Crypto startups raised $11.2 billion in H1 2026, with regulated firms capturing the majority of disclosed funding.
VC & Fundraising ·
Crypto startups secured $11.2 billion in funding during the first half of 2026, with every disclosed dollar directed toward regulated businesses rather than permissionless projects, according to analysis by Dubai-based legal firm NeosLegal. The largest capital allocation went to payments and stablecoins at $3.7 billion, followed by prediction markets at $2 billion and exchanges at $1.7 billion, with major institutional investors including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Persian Gulf sovereign wealth funds backing the rounds. The shift marks a departure from crypto's founding principle, as traditional financial institutions increasingly treat regulatory licenses as competitive advantages in the sector.