Gauntlet, the DeFi infrastructure firm that started life as a risk consultancy for protocols, just secured $125 million from SBI Holdings. The Japanese financial conglomerate was the sole participant in the round, which closed in June.

To put that number in perspective, Gauntlet’s previous largest raise was a $23.8 million Series B in March 2022, led by Ribbit Capital at a $1 billion valuation. This new round is roughly five times that amount. CEO Tarun Chitra declined to share the valuation for this latest fundraise.

From risk consultant to yield curator

Gauntlet was founded in 2018. The firm initially built its reputation by running simulations and making governance recommendations for blue-chip protocols like Aave and Compound.

Gauntlet now actively manages yield vaults holding assets like USDC, BTC, and WETH, operating as what the industry calls a “yield curator” on platforms like Morpho. In late 2025, the company handled a $775 million supply event on Morpho.