February 28 News: Despite the market sentiment remaining low, venture capital firms still invested approximately $883 million in cryptocurrency startups in February. According to DefiLlama, this figure is about 13% lower than the same period in 2025, when the bull market saw funding surpass $1 billion. Funds have not exited, but investment logic has clearly become more cautious.
Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner of DWF Labs, stated that investors are now more focused on a project’s actual revenue, user growth curve, and its ability to operate sustainably in a bear market environment, rather than just the concept. He pointed out that in 2026, venture capital will focus on stablecoins and payment infrastructure, AI agents, and compliance and fund management tools for institutions. Before large-scale institutional capital enters, these underlying infrastructures will be prioritized.
Looking at specific cases, Andre Cronje’s Flying Tulip raised $206 million through token sales, focusing on integrated DeFi financial architecture and native stablecoin ftUSD, with structured downside protection mechanisms. Whop received a strategic investment of $200 million from Tether to promote stablecoin self-custody payments and expand the global creator economy. U.S. digital asset bank Anchorage Digital also completed $100 million in equity financing to strengthen compliant stablecoin issuance and institutional custody capabilities.
Cryptocurrency financing data indicates that in 2026, capital will prefer projects with real cash flow, compliant frameworks, and stablecoin payment scenarios. The market is gradually shifting from narrative-driven to a new stage emphasizing fundamentals and sustainable development.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
XRP Ledger Powers $280 Million Diamond Tokenization in Major UAE Real-World Asset Deal
Ripple’s tokenization of 1 billion AED worth of diamonds, “isn’t just a win for the UAE, it’s a masterclass in how the XRP Ledger handles high-value RWA at scale,” says Reece Merrick.
The network is solving the trust gap by integrating Ripple Custody’s bank-grade vaulting with XRPL’s native f
CryptoNewsFlash5h ago
Hyperliquid’s PURR Stands Alone in Profit as DAT Peers Sink Into Losses
Hyperliquid Strategies’ PURR stands out in the Digital Asset Treasury market, showing $356 million in unrealized gains, while competitors face significant losses. PURR's structure, linked to the Hyperliquid protocol's operating income, offers a critical advantage during volatile market conditions.
LiveBTCNews7h ago
x402 Triopoly: Solana, Base, Polygon Lead Agent Payments
Cryptocurrency is entering a new competitive phase as artificial intelligence-driven payments move to the forefront. Machine-to-machine transactions are no longer theoretical. Developers are actively building infrastructure that allows AI agents to transact independently, creating a fresh
Coinfomania8h ago
Does Jianjie have "manipulation" of BTC? Breaking down the AP system to understand the pricing power game behind ETF subscription and redemption mechanisms
Written by: Eddie Xin, Chief Analyst at OSL Group
"They were fcking us the whole time."
This phrase, circulated on Reddit and Crypto Twitter (CT) after the lawsuit, accompanied by an epic short squeeze with a liquidation scale of over $240 billion, directed market anger at the same target: Jane Street Capital.
At 10 AM, the liquidity freeze that had persisted in Asian markets for the past few months was finally partially lifted with the release of the U.S. Department of Justice's complaint. It all began with the founding of Wall Street's top market maker, Jane Street Capital, established in 2000, which is accused of engaging in targeted market manipulation through...
PANews8h ago
Tether Freezes $4.2B in USDT Linked to Criminal Activity
Tether has frozen approximately $4.2 billion in USDT linked to illegal activities, demonstrating its commitment to fighting crypto crime. The action, which hasn't destabilized USDT’s market, emphasizes compliance and enhances user trust in the stablecoin.
Coinfomania8h ago
CertiK: In February, losses in the crypto industry due to exploit vulnerabilities amounted to approximately $35.7 million
Foresight News reports that, according to CertiK monitoring, the crypto industry in February suffered losses of approximately $35.7 million due to exploits, with about $8.5 million attributed to phishing. This is also the lowest monthly loss since March 2025.
GateNews9h ago
