Crypto startups raised $11.2 billion in H1 2026, with disclosed funding going to licensed firms: CoinDesk

Crypto startups completed $11.2 billion in fundraising in the first half of 2026, according to CoinDesk, with all disclosed capital directed to regulated, licensed businesses. The biggest funding recipients were companies tied to payments and stablecoins, prediction markets, exchanges, and trading platforms. The report said major backers included Wall Street firms and large global financial institutions, which have been concentrating their investments on businesses that already hold licenses and operate within compliance frameworks. CoinDesk also said investors and founders are increasingly treating regulatory licenses as scarce, defensive assets. Retail traders, by contrast, still mainly trade on unlicensed venues or alternative platforms. The figures and sector breakdown point to a funding market that is favoring regulated crypto infrastructure over less formally authorized operations.