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Germany’s blockchain funding increases 3% amid market downturn: Report

Germany's blockchain sector saw a total of $355 million in venture capital funding across 34 deals, which is a 3% year-on-year increase.

Germany has reached an all-time high in global venture capital funding share in 2023 despite a decline in the overall performance of the blockchain market across the globe, according to a report published by Crypto Valley Venture Capital (CVVC). 

Within CVVC's report titled "The German Blockchain Report 2023," the country's blockchain sector recorded a total of $355 million invested across 34 deals. This represents a 3% year-over-year (YoY) increase in funding for the Western European country, according to the CVVC.

State of German venture capital funding in 2023. Source: CVVC

Apart from this, the report highlighted that Germany also experienced its record share in global funding. The country reportedly attracted 2.4% of global blockchain funding and 2.5% of global deals. Compared to 2022's figures of 0.9% in global funding and 1.9% in global deals, the country saw an increase in percentage in both statistic in 2023. 

When it comes to Europe, Germany has also taken a fair share of funding within the region's blockchain ecosystem. The report noted that the country secured 9.4% of Europe-based blockchain funding and 10.3% of all European blockchain deals.

The report highlighted that Germany's progress in funding comes as all continents are experiencing a venture capital funding downturn. According to the report, all continents experienced YoY declines in funding. The report highlighted that there's a 62% decline in funding and a 44% decrease in deals compared to the previous four-quarter period globally.

Related: Crypto VCs made $2.6B worth of deals in the first quarter of 2023

Meanwhile, a venture capital executive believes that the funding downturn in crypto is due to the lack of innovation in the space. In a recent Cointelegraph interview, Foresight Ventures' Tony Cheng said that most of the narratives in the space like zero-knowledge proofs, layer-2 solutions and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) have already "played out." Cheng belives that this may be the reason why venture capital firms are being driven away from the space. 

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Crypto leaders should stop flirting with CBDCs

Blockchain Capital secures $300M funding from PayPal, Visa

Blockchain Capital has attracted investment from PayPal, Visa, and other investors to the tune of $300 million for its Fund V LP.

PayPal and Visa are among several major investors to have participated in a $300 million funding for Blockchain Capital.

In a release issued on Tuesday, Blockchain Capital announced that the close of its Blockchain Capital V LP.

According to the release, Fund V, capped at $300 million was oversubscribed with numerous investors including college endowments, family offices, and pension funds participating in the capital raise.

As part of the announcement, Blockchain Capital stated that PayPal, Visa, and some other Fund V investors will take part in the firm’s strategic partnership program.

Blockchain Capital is one of the oldest blockchain-focused funds in the industry and currently backs major projects including crypto exchanges like Kraken and Coinbase as well decentralized finance protocols like UMA, Nexus, and Aave.

The firm also has footprints in the nonfungible token space with NFT marketplace OpenSea a part of its portfolio.

As previously reported by Cointelegraph, Blockchain Capital together with Morgan Stanley Tactical Value led a $48 million Series B funding round for asset tokenization platform Securitize. Back in May, the firm also led a $24.25 million capital raise for DeFi protocol Balancer.

Blockchain Capital is a major presence in the blockchain venture capital scene that has seen $16 billion in equity investments between 2012 and 2020.

Related: Venture capitalists invest over $16B in blockchain equity since 2012

Commenting on the success of Fund V and the pedigree of investors involved in the capital raise, the press release quoted Blockchain Capital co-founder and managing partner Bart Stephens as saying:

“We are incredibly honored to welcome a world class group of investors into Fund V who appreciate the value of a firm dedicated to a single industry. As founders ourselves, we know how hard it is to build companies, protocols and, indeed, a whole new industry.”

For Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal’s vice president, the company’s support of Blockchain Capital is part of its efforts to engage with entrepreneurs at the cutting edge of the emerging decentralized economy.

Crypto leaders should stop flirting with CBDCs

VC firm Borderless Capital floats $25M blockchain fund in Miami

The $25 million fund will be used to support Miami-based blockchain startups developing digital payment solutions on the Algorand network.

Borderless Capital’s support for Algorand-based development has taken another incremental turn with the venture capital firm launching a new $25 million fund in Miami.

In an announcement on Wednesday, the investment firm stated that the $25 million fund will focus on supporting blockchain startups in the city of Miami.

Dubbed the Borderless.Miami Fund, the VC firm is joined by stablecoin issuer Circle to foster the growth of digital payment and digital capital market development in Miami.

Apart from direct investments in blockchain startups, Borderless Capital is also seeking to launch the Algorand Miami Accelerator. Algorand accelerator programs in Europe and Asia have worked to spur and encourage blockchain developments in their respective jurisdictions.

With Circle in the mix, the planned $25 million fund will reportedly use the USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin as well as other facets of Circle’s business to promote digital payment technology breakthroughs built on the Algorand blockchain.

According to Wednesday’s announcement, the blockchain investment fund has already secured support from the city council. Commenting on the development, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez described the fund as an embodiment of the public-private partnership that is pushing the envelope of blockchain innovation in Miami, adding:

“With the support of Algorand, Circle, and other top local partners, we’re building an ecosystem in line with our vision for Miami. I am so excited to work with Borderless.Miami to make Miami the epicenter for digital capital markets in our pursuit of becoming the ‘Capital of Capital.’”

Indeed, Miami has positioned itself as a forward-thinking city in terms of crypto and blockchain adoption in recent months. The city is set to play host the Bitcoin 2021 conference on June 3, with over 50,000 attendees expected to grace the three-day event.

According to David Garcia, CEO of Borderless Capital, Miami is the place to be in terms of blockchain development. As part of the announcement, Garcia revealed that the VC firm was relocating its headquarters to the city.

Crypto leaders should stop flirting with CBDCs