3NUM, a new Seattle-area startup led by cybersecurity and gaming vets, just raised a pre-seed round to help develop a secure messaging service that incorporates blockchain and NFTs.
Founded earlier this year, 3NUM aims to replace legacy mobile phone numbers with a cryptographically secure messaging ID that can be minted as an NFT. The idea is to prevent SMS fraud and provide more security to the user.
The 5-person company is led by Chris Boscolo, former president at lifeID, a blockchain-based identity company, and former vice president of engineering at health tech startup Decent.
“3NUM’s secure messaging service provides a shielded identity to use anywhere a phone number is required,” said Boscolo. “Our service is immune to SIM swapping, as well as SMS Spam and Smishing (phishing via text messaging), while protecting your identity over encrypted messaging protocols.”
At launch, 3NUM will offer messaging IDs that can be used for secure SMS-based two-factor authentication. It will launch its own messaging app next year.
The company plans to charge users a one-time cost to secure their messaging ID, and the service will have a monthly cost.
Investors in the company include BlueYard, Notation Capital, Ace Capital and A100x. The amount raised was not disclosed.
