VC Concerns Rising Over Sustainability of High Valuation in Crypto Industry: Bloomberg

Varinder Singh
April 17, 2024
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VC Concerns Rising Over Sustainability of High Valuation in Crypto Industry: Bloomberg

Highlights

  • Crypto venture capital firms remain cautious of the sustainability of rising valuations in the crypto industry.
  • Crypto.com Capital joins others such as a16z to pull back investment activity this year.
  • Limited partners reluctant to pour in more money until venture funds start showing tangible returns.

Crypto industry saw a number of funding rounds in Q1 amid a noteworthy uptick in prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. With U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF recording substantial buying and grabbing major attention globally, venture capital firms eyeing a piece of the growth but remain cautious of the sustainability of rising valuations.

Crypto.com chief executive officer Kris Marszalek revealed their venture capital arm is dubious about the sustainability of surging valuations in the sector.

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Crypto Fundraising and Scaling Back by Crypto.com Capital

Crypto.com Capital, venture capital arm of the crypto exchange Crypto.com, pulled back its investment activity over the past 18 months amid a bear market, reported Bloomberg. The VC firm took a stay-back-and-look approach despite a crypto market recovery.

Kris Marszalek said “We want the financial return. At this moment, valuations being thrown around by project teams are very generous.”

Crypto.com Capital had invested $500 million into startups in the crypto sector, scaling back investment activity over the past 18 months. Dealroom data revealed four Crypto.com investments since 2023 as compared to a higher number of investments of 35 before 2023.

Venture capitalists invested over 52% into crypto projects in March, with the majority going into projects related to crypto infrastructure and decentralized finance (DeFi). Venture capital investment in crypto startups surged to an impressive $2.5 billion in the first quarter of 2024, marking a notable 32% increase from the previous quarter, as reported by CoinGape.

Also Read: Terra Luna Classic Community Pool Hits 5 Billion LUNC, Is It Good or Bad?

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Crypto Valuation Challenges

Some capital partners that provide capital for venture funds are skeptical due to hype bubbling back into the industry, which seems to be higher despite significant concerns. Limited partners are reluctant to pour in more money until venture funds start showing tangible returns.

Silicon Valley venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz announced plans to raise $6.9 billion for new funds, including two AI-focused funds. But the firm said it has postponed allocating funds for crypto.

Crypto.com Capital invested millions into blockchain and digital assets-related projects such as Berachain, Merkle Manufactory, and others.

Bitcoin price is currently trading under selling pressure at $63,574 after hitting a new all-time high of $73,750 in March. The underlying weakness is due to macro, geopolitical, and technical charts.

Also Read: Upbit To Suspend Deposit and Withdrawal of Crypto Exceeding 1 Million Won

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Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Varinder has over 10 years of experience and is known as a seasoned leader for his involvement in the fintech sector. With over 5 years dedicated to blockchain, crypto, and Web3 developments, he has experienced two Bitcoin halving events making him key opinion leader in the space. At CoinGape Media, Varinder leads the editorial decisions, spearheading the news team to cover latest updates, markets trends and developments within the crypto industry. The company was recognized as Best Crypto Media Company 2024 for high impact and quality reporting. Being a Master of Technology degree holder, analytics thinker, technology enthusiast, Varinder has shared his knowledge of disruptive technologies in over 5000+ news, articles, and papers.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.