The blockchain and cryptocurrency sector saw robust investment activity during the week of June 23–29, 2025, with 16 publicly disclosed funding rounds raising approximately $1.005 billion in total. According to data from RootData, the majority of capital flowed into DeFi and Web3 gaming projects, signaling strong investor confidence in decentralized finance infrastructure and immersive digital experiences.
Key sectors attracting funding included decentralized exchanges (DEXs), derivatives platforms, AI-powered payroll solutions, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Notable names such as Sphinx, GTE, Blueprint Finance, and Niural emerged as standout performers, backed by top-tier investors like Paradigm, Polychain Capital, and a16z speedrun.
This week’s investment landscape reflects a maturing ecosystem where scalability, institutional adoption, and cross-chain interoperability are becoming central themes.
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DeFi: Infrastructure and Innovation Drive Major Investments
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) remained the dominant sector for investment, with four major projects securing significant funding to enhance protocol capabilities, improve user experience, and expand developer tooling.
Sphinx Secures $2M for Energy-Focused Derivatives Exchange
Sphinx, an on-chain derivatives trading platform, raised $2 million in a Pre-Seed round led by Eckhardt Capital. The project is building a permissioned Layer 1 blockchain tailored for energy commodity derivatives, enabling futures and perpetual contracts for oil, gas, and other energy markets.
Backers include Big Brain Holdings, Blockchain Founders Fund, Blizzard, TRIVE Ventures, Cosmos Hub, and prominent individuals such as Andrew Durgee and Stefan Rust. Funds will support mainnet launch and strategic partnerships with institutional players in traditional energy trading.
This initiative bridges traditional commodities markets with blockchain efficiency—offering transparency, reduced counterparty risk, and global access.
GTE Raises $15M to Redefine DEX Performance
GTE, a decentralized exchange within the MegaETH ecosystem, closed an $15 million Series A round led exclusively by Paradigm. Designed to compete with centralized exchanges (CEXs), GTE employs a Central Limit Order Book (CLOB) model that matches the low-latency performance of platforms like Binance and Coinbase—while maintaining full decentralization.
Hosted on the EVM-compatible MegaETH blockchain, GTE's testnet has already attracted around 700,000 users, indicating strong market demand for high-performance DEXs. Previous funding rounds brought in $10 million through a mix of seed and community financing.
Strategic investors include Maven 11, Wintermute, Flow Traders, and key figures from Ethena and Anza. With this new capital, GTE aims to scale liquidity and expand its order-matching engine across multiple chains.
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Blueprint Finance Closes $9.5M to Simplify Crypto Yield Management
Blueprint Finance, founded in 2023 by CEO Nic Roberts-Huntley, secured $9.5 million in a round led by Polychain Capital, with participation from YZi Labs and VanEck. The startup focuses on streamlining asset growth for crypto investors through intuitive DeFi products.
Its flagship offerings include:
- Concrete: A lending protocol built for the Ethereum ecosystem.
- Glow: A Solana-based borrowing and lending platform.
The company plans to use new funds for team expansion, engineering development, and marketing efforts. With prior funding of $7.5 million, Blueprint Finance has now raised a total of **$17 million**, positioning it as a rising player in multi-chain yield optimization.
Veda Raises $18M to Democratize DeFi Yield Access
Veda, a DeFi infrastructure provider, raised $18 million in a round led by CoinFund. The firm is developing tools that allow applications and institutions to offer simplified crypto yield products without exposing end-users to complex DeFi mechanics.
At the core of Veda’s solution is a modular vault framework, enabling developers to deploy smart contracts that automate yield strategies—such as staking, liquidity provision, or leveraged farming—while abstracting away technical complexity.
This approach lowers the barrier to entry for mainstream users and enterprises seeking exposure to DeFi returns. The funding will accelerate product development and ecosystem integration.
Gaming: Web3 Entertainment Gains Traction
Web3 gaming continues to draw venture capital interest as developers blend blockchain mechanics with engaging gameplay and fan-driven economies.
Spekter Games Raises $5M for First Web3 Title
Spekter Games Inc. announced a $5 million pre-seed round led by a16z speedrun, with additional support from London Venture Partners, BRV Capital, Chamaeleon, and Alumni Ventures. The studio launched its debut game, Spekter Agency, a chat-based Web3 experience blending narrative storytelling with player-owned assets.
