During the week of October 12-18, 2025, the crypto sector witnessed a significant influx of venture capital, totaling $1.059 billion across 22 projects. Leading the charge was Tempo, a payments-focused Layer 1 blockchain, which secured $500 million in a Series A funding round, achieving a valuation of $5 billion. Notable investors in Tempo include Grey Wolf, Thrive Capital, and Sequoia.
In another major development, Kraken acquired the SMALL Exchange for $100 million, a strategic move that enhances its ability to offer regulated crypto derivatives domestically. This acquisition follows previous strategic purchases such as NinjaTrader and Crypto Facilities.
Daylight Energy also made headlines by raising $75 million in an undisclosed funding round, bringing its total fundraising to $88 million. The company aims to revolutionize the electric grid with a decentralized network, promising more affordable and reliable power.
In other notable funding activities, Jito, a liquid Solana staking protocol, received a $50 million investment from ai16z. Meanwhile, the Better Payment Network raised $50 million in a Seed round to develop its blockchain-native cross-border payments and FX protocol.
