VC Roundup: Crypto funding rebounds as institutions test onchain finance

From venture rounds to onchain credit, capital is moving cautiously back into crypto as institutions focus on infrastructure and real-world use cases.

Venture capital and institutional money are flowing back into digital asset companies at the start of 2026, with industry data showing $1.4 billion committed across venture rounds and public market listings.

The largest transactions included Visa-linked stablecoin issuer Rain, which reached a $1.9 billion valuation after raising $250 million, and crypto custodian BitGo’s $200 million-plus IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in January.

While crypto markets remain under pressure following October’s broad-based liquidation that wiped out billions in leveraged positions across centralized and decentralized markets, institutional engagement in the sector continues to build.

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