Sam Altman-Backed Bitcoin Insurer 'Meanwhile' Raises $37.5M

Bitcoin Insurer Meanwhile Raises $37.5M with Sam Altman Backing

Business Expansion

Meanwhile Inc., a regulated Bitcoin life insurer, has raised $37.5 million in a funding round led by existing investor Bain Capital Crypto, bringing its total funding to more than $180 million. The Bermuda-based company said Thursday that Haun Ventures, Framework Ventures, Pantera Capital, Apollo, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures and Morgan Creek Digital also participated in the round. Meanwhile is also backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

International Expansion and Product Launches

The latest funding comes as the company expands its Bitcoin-denominated life insurance business internationally, targeting wealthy clients in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Meanwhile said it has signed 15 brokers serving high-net-worth clients in markets including Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. Unlike traditional life insurance policies, Meanwhile's products allow customers to pay premiums and receive death benefits in Bitcoin rather than fiat currencies.

Regulatory Milestones

In early 2026, the company launched BTC Life 1-Pay, a single-premium whole life insurance policy designed for high-net-worth clients outside the United States. Customers pay a one-time premium in Bitcoin in exchange for a guaranteed death benefit denominated in the cryptocurrency. Meanwhile received a Bermuda Monetary Authority insurance license in July 2024 after spending two years in the regulator's sandbox.

CEO Quote

'Wealthy families around the world already hold Bitcoin. What they haven't had is a regulated way to pass it on,' said Zac Townsend, co-founder and CEO of Meanwhile. 'Brokers came to us because their clients kept asking. This round lets us keep up with them,' he added. The policy's value grows in Bitcoin, and after the first year, holders can borrow up to 90% of its value without a repayment schedule or margin calls, according to the company.