Crypto VC Funding saw a strong surge in mid-January, as investors poured more than half a billion dollars into the sector in just one week. Between January 11 and January 17, 2026, crypto and blockchain startups raised a combined $513.4 million across 15 projects, according to Cryptofundraising data. The funding activity was led by two major deals, with Alpaca and LMAX Group each securing $150 million.
The funding activity highlights continued investor confidence in core crypto infrastructure, trading platforms, and payment solutions, even as market conditions remain selective. Infrastructure, exchanges, and payments emerged as the most active categories, showing where capital is currently flowing.
Alpaca Reaches Unicorn Status
Alpaca, an API-based trading platform, raised $150 million in a Series D round, pushing its fully diluted valuation to $1.15 billion. The round was backed by DRIVE, Haun Ventures, and Opera. Alpaca provides APIs for trading stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies, making it a popular choice for fintech apps and brokerages. With this latest raise, the company has now secured $288.8 million in total funding, further strengthening its position in the trading infrastructure space.
LMAX Group Draws Support From Ripple
Another major highlight was LMAX Group, which also raised $150 million in an undisclosed funding round. The investment was backed by Ripple, signaling strong interest in institutional-grade trading and liquidity solutions. While details around the valuation and round structure were not disclosed, the size of the investment underscores LMAX Group’s growing role in global digital asset markets.
Regional Exchanges and Infrastructure Gain Ground
Indonesia-based crypto exchange ICEx raised $70 million in an unknown round, reflecting continued expansion of crypto adoption in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Upexi secured $36 million, backed by HiveMind, bringing its total funding to $136 million.
Bitcoin-focused infrastructure also attracted attention. Project Eleven, a Bitcoin infrastructure and security platform, raised $20 million in a Series A round at a $120 million fully diluted valuation. The round included investors such as Castle Island Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Lattice, showing ongoing interest in strengthening Bitcoin’s core rails.
Payments and Stablecoins Stay in Focus
VelaFi raised $20 million in a Series B round, supported by XVC, Ikkuyo, and Annox, while also adding two new investors. The project operates in finance, infrastructure, payments, and stablecoins, offering payment-focused stablecoin infrastructure.
Smaller Rounds Fill Out the Week
Several early- and mid-stage projects also closed funding rounds under $15 million. These included Konnex ($15M strategic round), XMAQUINA ($10M), Veera ($10M seed), TBook ($10M), Noise ($7.1M seed), Meld ($7M), Neuramint ($5M seed), TROVE ($2.5M public sale), and Saturn Labs (USDsat) ($800,000 angel round).
Overall, the week’s funding activity shows that while investors remain cautious, capital continues to flow steadily into platforms building the essential infrastructure that supports the broader crypto ecosystem.
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