GEM Digital Limited has committed $25 million to Althea Limited to accelerate the rollout of Althea L1, a purpose-built blockchain designed to transform payments for broadband, utilities, and critical infrastructure. This funding will help bring transparent, programmable settlement tools to networks worldwide and support the development of a resilient financial layer for essential services.
Althea L1 enables automated, machine-to-machine transactions that settle usage fees and capital flows without the need for intermediaries. Its flagship products—the iFi decentralized exchange and the Liquid Infrastructure protocol—turn telecom and utility networks into investable assets. By connecting global investors directly with physical infrastructure, Althea L1 aims to unlock a multi-trillion-dollar market and give communities greater financial control over local services.
Since its inception, Althea Limited has focused on building a secure, scalable blockchain tailored to the complex needs of infrastructure projects. The network’s architecture supports low transaction costs and high throughput, making it suitable for large-scale deployments in broadband expansion, microgrids, and water or power utilities.
GEM Digital Limited brings deep expertise in tokenized asset investing and blockchain innovation. As a long-only firm with a track record spanning over 580 transactions, GEM Digital will offer strategic guidance and resources to drive adoption of Althea L1. The partnership also strengthens Althea’s credibility with global capital markets and accelerates its efforts to integrate decentralized finance tools into traditional infrastructure systems.
Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, Althea Limited governs the development of Althea L1, working alongside network participants to maintain a community-driven upgrade process. The blockchain’s governance model ensures that operators, investors, and service users all have a voice in the protocol’s evolution and financial policies.
GEM Digital Limited, based in The Bahamas, specializes in utility-token investments across both centralized exchanges and decentralized platforms. As part of the broader Global Emerging Markets group, GEM Digital will leverage its global network to introduce Althea’s infrastructure finance tools to new regions and partners.
The funding will be used to expand Althea’s node network, enhance smart-contract functionality, and conduct integration pilots with telecom carriers and utility operators. Community workshops, developer hackathons, and live trials are planned to refine the platform and demonstrate its ability to streamline payments, reduce operational costs, and increase transparency in infrastructure funding.
With this $25 million commitment, Althea L1 is poised to reshape how communities finance and manage vital services. By combining programmable payments with decentralized governance, the platform aims to unlock a $3 trillion opportunity and deliver a more sovereign, resilient foundation for global infrastructure.
KEY QUOTES:
“Althea L1 was built to empower communities with truly sovereign and resilient infrastructure. The mission has always been to create financial and connectivity systems that are transparent, community-driven, and unstoppable. With GEM Digital’s support, Althea is accelerating a future where infrastructure finance is open, decentralized, and directly aligned with the people and networks it serves.”
Deborah Simpier, CEO of Hawk Networks and Co-Founder of Althea
