Published on: 04/04/2024
In a daring new venture, Mike Novogratz’s crypto powerhouse Galaxy Digital is reportedly sowing the seeds for a $100M fund, a move that highlights the rallying tide of venture capitalists returning to the cryptocurrency market. The proposed fund would focus its lens on early-stage crypto start-ups, continuing Galaxys established trajectory of backing rising companies in the digital asset sphere.
Galaxy Ventures, Galaxy’s venture arm, has traditionally relied on company funds for such investments. While this practice is set to continue with its new Galaxy Ventures Fund I, it appears Galaxys doors have been opened to outside venture capitalists, signifying a promising shift in its capital management strategy. Acknowledging this move, a source familiar with the matter disclosed that the lowest investment cap for start-ups has been pegged at a considerable $1 million.
In a statement, Galaxy expressed that this fund would essentially amplify their pursuit of fostering prospective early-stage companies in the digital asset ecosystem. Notably, Galaxy Ventures has invested in crypto startups, such as the $2.7 million February round it spearheaded for Citrea, a project with ambitions to integrate zero-knowledge rollups (ZK-rollups) into Bitcoins functionalities.
Galaxys fundraising endeavors have extended to several other initiatives, including its contributions to a $75 million VC fund operated by firm 1kx, primarily focusing on crypto-centered consumer apps. The recent uptick in efforts to raise funds is taking place amidst a broader resurgence of venture capital flowing back into the crypto space, following a period of relative stagnation last year.
Indeed, crypto VC funding surged more than 50% month-on-month in March, reaching a staggering figure of $1.16 billion dispersed through 180 publicly revealed investments. This resounding resurgence outperformed April 2022s standing as the month with the highest-recorded influx of monthly cash.
Several other VC powerhouses are navigating a similar route. Para is reportedly groping for an impressive $850 million, while Hack VC is compiling a commendable $150 million for crypto start-ups, and Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is setting aside $30 million for a Web3 gaming-dedicated fund.
Digging deeper, the increasing venture money trail can be traced back to January when the U.S approved Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs), initiating a domino effect that increased Bitcoins pricing by around 50% year-to-date. Simultaneously, Bitcoin started a ripple effect, powering the overall crypto market with it. For perspective, the total crypto market capitalization at the years dawn hovered around $1.7 trillion. Now, its skyrocketed to an astounding $2.61 trillion, nearing the all-time high of $3 trillion.
From an investors perspective, these recent developments signal bullish market sentiments bolstered by a need for new, cutting-edge crypto solutions. The trend could also spur a flurry of activity and competition in the start-up space, potentially triggering a wave of innovation and progress in the crypto industry.
In a nutshell, despite the volatility and uncertainty often associated with crypto, its appeal appears to be only strengthening. The robust performance of Bitcoin and the surging inflows of venture capital may be heralding a new chapter in the crypto saga, one that continues to reshape the digital financial landscape for millions of enthusiasts worldwide.