Abu Dhabi-based AI-native crypto education platform Cointel has raised $7.4 million in a strategic funding round led by Avalanche, the high-performance Layer 1 blockchain, and Sugafam Inc., a prominent Japanese Web3 innovation firm. The investment will accelerate Cointel's mission to bridge the global crypto education gap, particularly as adoption remains below 7% worldwide and over $30 billion has been lost to scams since 2021.
The platform combines AI-powered insights, gamified learning, and verified intelligence through a subscription model designed for both novice users and experienced traders. Avalanche's involvement signals strong confidence in Cointel's North American expansion strategy, with localized onboarding, region-specific content, and AI-enhanced tools set to launch in Q4 2025. Brokerage integrations and key opinion leader (KOL) activations are already in development.
Cointel also announced a strategic collaboration with KuCoin, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges with over 41 million users across 200+ countries. The partnership will focus on enhancing accessibility, promoting education, and driving global expansion through community-led campaigns. Full details of the collaboration are expected soon.
The ecosystem is powered by the $COLS token, built on Avalanche, which governs platform access, enables staking rewards, and supports product development. A revenue-backed buyback mechanism and controlled burn model aim to create long-term utility without speculative inflation. Users can earn $COLS through referrals, educational contributions, and platform engagement.
Global expansion is already underway with over 30,000 users in the onboarding pipeline in Japan through Sugafam Inc. Turkey, where crypto usage exceeds 50%, is being targeted through influencer campaigns and translated content. Rollouts in Poland, Southeast Asia, and MENA regions are scheduled through Q1 2026.