Entry Raises $1M Pre-Seed to Bring AI-Powered Compliance and ZK Privacy to Regulated DeFi

Entry, formerly known as Zekret Protocol, has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding to merge AI-driven compliance with zero-knowledge privacy for regulated decentralized finance (DeFi). The round was led by Modern Niagara, with participation from Qrecendo and Perrfin. The funding combines equity and SAFT components at a seed fully diluted valuation (FDV) of approximately $25 million, projecting to $50 million at token generation event (TGE).

The rebrand aligns with Entry's mission to provide compliance-native infrastructure that bridges institutions and DeFi. "Institutions need foundations that are private by design and regulator-ready by default," the company stated. The protocol aims to unite verified users and screened assets, removing adoption barriers posed by risk concerns.

Investors highlighted Entry's dual focus on regulator-grade controls and developer efficiency. "By bringing together ZKPs with an explainable compliance engine, they make it possible for real-world assets to MOVE on-chain safely and at scale," noted one participant. The ENT token is designed to create an economic flywheel for compliant DeFi.