Crypto Fundraising: Who Raised How Much This Week?

The crypto fundraising arena has been buzzing this week. Right from AI projects raking in millions to public companies stacking crypto reserves, memecoin platforms scoring eye-watering valuations, and strategic acquisitions being sealed, this week’s been chaotic, in a good way.

Let's break down who and all got funded and why you should care.

1. Aspecta: Building Trust with AI-Driven Identities

Aspecta just raised a strategic round from YZi Labs (ex-Binance Labs). While they're tight-lipped about the exact amount, Aspecta's AI-powered identity platform is aiming to streamline how projects issue tokens, airdrops, and points.

With trust becoming the cornerstone of web3, their solution could bridge the gap between web2 reliability and decentralized freedom.

2. Upexi: A Public Firm Goes Big on Solana

Upexi, listed on Nasdaq as an e-commerce analytics firm, turned heads by securing a massive $200 million round led by Big Brain Holdings.

Their goal seems pretty straightforward, which is to accumulate a large crypto treasury via Solana staking.

Basically, a public company treating crypto like a strategic treasury asset signals maturity, and investors are quietly taking notice.

3. NEXBRIDGE: Tokenizing Real-World Assets on Bitcoin

NEXBRIDGE brought in an $8 million in its Series A round led by Fulgur Ventures. They're creating compliant, tokenized assets on Bitcoin's layer-2 under El Salvador's legal framework.

This could pave the way for traditional finance players to finally engage with Bitcoin without regulatory stress.

4. Velvet: Simplifying Cross-Chain DeFi Portfolios

Velvet Capital secured $3.7 million from notable backers like YZi Labs and Arbitrum. They're focused on a user-friendly DeFi platform where users can create and manage tokenized portfolios across multiple blockchains with built-in yield strategies.

If they execute well, this could attract both retail investors and institutional heavyweights.

5. Kolscan: Pump.fun Acquires Solana Whale Tracker

Pump.fun quietly snapped up Kolscan, a popular tool that tracks the wallet activity of key opinion leaders (KOLs) on Solana.

Terms weren't disclosed, but this acquisition equips Pump.fun with powerful whale-watching insights, perfectly timed for the onset of the memecoin mania.

6. MemeCore: A Blockchain Dedicated to Memecoins

MemeCore raised a strategic round led by Klein Labs, although they're keeping funding details private. MemeCore is a dedicated layer-1 blockchain built specifically for meme communities and creators.

It's an audacious bet that memes alone can sustain a thriving ecosystem, but crypto has time and again proven that crazy ideas are right.

7. Honeyland: Web3 Gaming Acquisition by BRAVO READY

Play-to-earn game Honeyland, known for its bee-themed quests and battles, was acquired by BRAVO READY for about $5 million.

By incorporating Honeyland into their gaming ecosystem, BRAVO READY aims to make Web3 gaming enjoyable and financially sustainable without tedious grind mechanics.

8. Vaultz Capital: Publicly Stacking Bitcoin

Vaultz Capital, another public company, raised $1.34 million post-IPO to specifically boost its Bitcoin treasury.

As traditional finance starts embracing Bitcoin as a legitimate treasury reserve, crypto edges closer to mainstream financial acceptance.

9. Pump.fun: Memecoin Launchpad Hits Billion-Dollar Valuation

In a jaw-dropping raise, Pump.fun secured over $1 billion through its token sale, yes you read that right. Pump.fun pushed its valuation beyond $6 billion.

This Solana-based platform lets users instantly create and trade memecoins, proving the memecoin craze isn't slowing anytime soon.

10. XerpaAI: AI-Powered Business Scaling

XerpaAI pulled in a $6 million seed round led by UFLY Capital.

They're using AI to automate content creation, influencer engagement, and marketing strategies aimed at scaling businesses efficiently. Crypto desperately needs growth solutions, and XerpaAI could be exactly that.

11. Strangelove: Ondo Finance's Strategic Acquisition

Ondo Finance acquired Strangelove, specialists in interoperable crypto infrastructure. Details are undisclosed, but the move clearly aims to enhance Ondo's capabilities in tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs).

Solid development backing could finally turn RWAs from speculative assets into mainstream financial products.

12. Ephemera: Securing Web3 Communication

Ephemera raised a $20 million Series B co-led by Union Square Ventures and a16z. They’re building decentralized messaging infrastructure based on the XMTP protocol, valued at around $300 million.

Secure, censorship-resistant messaging is critical in decentralized applications, and Ephemera could form the backbone.

13. Spiko: Bringing European Funds to Web3

Spiko secured a significant $22 million Series A from Index Ventures. They plan to tokenize regulated European money market funds, bridging traditional finance into DeFi.

Maybe institutional-grade yields with regulatory clarity could finally make DeFi palatable for conservative investors?

14. Dakota: Crypto Banking for Enterprises

Dakota raised $12.5 million led by CoinFund to provide easy crypto banking solutions tailored for enterprises, mixing stable yields from DeFi and staking.

If Dakota delivers, expect to see more traditional businesses quietly banking crypto yields.

15. Function: Institutional Yield Without Custody Worries

Function landed a solid $10 million seed round led by Galaxy Digital.

They’re creating yield-bearing Bitcoin wrappers that allow institutions to generate returns without giving up custody of their BTC, a huge selling point for conservative investors exploring crypto.

16. Hilbert Group: Decentralized Quant Trading Platform

Hilbert Group closed an oversubscribed $2.5 million seed round for their decentralized quant trading platform, Syntetika.

Combining blockchain with high-frequency trading strategies typically reserved for hedge funds could democratize access to sophisticated trading for everyday investors.

17. KUN: Building Stablecoin Payment Rails for Emerging Markets

KUN pulled in over $50 million in total funding after a successful oversubscribed Series A led by BAI Capital.

Their goal here is to develop secure, stablecoin-based global payment solutions targeting emerging markets, a vast area still untapped by Western finance.

The Meta Summary

AI and Real-World Assets (RWAs) continue to attract serious funding, while memecoin platforms casually raise billions overnight. Public companies stacking crypto quietly signal growing mainstream acceptance.

This week's investments revolve around practical, usable crypto infrastructure, not speculative hype.

Final Thoughts

Money is pouring into practical crypto applications: infrastructure, real-world assets, and enterprise solutions. While memecoins attract easy capital, savvy investors back long-term bets in RWAs and AI.

Quiet accumulation by public companies suggests a fundamental shift toward mature crypto adoption.

Catch you next week for another straightforward breakdown!