seed label, supporting trading pairs with USDT, USDC, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY.

For the Sign project, a reasonable total supply setting should both cover the incentive needs of current multinational cooperation projects and reserve sufficient space for future sovereign clients. Considering the scale of government-level clients that Sign aims to serve and the long-term development vision of the project, the total supply design needs to reserve ample token reserves for large-scale application of the system, while establishing a deflationary mechanism to avoid the dilution effect of excessive inflation on token value.

The initial circulation strategy is crucial for price discovery and ecological construction in the early stages of the project. Considering that Sign has established partnerships with multiple governments and plans to achieve a target of 50 million users in its initial operational year, the initial circulation ratio needs to be sufficient to support market trading depth and price stability. Unlike other blockchain projects, the value of Sign's token has actual government cooperation and system usage as potential support, which provides a relatively reliable fundamental reference for initial circulation valuation. The project has initiated a repurchase plan for its native token SIGN through public market purchases and private settlements, aimed at enhancing token value and providing flexibility for national-level trading, demonstrating the team's commitment to the health of the token economy.

On a core functional level, the SIGN token has built a multi-dimensional application scenario:

Network usage fees and service payments are the most fundamental core functions of the SIGN token. In Sign's four core product ecosystems, the token is used to pay for system usage fees such as digital identity verification, electronic signature services, cross-border payment settlement, and public service access. As more government and individual users adopt Sign's infrastructure, the demand for the token will create a continuous consumption mechanism, providing fundamental support for the token's value. Especially in the implementation of national-level digital currency systems, the token may act as a medium for internal settlement within the system, creating a stable demand foundation for the token in this large-scale application scenario. With the increase in adoption rates, this utility value will become an important support for the token's price and form a positive cycle with the growth of the system.

Governance Rights and Network Participation function endows the SIGN token with a deeper value connotation. In Sign's decentralized governance framework, token holders have the right to vote on major decisions such as key upgrades to the network, partner selection, and fund usage. Considering that the project involves sovereign clients and sensitive data, the governance mechanism is designed with a dual-layer structure, ensuring community participation while complying with the legal and regulatory requirements of various countries. Token holders can participate in network security and consensus maintenance through staking, obtaining corresponding governance powers and voting weights. This design organically combines governance rights with long-term interests, enhancing the token's practical value and governance efficiency.

Ecological Incentives and Value Accumulation are important supports for the long-term value of the SIGN token. With the expansion of the Sign network and the onboarding of more government clients, the token will be used to incentivize network participants, technology contributors, and ecological partners. Through a well-designed token economic model, the project can return a portion of the value created by the system to token holders, forming a positive value cycle. It is particularly noteworthy that the project has launched a token repurchase plan, and this value accumulation mechanism is directly related to the system's development progress and commercial success, providing additional value growth opportunities for token holders. As more national-level projects are implemented, this value capture mechanism will be further improved and strengthened.

04 Market Performance: Positive Progress in Global Expansion and Ecological Construction

Sign has shown strong development momentum and a unique market positioning in the global trust layer infrastructure sector. Although specific user data has not yet been fully disclosed, its accumulated financing of $55 million and partnerships with multiple governments demonstrate the market's confidence in its business model. Particularly in the latest round of financing completed in October 2025, YZi Labs invested for the second time within the year, and this continuous injection of capital fully reflects the core investors' high recognition of the project's progress.

From the perspective of business development progress, Sign has established a partnership network covering Asia and the Middle East, and has achieved technological integration with important digital identity systems such as Singapore's Singpass. This practical case provides strong evidence for the feasibility of sovereign Blockchain technology and accumulates reference templates for subsequent business expansion. The project plans to achieve the goal of 50 million users in the initial operating year, a scale that is extremely ambitious in blockchain infrastructure projects, and if realized, it will completely change the application paradigm of Blockchain technology.

From the perspective of community building, Sign has established a stable developer community and industry influence through strategic partnerships and continuous technological innovation. The project focuses on recruiting professionals in Hyperledger Fabric, zero-knowledge proofs, and cross-chain interoperability. This talent strategy not only meets the demands of technological development but also reserves core resources for the sustainable development of the ecosystem. The plan to establish local teams in multiple countries further strengthens the project’s global operational capabilities.

05 Competitive Advantage: Technical and Ecological Barriers of the Trust Layer Architecture

Sign has built multiple competitive advantages in the global trusted layer infrastructure track. Its most prominent advantage lies in the complete product matrix architecture, which provides users with a one-stop digital trust solution through the synergistic effects of four core products. Compared to single-function blockchain projects, Sign's product coverage is broader, able to meet the differentiated needs of individuals, enterprises, and government agencies; compared to traditional trust service providers, its blockchain-native architecture offers higher transparency, security, and efficiency, forming a significant technological generation gap.

Strong capital support and strategic resources are another key advantage. The cumulative financing of 55 million dollars provides sufficient funding support for the project, especially in the infrastructure sector that requires long-term investment. Sequoia Capital's global network, YZi Labs' expertise in cryptocurrency, and IDG Capital's cross-border resources bring comprehensive empowerment in technology, market, and policy to the project. The head of YZi Labs particularly affirmed the project's strategic positioning of “expanding from consumer services to national services,” and this recognition further strengthens the project's strategic direction.

