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Crypto startups kicked off the second quarter of 2026 with a bang, raising $76 million this week, according to DefiLlama data.
They have now raised nearly $5 billion so far in 2026.
Venture investors, including the likes of Sumitomo Corporation, Paradigm, and YZi labs, are focusing on infrastructure and the overlap between artificial intelligence and decentralized networks, April data suggests.
Still, there are some headwinds for founders angling for new checks, venture investors say. Chief among them is the uncertainty caused by the US-Iran conflict. While the two have signed a fragile ceasefire, investors are waiting to see how it holds up.
“Given the current macroeconomic outlook, geopolitical uncertainty, and the rapid pace of new AI developments, many capital allocators are taking a more cautious, wait-and-see approach to deployment,” said Min Teo, managing partner at Ethereal Ventures.
Pharos, $44 million
Pharos raised $44 million in a Series A round at an undisclosed valuation. Investors including SNZ Holding, Chainlink, and Flow Traders backed the high-performance Layer 1 blockchain. Pharos is built to handle large volumes of transactions and is compatible with Ethereum-based apps, with a focus on real-world assets and decentralized infrastructure networks. The platform uses a system designed to process transactions quickly while lowering costs.
Oh, $7.5 million
Oh raised $7.5 million in a Series A round at an undisclosed valuation. Maven 11 led the round, with support from L1 Digital, Hashed, Auros Global, and Maelstrom. The company is building a web3 AI platform that focuses on decentralized AI models, including tools like OhChat for interactive AI services powered by its token. As AI and crypto begin to overlap, Oh is aiming to build AI tools that work within blockchain-based incentive systems rather than traditional centralized platforms.
Kulipa, $6.2 million
Kulipa raised $6.2 million in a seed round at an undisclosed valuation. Flourish Ventures and 1kx led the investment, with backing from White Star Capital and Fabric Ventures. The platform allows crypto wallets to offer branded payment cards that convert digital assets into traditional currency at checkout.
This article has been published in dlnews.com via Yahoo News.
Crypto startups kick off Q2 by raising $76m in the first week
Crypto startups kicked off Q2 by raising $76 million. Still, there are some headwinds for dealmarking, investors say.
finance.yahoo.com