Proceeds will be used to expand the game across platforms—including App Store and Google Play—and develop a second title currently in production. By integrating NFTs and token incentives into interactive entertainment, Spekter aims to redefine how fans engage with digital content.
Derivatives: Specialized Platforms Target Niche Markets
Derivatives remain a high-growth area within crypto, particularly for platforms targeting real-world market verticals.
Sphinx Reiterated Focus on Commodity Futures
As previously noted under DeFi, Sphinx also appears in the derivatives category due to its specialized focus. Its dual relevance highlights the convergence between general-purpose DeFi protocols and vertical-specific financial instruments.
By focusing on energy commodities—an asset class worth trillions globally—Sphinx positions itself at the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain innovation.
Social & Entertainment: Tokenized Fan Engagement Rises
YZi Labs Invests in MEET48’s Web3 Idol Platform
YZi Labs announced a strategic investment in MEET48, a decentralized entertainment platform incubated through BNB Chain’s MVB accelerator program. MEET48 leverages blockchain to solve challenges in fan engagement by introducing token-based rewards, virtual concerts, idol training games, and real-world events.
The collaboration aims to enrich Web3-native fan experiences and create sustainable monetization models for creators—signaling growing interest in social token ecosystems.
Other Notable Developments
Several high-impact funding events fell outside core categories but contributed significantly to the week’s total capital raised.
Niural Raises $31M for AI-Powered Global Payroll
Niural, a crypto payroll platform combining AI and proprietary tax engines, completed a $31 million Series A led by Marathon Management Partners. The firm serves as a global PEO (Professional Employer Organization), helping companies manage cross-border employment and payments.
With annual recurring revenue (ARR) growing 700% year-over-year, clients include major Web3 firms like Tensor, Polygon Labs, and Karate. Gokul Rajaram has joined the board following the round. Future plans include launching an AI-native system tailored for CFOs and expanding international operations.
Kalshi Targets $1B Valuation with $100M Raise
Compliant prediction market platform Kalshi is reportedly raising $100 million** at a valuation exceeding **$1 billion, with backing from Paradigm. The funding underscores increasing institutional appetite for regulated on-chain financial products.
Nano Labs Announces $500M Convertible Note Offering
Nano Labs Ltd (NASDAQ: NA) signed agreements for a **$500 million private placement** of convertible notes. The 360-day instruments carry no interest and can be converted into Class A common stock at an initial price of $20 per share.
Proceeds will fund the acquisition of up to $1 billion worth of BNB, with the goal of holding between 5% and 10% of BNB’s circulating supply long-term—a bold strategic reserve move aligned with BNB Chain ecosystem growth.
Digital Asset Raises $135M for Canton Network Expansion
Digital Asset, developer of the privacy-focused Canton Network, raised $135 million in a strategic round co-led by DRW Venture Capital and Tradeweb Markets. Participants include BNP Paribas, Circle Ventures, Citadel Securities, DTCC, Virtu Financial, and Paxos.
Canton enables interoperable RWA settlement with configurable privacy—already being tested by firms like Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon. Supported asset classes include bonds, money market funds, commodities, mortgages, and insurance products.
Built on Daml—a powerful smart contract language—the platform ensures synchronized data access across participants while preserving confidentiality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which sectors received the most funding this week?
A: DeFi led the pack with over half of total investments, followed by gaming and enterprise-focused platforms like Niural and Digital Asset.
Q: Who were the top investors active this week?
A: Major backers included Paradigm, Polychain Capital, a16z speedrun, CoinFund, and Marathon Management Partners—highlighting continued institutional involvement.
Q: What is unique about Sphinx’s approach to derivatives?
A: Unlike generic crypto derivatives platforms, Sphinx targets real-world energy markets (oil & gas), using a custom Layer 1 to ensure compliance and performance.
Q: How does GTE achieve CEX-level speed on a DEX?
A: GTE uses a Central Limit Order Book (CLOB) architecture on MegaETH’s high-throughput blockchain—delivering fast execution without sacrificing decentralization.
Q: Is Niural only for crypto companies?
A: While popular among Web3 firms today, Niural’s AI-driven payroll and tax engine is designed for any business managing international remote teams.
Q: What are RWAs in crypto?
A: Real-World Assets (RWAs) refer to physical or traditional financial assets—like bonds or real estate—tokenized on blockchain for improved liquidity and accessibility.
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Core Keywords: DeFi funding, crypto derivatives platform, Web3 gaming investment, blockchain payroll solution, RWA tokenization, DEX innovation, institutional crypto adoption.