Top crypto VCs share 2026 funding and token sales outlook
Top crypto VCs anticipate modest early-stage funding recovery in 2026, focusing on stablecoins, infrastructure, and real-world assets.Summary
In 2025, crypto VC funding recovered in total dollars but became highly concentrated, largely due to massive capital flowing into Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) firms, while early-stage deal counts dropped by 60%. This concentration was attributed to fewer available VC dollars as firms struggled to raise new funds, regulatory clarity favoring proven businesses, and the AI boom diverting attention and talent. Looking ahead to 2026, most investors expect a modest rebound in early-stage funding, contingent on regulatory clarity, but well below 2021 levels, with a continued focus on fundamentals over narratives.
VCs remain bullish on stablecoins and payments, institutional-grade market infrastructure (exchanges, custody), and real-world asset tokenization. Prediction markets also draw interest, though some VCs are cautious about over-hyped areas like the intersection of crypto and AI, where execution lags behind hype. Token sales and ICO-style fundraising re-emerged but are not expected to replace traditional venture capital, with the future likely being a hybrid model where top projects combine both funding sources.
(Source：The Block)