Crypto Venture Funding Rebounds as Institutional Backing Surges Again

Source: ETHNews Original Title: Crypto Venture Funding Rebounds as Institutional Backing Surges Again Original Link: The first week of December closed with a noticeable revival in crypto venture capital activity, as major institutional investors re-engaged across several standout fundraising rounds.

The shift follows months of quieter allocations, but this week’s data signals that capital is again flowing with confidence into key infrastructure projects, enterprise fintech, and new onchain financial primitives. The latest breakdown highlights the strongest five deals, collectively raising $165 million, a figure that suggests institutional appetite is quietly rebuilding despite market volatility.

Digital Asset Secures $50 Million for Institutional Blockchain Expansion

The largest raise of the week came from Digital Asset, which closed a $50 million round backed by a heavyweight syndicate including BNY, Nasdaq Ventures, and S&P Global. The company, best known for developing Canton Network, continues its push to deliver an institutional-grade Layer-1 blockchain engineered for regulated finance.

This marks one of the most significant institutional endorsements of blockchain infrastructure in recent months. The backing from three major legacy financial firms reinforces the broader 2025 trend: traditional finance is accelerating its pivot toward onchain settlement, tokenization, and interoperability. Digital Asset’s raise positions it as one of the year’s most important enterprise blockchain players.

Ostium Raises $20 Million as Perp DEX Demand Rises

The second-largest round went to Ostium, which secured $20 million from General Catalyst, Jump Trading, and a major venture fund. Ostium is building a DEX on Arbitrum that enables non-custodial perpetual exposure to real-world assets (RWAs), a niche rapidly gaining traction.

As more institutions explore tokenized treasuries, onchain credit, and alternative yield products, a gateway to RWA-based perpetuals arrives at an ideal moment. Ostium’s raise reflects the market’s growing conviction that RWAs will be one of the strongest categories in the next crypto cycle.

Fin Closes $17 Million to Scale Stablecoin-Powered Payments

Payments startup Fin captured $17 million from Pantera Capital, Sequoia, and Samsung Next. Fin is building a stablecoin-driven payments system for enterprise clients and mainstream users, an area that has quickly become one of 2025’s most investable segments.

The round illustrates how stablecoin infrastructure continues to attract blue-chip venture backing. As global stablecoin adoption accelerates and regulatory clarity improves under multiple jurisdictions, investor focus is shifting toward scalable payment systems that bridge traditional businesses with frictionless digital settlement rails.

Bitstack Raises $15 Million for Bitcoin Savings Products

France-based Bitstack secured $15 million, supported by 13books Capital, Y Combinator, and Plug and Play. Bitstack focuses on Bitcoin savings tools designed for everyday consumers, aligning with the broader European interest in self-custody and automated BTC accumulation.

This raise also highlights growing venture conviction in Bitcoin-native fintech, especially as BTC adoption in Europe expands amid inflation concerns and renewed demand for self-sovereign assets.

Zoo Finance Adds $8 Million to Advance Its Omnichain Vesting Market

Rounding out the top five, Zoo Finance raised $8 million from Bitrise Capital, Signum Capital, and CGV FoF. Zoo Finance is developing an omnichain vesting market, a niche but increasingly necessary tool as multi-chain token networks mature.

With token unlocks becoming one of the most sensitive components of project economics, platforms that allow structured, transparent vesting across chains are attracting deeper institutional interest.

A Week That Signals Renewed Confidence

Beyond the headline numbers, the broader takeaway is clear: institutional venture capital is stepping back into the crypto ecosystem with focus and conviction. The week’s 42 total fundraising rounds, topping $165 million, suggest that capital allocators are positioning early for a potential 2026 cycle, prioritizing infrastructure, RWAs, enterprise stability, and user-friendly savings applications.

If this momentum continues through December, the market may be entering a phase where venture activity once again becomes a leading indicator for sector recovery and long-term growth.