Blockchain
Web3 Startups Raise Nearly $1.9B in Q1 2024 Despite Overall Downtrend in Crypto VC Interest
Venture capital funding for cryptocurrency and blockchain projects has seen a notable resurgence in the first quarter of 2024, marking its first quarterly rise since 2021. Crunchbase data released today indicates that Web3 startups secured nearly $1.9 billion in funding across 346 deals during this period. This represents a substantial 58% increase from the previous quarter, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing downward trend in overall crypto VC interest.
The recent surge in funding can be attributed to investors adopting a more long-term perspective on Web3, as opposed to the hype-driven “tourist investors” predominant in recent years. Chris Metinko, the author of the report, notes that investors are shifting their focus to the AI sector, indicating a change in investment strategy. There is a growing interest in supporting the foundational infrastructure of the decentralized internet, rather than solely concentrating on crypto wallets and lending platforms, which attracted significant investments during the peak period of 2021 to 2022.
While large funding rounds were relatively uncommon in Q1, several notable investments stood out. Exohood Labs, a company integrating AI, quantum computing, and blockchain, secured a remarkable $112 million seed round at a valuation of $1.4 billion. EigenLabs, an Ether token “restaking” platform, raised $100 million in a Series B round led by a16z crypto. Additionally, Freechat, a decentralized social network leveraging blockchain technology, secured $80 million in a Series A round. These investments, among others, contributed to the increase in valuations and the emergence of four new Web3 unicorns in Q1.
Despite the recent progress, the future trajectory of Web3 remains uncertain. Metinko suggests that the next few quarters will be pivotal in determining the industry’s direction. While investors anticipate a rebound in investment as the decentralized internet evolves, it may take another year for venture capital activity to stabilize after the exuberance of 2021. Factors such as the approval of U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds and the upcoming Bitcoin halving could also influence the market, given the rising prices of Bitcoin and Ether.
A noteworthy example of significant funding in the Web3 space is Monad Labs’ recent successful funding round, which secured $225 million led by Paradigm. Monad Labs is a layer-1 blockchain compatible with Ethereum, offering faster transaction processing. This funding round harkens back to the golden era of crypto funding in 2021-2022, when L1 solutions attracted substantial investments.
Earlier this year, Balance, a digital asset custodian based in Canada, announced that it had once again reached $2 billion in assets under custody (AUC) amidst the recent market recovery. Similarly, Korea Digital Asset (KODA), the largest institutional crypto custody service in South Korea, has experienced remarkable growth in crypto assets under its custody, expanding by nearly 248% in the second half of 2023.
Analysts at Bernstein Research project that crypto funds could reach an impressive $500 billion to $650 billion within the next five years, representing a significant leap from the current valuation of approximately $50 billion. This forecast underscores the growing optimism and potential for substantial growth within the crypto industry in the coming years.
Source: cryptonews.com
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ZettaBlock, a leading provider of blockchain solutions, has recently announced a significant enhancement to its offerings with the addition of blockchain data services. This development marks a strategic move aimed at bolstering ZettaBlock’s capabilities and further solidifying its position in the blockchain industry.
By integrating blockchain data services into its portfolio, ZettaBlock seeks to address the growing demand for comprehensive and reliable data solutions within the blockchain ecosystem. The new offering will enable clients to access a wealth of blockchain data, empowering them to make informed decisions and derive valuable insights from the vast amount of information available on various blockchain networks.
ZettaBlock’s decision to expand its services comes at a time when the importance of blockchain data analytics is increasingly recognized across industries. With blockchain technology continuing to gain traction and adoption worldwide, the ability to effectively harness and analyze blockchain data has become crucial for businesses and organizations seeking to unlock new opportunities and drive innovation.
Through its blockchain data services, ZettaBlock aims to cater to the diverse needs of its clients, providing them with access to real-time and historical data from a wide range of blockchain networks. This includes transaction data, smart contract metrics, network activity, and more, allowing users to gain deeper insights into blockchain transactions and activities.
The addition of blockchain data services represents a significant milestone for ZettaBlock, underscoring the company’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of the blockchain industry. As businesses increasingly recognize the value of blockchain data in driving decision-making and enhancing operations, ZettaBlock’s comprehensive data services are poised to play a key role in shaping the future of blockchain analytics.
Source: cryptonewsz.com
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Hong Kong has entered the cryptocurrency ETF market with the debut of its first spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Tuesday, signaling the city’s ambition to compete with the US in the rapidly growing sector.
The launch, led by the Hong Kong units of three mainland Chinese asset managers — Bosera Asset Management, Harvest Global Investments, and China Asset Management — saw the introduction of two ETFs each tracking bitcoin and ether prices. Bosera’s funds were launched in collaboration with HashKey Capital.
On their debut, the three bitcoin ETFs closed between 1.5% and 1.8% higher, while the ether ETFs experienced slight losses of between 0.5% and 0.8%. Despite this, total trading turnover for all six ETFs, which included trading in US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, and renminbi, reached approximately HK$99.5 million (US$12.7 million). In comparison, US-based funds saw turnover exceeding $4 billion on their first trading day.
The move marks Hong Kong’s commitment to becoming a significant player in the cryptocurrency space, following its announcement in 2022 amid pandemic restrictions and increased Chinese oversight. Joseph Chan, Hong Kong’s under-secretary for financial services and the treasury, emphasized the city’s leading position in Asia’s crypto asset development during the ETF listing ceremony.
Prior to this, CSOP Asset Management had launched Hong Kong’s first bitcoin and ether futures ETFs in late 2022, following the publication of rules for spot ETFs by the Securities and Futures Commission in December.
In January, the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved the country’s first spot bitcoin ETFs, which have since attracted significant assets under management and net inflows. Robert Zhan, director of risk consulting at KPMG China, remains optimistic about the potential of the Hong Kong funds, despite current market sentiments and relatively flat prices of bitcoin and ether leading up to the launch.
The launch of crypto-linked funds by major Chinese asset managers has generated excitement within the industry, despite China’s strict cryptocurrency regulations. Donald Day, COO of Hong Kong-based digital asset exchange VDX, believes the new funds will cater to active investors unable or unwilling to trade during US hours.
Source: ft.com
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Crypto News Flash reports that LBank Labs has announced a strategic investment in Bedrock to revolutionize blockchain staking. This partnership signifies a significant step forward in enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of blockchain staking solutions.
LBank Labs’ investment in Bedrock underscores its commitment to driving innovation in the blockchain space and exploring new opportunities to empower users with cutting-edge staking technologies. By leveraging Bedrock’s expertise and solutions, LBank Labs aims to enhance its staking platform and offer users a seamless and rewarding staking experience.
The collaboration between LBank Labs and Bedrock holds promise for unlocking new possibilities in blockchain staking and expanding the adoption of staking services among cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Through joint efforts, both companies aim to address key challenges in the staking ecosystem and drive greater participation in blockchain networks.
Overall, the strategic investment by LBank Labs in Bedrock underscores the growing momentum behind blockchain staking and highlights the industry’s commitment to fostering innovation and advancing the capabilities of decentralized networks. As staking continues to play a crucial role in securing blockchain networks and incentivizing participation, collaborations like this are poised to shape the future of the staking landscape.
Source: crypto-news-flash.com
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