Matchpool

In short: Matchpool is a blockchain-based matchmaking platform on which anyone can open a dating pool and matchmakers earn Guppy tokens for successful matches. It was founded by Yonatan Ben Shimon and Max Richardson and raised $6 million in a 2017 crowdfunding campaign. DII describes it as a failed social matching app.

Key facts

TypeDating app
FounderFounded by Yonatan Ben Shimon and Max Richardson, who were introduced at a Coinscrum meetup in London [Marketing Week, 18 May 2017]
Chief executiveYonatan Ben Shimon was chief executive officer [SiliconANGLE, 24 January 2017]
FundingRaised $6 million (4.6 million pounds) from 2,370 contributors in a crowdfunding campaign lasting 33 hours [Marketing Week, 18 May 2017]
FactBlockchain platform where anyone can open a dating pool; matchmakers earn Guppy (GUP) tokens on Ethereum smart contracts for successful matches [SiliconANGLE, 24 January 2017]
FactJDate founder Joe Shapira is a backer [SiliconANGLE, 24 January 2017]
FactDescribed by DII as a failed social matching dating app [Dating Industry Insights, 24 September 2026]

About Matchpool

Matchpool is a blockchain-powered matchmaking platform. It was founded by Yonatan Ben Shimon, who was chief executive in 2017, and Max Richardson, who were introduced at a Coinscrum meetup in London. The company described the idea as Slack meets Tinder: users open pools, similar to Slack channels, to connect friends or niche communities.

The platform rewarded matchmakers with a digital token called Guppy (GUP), which ran on Ethereum smart contracts. Matchmakers earned tokens for successful matches and members earned them for taking part. The company argued that this ties income to making matches rather than to subscriptions, which it said can reward keeping users on a site for as long as possible. JDate founder Joe Shapira was named as a backer, and the advisory board included Ned Scott, Julian Zawistowski and Jake Brukman.

In 2017 Marketing Week reported that Matchpool had raised $6 million (about 4.6 million pounds) from 2,370 contributors in a crowdfunding campaign that lasted 33 hours. Dating Industry Insights (DII) described Matchpool in September 2026 as a failed social matching dating app. Its current operating status has not been independently confirmed.

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Questions about Matchpool

What is Matchpool?

Matchpool is a blockchain-based matchmaking platform where anyone can open a dating pool and matchmakers earn Guppy tokens for successful matches.

Who founded Matchpool?

Yonatan Ben Shimon and Max Richardson founded Matchpool.

How much did Matchpool raise?

Marketing Week reported in 2017 that it raised $6 million from 2,370 contributors in a 33-hour crowdfunding campaign.

Also known as: Matchpool.co.

Sources

  1. Marketing Week: Matchpool, 100 Disruptive Brands 2017
  2. SiliconANGLE: Matchpool, blockchain-based dating platform (Duncan Riley)
  3. DII: Rivet's $10.5M Bet: Can Kapoor's Social Matching Outrun Swipe Fatigue?

Last checked 20 October 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Suggest a correction.