While the cryptocurrency community was disappointed to learn that Intercontinental Exchange’s Bakkt would be delayed into 2019, additional time has allowed the firm to complete a funding round that raised $182.5 million.

Bakkt CEO Kelly Loeffler made the announcement in a Medium post, revealing that 12 partners and investors had together raised a total of $182.5 million. The first round of partners and investors include Boston Consulting Group, CMT Digital, Eagle Seven, Galaxy Digital, Goldfinch Partners, Alan Howard, Horizons Ventures, Intercontinental Exchange, Microsoft’s venture capital arm, M12, Pantera Capital, PayU, the fintech arm of Naspers, and Protocol Ventures.

Loeffler says that her company and the investors all “believe in the future of digital assets.” The funds will go toward growing out the firm’s digital assets platform and physically-settled Bitcoin Futures product.

“…we are focused on opportunities to provide new infrastructure, including the industry’s first institutional grade regulated exchange, clearing and warehousing services for physical delivery and storage,” Loeffler said.

Loeffler also revealed that she and her team are working closely with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for most of last year on regulatory approval. Once the CFTC gives Bakkt the green light, Bakkt will launch and Bitcoin Futures trading will begin.

Bakkt was first announced back in August of 2018 by the parent company behind the New York Stock Exchange, Intercontinental Exchange. The cryptocurrency community has looked toward Bakkt as one of the key factors that could put an end to the bear market and revive interest in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.

The platform launch was scheduled for December, but saw a last minute delay into the new year. Bakkt had planned a new date of January 24, but that too was delayed into “early 2019.”