ChainCatcher news, according to DL News, in January 2025, investment institutions including Sequoia Capital, Paradigm, and Andreessen Horowitz have invested nearly $1.2 billion in 79 projects in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector, a 63% increase compared to January 2024.PitchBook analysts predict that venture capital firms will invest about $18 billion in the crypto industry this year, up from the average of $9.9 billion in 2023 and 2024. Analysts believe that Trump's support for cryptocurrency is a key driving factor.

ChainCatcher news, according to Theblock, the Sei Foundation has announced the launch of a $65 million venture capital fund named "Sapien Capital --- Open Science Fund I," which focuses on supporting decentralized science (DeSci) startups built on the Sei blockchain.The fund is fully funded by the Sei Foundation and plans to complete capital deployment over the next 3 to 4 years, with investment amounts ranging from $100,000 to $2 million, covering both token and equity forms. DeSci aims to improve the funding model for scientific research, data sharing, and the distribution of scientists' rights through blockchain technology, and has attracted the attention of mainstream institutions such as Binance Labs and a16z.

ChainCatcher news, as of January, the venture capital funding received in the crypto space has reached $1.14 billion, representing a potential 100% increase compared to January 2024 ($653.3 million).For cryptocurrencies and small projects, the metrics for small to medium financing are more important, as they indicate the level of confidence and enthusiasm for startups. The current level of funding has returned to "normal" levels, with funding rounds ranging from $1.5 million, and multiple projects raising between $10 million and $25 million.According to statistics, the funding amount in the crypto space for 2024 is estimated to be between $11.5 billion and $13.6 billion. Optimistic forecasts suggest that venture capital funding in the coming year could reach as high as $18 billion.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, a research report from JPMorgan indicates that crypto venture capital (VC) funding is expected to rise this year, as regulatory clarity and more crypto-friendly policies emerged during the tenure of U.S. President Donald Trump. However, due to increased competition from large financial institutions, high interest rates, and the rise of ETF products, funding levels may not reach the highs of previous years.The report notes that new cryptocurrency projects are avoiding selling large amounts of tokens to venture capital firms and are increasingly turning to community-driven platforms for fundraising.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, as the cryptocurrency continues to rise, Changpeng Zhao's net worth has reached $70 billion, and he has transformed the venture capital firm Binance Labs into a large family office.Binance Labs announced its rebranding to YZi Labs. Ella Zhang has returned to YZi Labs and will serve as the head. Ella Zhang co-founded Binance Labs with Changpeng Zhao in 2018 and was its first head.In an interview, Ella Zhang stated that YZi Labs is a variation of the name of Binance's co-founder and has now become "a pure family office investment tool." A spokesperson for YZi Labs mentioned that the company does not have a formal headquarters, as its employees work remotely.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Galaxy Digital stated in a research report on Wednesday that despite the recent rise in digital asset prices, cryptocurrency venture capital (VC) activity remains below previous bull market levels. In 2024, the total capital allocation of venture funds to the crypto industry is $11.5 billion, down from 2023. Galaxy pointed out that in the early rounds of bull markets in 2017 and 2021, VC activity was highly correlated with crypto asset prices, "but in the past two years, despite the rise in cryptocurrencies, VC activity has remained sluggish."There are several reasons for the stagnation in the venture capital market. Galaxy stated that these reasons include a "barbell market," where Bitcoin and its new spot ETF take center stage, while meme coins have "limited marginal net new activity." These meme coins struggle to secure funding and have a "questionable lifespan."The report noted that new projects at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency are gaining increasing attention, and upcoming regulatory changes may bring more opportunities for stablecoins, decentralized finance (DeFi), and tokenization. The report indicated that some large investors may gain exposure to cryptocurrencies through Bitcoin spot ETFs, "rather than turning to early VC investments."Galaxy stated that the U.S. completed the most transactions and invested the most funds in the fourth quarter. Galaxy added that early-stage deals accounted for 60% of the total investment in the fourth quarter, with stablecoin companies raising the most funds.The report also noted that in 2024, venture capitalists invested a total of $11.5 billion in startups focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain. These funds invested $3.5 billion in 416 deals in the fourth quarter, a quarter-over-quarter increase of 46%.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, early-stage venture capital firm Sigma Capital has launched a $100 million fund focused on Web3 startups.According to an announcement released via email on Tuesday, the Dubai-based company is looking to leverage the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reputation as a cryptocurrency hub. The fund will focus on decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenization, and blockchain infrastructure by managing a portfolio of liquid tokens.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, early-stage venture capital firm Sigma Capital has launched a $100 million fund focused on Web3 startups.According to an announcement released via email on Tuesday, the Dubai-based company is trying to leverage the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) reputation as a cryptocurrency hub. The fund will focus on decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenization, and blockchain infrastructure by managing a portfolio of liquid tokens.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, in the fourth quarter of 2024, the total amount of venture capital in the cryptocurrency sector reached $4 billion, with a total of 687 transactions, setting a record for the highest quarterly investment total since the fourth quarter of 2022.Among them, the infrastructure sector leads, followed by financial services (with a deployment amount of $970 million). The number of transactions for Web3 projects is the highest at 141, followed by NFT/games at 132. Transactions and brokerage investments fell from $320 million in the first quarter to $161 million in the fourth quarter. The distribution of transactions across various sectors indicates a shift in venture capital focus:DeFi remains stable, with a total of 125 transactions;The number of transactions for infrastructure projects (111) is lower than other categories but occupies the largest share of funding;Data and analytics remain selective, with only 10 transactions, while enterprise solutions had 18 transactions.The strong performance in financing this quarter, especially in infrastructure investments, indicates a renewed confidence from venture capital in the crypto industry, as the market anticipates potential changes in regulation from the new U.S. government.

