Why Matt Homer invested in Bridge (recently acquired by Stripe for $1.1B)
And his view of the future of Fintech
Matt Homer, Founder and General Partner at The Venture Dept., brings a uniquely diverse background to his role as a venture capital investor. With experience as a federal and state regulator (FDIC and NY Department of Financial Services) and operational roles at fintech leaders like Quovo and Plaid, Matt combines regulatory insight with hands-on industry expertise.
Today, he focuses on investing in early-stage startups that are building “trusted new financial systems.” Most recently, one of his portfolio companies, Bridge, was acquired by Stripe for $1.1 billion—a major milestone for the fintech ecosystem. I had the opportunity to speak with him about his investment in Bridge and his vision for the future of fintech.
A New Era of Financial Infrastructure:
The financial industry is entering a new era of infrastructure transformation, driven by blockchain technology, tokenization, and distributed ledgers. Unlike the legacy systems that underpin traditional financial services—often fragmented, outdated, and inefficient—this new infrastructure is designed to be faster, more transparent, and highly interoperable. It enables seamless value transfer, unlocks new asset classes, and supports global inclusion by lowering costs and reducing barriers to entry.
This shift isn’t just about improving the efficiency of existing processes; it’s about reimagining the foundation of financial systems to create entirely new opportunities for innovation and access. As this infrastructure evolves, it promises to power a wave of digital-native financial services that cater to the needs of a modern, interconnected world.
The Role of Stablecoins in that New Era
Stablecoins play a pivotal role in the evolution of financial systems, bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology. By offering the stability of fiat currencies with the efficiency and programmability of digital assets, stablecoins have emerged as a versatile tool for payments, remittances, and financial innovation. They enable near-instant, low-cost transactions across borders, making them ideal for use cases like microtransactions, global remittances, and access to dollar-based systems in emerging markets. Developers and fintech companies increasingly adopt stablecoins as a default payment mechanism, leveraging their ability to integrate seamlessly into digital-native financial services. Beyond efficiency, stablecoins also unlock financial access for underserved populations, democratizing participation in global markets and laying the groundwork for a future where money moves as seamlessly as information.
Why Matt Invested in Bridge
Matt invested in Bridge because of its innovative approach to leveraging stablecoin technology for broader, real-world use cases beyond the blockchain community. He was particularly impressed by the team's deep fintech expertise and entrepreneurial background, which positioned them to build impactful products that could reach a much larger audience. Bridge’s focus on tokenizing dollars to create efficient, accessible financial solutions aligned with Matt’s vision of transforming financial infrastructure to be faster, cheaper, and more inclusive.
The team’s ability to execute on this vision and their commitment to applying blockchain technology in a practical, user-friendly way made Bridge a standout opportunity in the emerging fintech landscape. This conviction was validated when Stripe acquired Bridge for $1.1 billion, marking a significant milestone for both the company and the stablecoin ecosystem.