Bluesky raises $15M Series A

Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform built around user empowerment and transparency, has secured $15 million in Series A funding to drive its rapid expansion and enhance its unique AT Protocol ecosystem. This latest funding round, led by Blockchain Capital with participation from notable investors such as Alumni Ventures, True Ventures, and Kubernetes co-creator Joe Beda, aims to elevate Bluesky’s presence beyond its current user base of over 13 million, while keeping the focus on privacy, decentralization, and user-centric innovation.

With this infusion of capital, Bluesky plans to accelerate feature development and launch a subscription model that aligns with its commitment to an ad-free, user-driven experience. Rather than offering paid visibility boosts or exclusive check marks like traditional platforms, Bluesky’s paid tier will focus on enhancements such as high-quality video uploads and customizable profile elements. As Bluesky developer Paul Frazee emphasized, the platform’s approach to subscriptions directly contrasts with “pay-to-win” strategies, promoting inclusivity and equality across the network.

“Additionally, we’re proud of our vibrant community of creators, including artists, writers, developers, and more, and we want to establish a voluntary monetization path for them as well. Part of our plan includes building payment services for people to support their favorite creators and projects. We’ll share more information as this develops,” the company said.

Bluesky’s origins trace back to former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who initiated the project in 2022 with $13 million in funding from Twitter, as part of a five-year service agreement to explore decentralized social media. However, when Elon Musk acquired Twitter later that year, he terminated this agreement, ending any future financial backing for Bluesky. Left to operate independently, Bluesky subsequently raised $8 million in new funding in July to continue its mission and growth trajectory.