First-Mover Advantage and Compliance Capability also constitute important competitive barriers. Sign has established cooperative relationships with multiple governments and has gained practical experience in mature regulatory markets like Singapore. This early entry advantage allows it to accumulate valuable government service experience and compliance knowledge. Compared to other blockchain projects, Sign's sovereign business positioning enables it to avoid fierce competition in the consumer market and establish competitive barriers in relatively blue ocean fields. CEO Xin Yan's emphasized strategy of “cooperating with various countries and respecting existing regulations” further strengthens the project's competitive advantage in compliance.

06 Risks and Challenges: The Development Bottlenecks of Sovereign Blockchain Business

Despite the significant potential shown by Sign, investors must remain soberly aware of the challenges it faces. Regulatory and policy risks are the main threats to sovereign blockchain projects. There are huge differences in regulatory attitudes towards blockchain technology among different countries, and policy changes can directly affect the project's business expansion and technology implementation. Especially in sensitive areas such as digital currency and digital identity, projects need to maintain close communication with regulatory authorities in various countries and be prepared to respond flexibly to possible policy adjustments. Geopolitical factors may also affect the ongoing advancement of multinational projects, necessitating the establishment of resilient business continuity plans.

Technical implementation complexity constitutes another major challenge. Sovereign-level infrastructure has extremely high requirements for system security, stability, and scalability; any technical failure could affect the reliability of national-level services. Sign needs to ensure the stable operation of its system under high-pressure environments, especially when integrating with existing government systems, requiring the handling of complex technical compatibility and data migration issues. The large-scale integration of Hyperledger Fabric, zero-knowledge proofs, and cross-chain technology lacks precedents to follow and requires thorough testing and optimization, which places extremely high demands on the team's technical capabilities.

Market competition and substitution risks cannot be ignored. The sovereign blockchain track is attracting the attention of more and more participants, including well-known blockchain projects such as Ripple and Solana, as well as traditional technology giants. Sign needs to continuously prove its technological superiority and business execution in this multidimensional competition, or it may face the risk of being substituted by other projects. Especially in localized competition in different regions, projects need to demonstrate sufficient flexibility and adaptability while maintaining the unity of core technologies and continuous innovation.

The coordination of commercialization progress and token economy is a key test for long-term development. Sovereign projects typically have longer sales cycles and complex decision-making processes, and projects need to demonstrate that their business models can continuously create value in different political environments. The combination of token economic models with traditional government procurement models also requires further validation to ensure that both can synergistically promote the development of the project. Especially in the early stages of the project, it is necessary to balance the relationship between long-term infrastructure investment and short-term revenue growth, maintaining a healthy cash flow and financial structure.

Future Outlook: The Evolution Path of Global Trust Layer Infrastructure

Looking to the future, Sign is expected to become an important driving force in the evolution of global digital trust infrastructure. In the short term, the project's focus will continue to be on expanding the technical team and building a global operational network, with an emphasis on verifying the technical feasibility and commercial sustainability of the sovereign Blockchain model. Progress in collaborative projects with Thailand, South Korea, as well as Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries will be key milestones, requiring a balance of multiple demands in terms of technical implementation, compliance requirements, and commercial returns, to accumulate experience and cases for broader promotion.

In the medium term, Sign may explore a broader range of sovereign service scenarios and deeper technological integration. As the project accumulates more experience in government services and cross-border cooperation cases, its technical architecture and product experience are expected to be further optimized, providing customized solutions that better meet the needs of various countries. Collaboration with traditional financial institutions and central banks may also open new market spaces for the project, becoming an important bridge connecting the traditional financial world and the Blockchain world. The synergy of the four core product lines will gradually become apparent, building a complete digital trust ecosystem.

In the long-term vision, Sign is committed to building a globally interconnected, secure, and trusted digital trust infrastructure network. What is Sign's ultimate goal? It aims to enable countries to achieve interoperability of trust infrastructure while maintaining digital sovereignty through innovative technological architecture and sustainable business models, ultimately constructing a more efficient and inclusive global digital governance system. If successful, this model can not only create a better digital service experience for participating countries but also promote the collaborative development of the global digital economy, opening up new possibilities for the practical application of Blockchain technology and redefining the trust mechanism in the digital age.

For investors, Sign represents an innovative attempt to deeply integrate blockchain technology with traditional infrastructure. Its value creation comes not only from government service revenues and system usage fees, but is also rooted in the design of the token economy and the expansion of the ecosystem. This multiple value foundation provides additional security margins while increasing the complexity of analysis, requiring investors to conduct a comprehensive assessment from multiple dimensions including technology, business, policy, and geopolitics. In the rapidly emerging sovereign blockchain track, Sign's strategic positioning and resource accumulation provide a good starting point, but the ultimate success or failure will depend on the team's sustained execution and adaptability to the complex international environment.