ChainCatcher news, DWF Labs co-founder Andrei Grachev stated that DWF Ventures' venture capital in 2024 will increase threefold compared to 2023, and DWF Ventures will carefully study and invest in the most promising projects.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, HashKey Capital CEO Deng Chao stated that crypto projects will attract more venture capital funding in 2025. Venture capital firms are focusing on stablecoin products, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure.Chao mentioned that the rise in digital asset valuations in 2024 and the favorable conditions of Trump’s re-election in the U.S. will attract more venture capital into crypto projects. Chao stated, "As we enter a supportive macro environment driven by U.S. stimulus policies and the formalization of crypto regulatory frameworks, these macro tailwinds will drive more venture capital into 2025."Despite the optimistic outlook, Deng Chao warned that macro risks, including geopolitical tensions and increased deficit spending, could exacerbate price volatility and uncertainty in the new year.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, Pantera Capital general partner Lauren Stephanian stated in an interview with The Block that crypto venture capital funding is expected to increase in 2025, as investors are more willing to deploy capital under the U.S. supportive policies for crypto management. However, she noted that "the bull market cannot last forever," and therefore "when we will start to see a slowdown in deployment next year" remains to be observed.Stephanian emphasized that Pantera will continue to make extensive investments in the crypto and blockchain space, particularly showing strong interest in crypto AI, decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs), and new Layer 1 blockchains, which can enable richer application layer functionalities.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Defiant, the venture capital database Pitchbook predicts in its 2025 Corporate Technology Outlook report that venture capital firms will double their investments in cryptocurrency next year, with investments exceeding $18 billion, nearly double the $9.9 billion invested in 2024.Pitchbook analysts state that as comprehensive venture capital firms return to the blockchain and cryptocurrency space, and with the participation of large financial institutions, cryptocurrency-focused venture capital firms will be strengthened; although the $18 billion investment "is far below the $24.7 billion in 2021 and $29.8 billion in 2022, the participation of major traditional financial institutions such as BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Goldman Sachs is expected to continue to enhance investor confidence in the cryptocurrency market; in addition to a large client base, these institutions also bring legitimacy to the cryptocurrency industry and have the potential to accelerate mainstream investors' acceptance of digital assets. They also bring expertise and long-term relationships with regulators, which will make them "effective intermediaries, creating a trust environment that cryptocurrency-native companies often find difficult to achieve while complying with regulations."