Lisk, the Swiss blockchain infrastructure company, is shutting down its blockchain after nearly a decade, ending a major part of its Web3 strategy and removing a notable source of funding and ecosystem support for African startups. The Lisk Chain is scheduled to close on October 31, 2026, as the company pivots toward financial software for businesses.
The decision is significant for Africa’s emerging Web3 ecosystem because Lisk had invested heavily in supporting startups and developers across the continent. In October 2025, the company launched its $15 million EMpower Fund to back early-stage companies in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. The fund targeted startups building financial and supply-chain infrastructure in markets with strong digital adoption but limited access to institutional capital.
Lisk’s support extended beyond funding. The company worked with African founders, accelerators and developer communities to encourage blockchain adoption. Its investments included Nigerian stablecoin payments startup Azza, while its broader ecosystem activities also supported companies such as LovCash, Cr3dentials and Jamit.
The shutdown comes as activity on Lisk’s blockchain has declined sharply. According to data cited by The1News, the network’s total value locked fell from about $5.47 million at the beginning of 2026 to just over $139,000 by August. Trading activity and fees also remained extremely low, making it increasingly difficult to sustain the blockchain as a standalone ecosystem.
Lisk says its new strategy will focus on financial operations software for companies managing money across countries, entities and currencies. The new product will bring accounts, payments and approvals into one platform while supporting both traditional currencies and stablecoins.
For startups building on Lisk, the transition creates an important deadline. The company is working with Celo to provide a migration path for developers and applications that want to move to another network. Projects can remain operational on Lisk until the October 31 shutdown.
Lisk’s investment operations are also changing. Its DAO Fund, which launched in 2025 and met more than 40 founders across Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, has closed. The three investments made through the fund—LovCash, Cr3dentials and Jamit—have been transferred to Onchain Ventures AG, which will continue providing institutional support.
For African founders, Lisk’s retreat highlights both the opportunities and risks of Web3 funding. Ecosystem-backed capital can provide startups with money, technical support and access to networks, but those resources can disappear when the backer changes strategy.
Lisk’s shutdown therefore marks the end of an important chapter for an investor that sought to support African blockchain innovation. Its pivot may create uncertainty for some founders, but it also reflects a broader reality: sustainable businesses ultimately need models that can survive even when the blockchain or funding ecosystem around them changes.
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