2020 has come to an end. The crypto market has experienced a trough this year but has also grown rapidly. The price of Bitcoin surpassed US$20,000 for the first time since its inception, the market value of encryption hit a new high, DeFi was on the rise, and NFT was emerging… This field is undergoing tremendous changes.
With the warming of the market, investment institutions have become more active. Even many traditional funds have set their sights on encryption projects. According to statistics from overseas media The Block, nearly a thousand blockchain-related investment transactions have occurred this year. At the same time, through these transactions, The Block selected 10 active crypto funds in 2020.
These active funds include: Alameda Research, Coinbase Ventures, CoinFund, ConsenSys Labs, Digital Currency Group, Dragonfly Capital, Hashkey Capital, NGC Ventures, Pantera Capital and Polychain Capital.
DeFi projects are the most popular type for investors, accounting for about 31% of their investment.
Rhythm BlockBeats added some missing investment institutions at the end of the article, such as: Multicoin Capital, IOSG, Paradigm, etc. These funds have also invested in the encryption field in 2020 and focused on the development of infrastructure construction.
The following is the original text of The Block Research:
The Block analyzed 873 blockchain-related investment transactions this year and selected the top ten most active crypto funds in 2020.
By using Pitchbook, Crunchbase and The Block’s own information retrieval, the top 10 most active funds were mapped out. Top ten active funds and their investment in 2020:
Six of the 10 most active funds in 2019 will again become the most active funds in 2020. These companies include Coinbase Ventures, Digital Currency Group (DCG), Dragonfly Capital, NGC Ventures, Pantera Capital, and Polychain Capital. (The 2019 report “”)
It was not on the list last year. The five new funds on the list this year are Alameda Research, CoinFund, ConsenSys Labs and Hashkey Capital.
Among the projects that received investment, Acala Network, Amber Group, and Dune Analytics have attracted the attention of a large number of investors. The top ten active funds contributed about 50% of Acala Network’s financing funds. Four of the top ten active funds invested in Amber Group and Dune Analytics.
List of the most active blockchain investors by category in 2020
This year, the venture fund Coinbase Ventures has made the most investments with a total of 25 deals. Coinbase Ventures has a very extensive investment distribution, and no project has invested more than 20% of its total investment this year.
The investment of Alameda Research, the second largest active investor this year, is much more concentrated. More than half of Alameda’s investments are DeFi projects, and transactions and trading platform-related projects are the second largest category. The Hong Kong-based encrypted quantitative trading company’s transaction flow has increased significantly this year, and strategic investments have benefited FTX and Serum.
Among all funds, DCG is still a fund focused on banking and payment, which has invested in Avanti Financial Group, Circle, Coinme, Lolli, Transparent Systems and Wyre.
Most popular investment category
One of the main investment trends this year is to provide investment for DeFi applications. The success and quality of new projects attracted the participation of some funds or companies, and these funds or companies had little contact with this sub-industry at the beginning of the year. As we pointed out in the third quarter investment summary, the DeFi field is the most popular category, accounting for about 20% of all venture capital.
The investment trends of the top ten active funds this year are more relevant to industry development. Among the 121 companies invested, 37 companies are related to the DeFi field.
In order to facilitate readers’ understanding, Rhythm BlockBeats has compiled a text summary of the projects invested by the above funds and attached a brief introduction:
Alameda Research:
Perpetual Protocol: AMM solution
ParaSwap: Decentralized trading platform
Dune Analytics: Blockchain data analysis platform
Linear: Cross-chain synthetic asset transaction protocol
UpBots: Trading Ecosystem Solution
Hedget: DeFi derivatives platform
Archax: UK-registered crypto asset company with FCA
APY.Finance: Liquidity mining aggregation platform
Opium Network: On-chain derivatives agreement
Persistence: NFT bridging project in the financial sector
UNION: DeFi Risk Management Agreement
RAMP DEFI: Decentralized Financial Solution
Mask: Open source encryption product on social platforms
3Commas: Intelligent trading terminal, automatic trading robot
Razor: Decentralized oracle
Math Wallet: Universal crypto asset wallet
Stacked: Smart crypto asset investment
DODO: Decentralized trading platform based on active market maker algorithm
CryptoLocally: Cryptocurrency trading platform
OIN: Ontology’s first DeFi platform that provides liquidity for mining and lending through cross-chain
Frontier: Off-chain DeFi aggregation layer
Covalent: Ethereum data analysis startup
Coinbase Ventures:
DODO: Decentralized trading platform based on active market maker algorithm
Dune Analytics: Blockchain data analysis platform
CoinDCX: Indian crypto trading platform
NEAR: A project dedicated to realizing sharding to improve the TPS of the public chain
FALCONX: Cryptocurrency trading platform
The Graph: Decentralized Indexing Protocol
Zora: Limited Edition Tokenized Products Online Market
Tagomi: cryptocurrency broker
KEEP: The privacy protocol layer on the Ethereum chain
MULTIS: Enterprise’s Crypto Asset Bank
CoFiX: Decentralized transaction protocol based on NEST oracle design
AXELAR: Blockchain underlying technologies and protocols, tools and API solutions
Blocknative: Data startup
Amber Group: Global Crypto Financial Service Provider
Bitski: Crypto Wallet
Notional: A liquidity pool that gives time value to tokens
Bitso: Latin America’s largest crypto trading platform
Arweave: FileCoin-like decentralized storage platform
Coin Metics: Encrypted financial data provider
Zapper: DeFi development user meter startup
Authereum: Decentralized application platform
Dapper: game development studio, crypto cat development studio
Audius: Streaming media service provider
CURV: Cryptocurrency Security Startup
CoinFund:
NEAR: A project dedicated to realizing sharding to improve the TPS of the public chain
LedgerX: U.S. officially approved encrypted digital asset trading platform
Blockdaemon: Blockchain node provider
API3: Web 3.0 decentralized API service
NUMERAI: a hedge fund developed around distributed trading algorithms
Archax: UK-registered crypto asset company with FCA
Acala Network: Design stablecoin and DeFi ecosystem company for Polkadot
Dapper: game development studio, crypto cat development studio
BoardRoom: DeFi governance solution
ParaSwap: Decentralized trading platform
Stacked: Smart crypto asset investment
Zapper: DeFi development user meter startup
NFTX: NFT index fund based on Ethereum
Delta Exchange: Cryptocurrency Derivatives Trading Platform
Opyn: DeFi hedging tool
ConsenSys Labs:
Trakx: One-stop trading cryptocurrency trading index platform
Cryptio: Accounting and Auditing Company of Digital Assets
Apex: E3: Transaction Analysis Company
Outlet: Decentralized Bank
SimpleID: A tool to increase participation and retention of blockchain applications
INCENTCO: Performance Management Cloud Platform
Atomic Loans: Decentralized cross-chain lending platform
Fluidity: AirSwap developer
Sorare: Fantasy Football Game
PoolTogether: “Lossless Lottery” DeFi Project
Quorum: JP Morgan Chase Blockchain Division
HashEdge: A peer-to-peer market for crypto mining and mortgage, similar to a decentralized “eBay” market
PieDAO: Brief description of asset allocation decentralized autonomous organization
Horizon Blockchain Games: Building a decentralized online game on Ethereum
ACTUS Protocol: Decentralized Financial Internet Protocol
DCG:
Transparent Systems: Seattle Payment and Settlement Company
Zabo: Software as a Service Startup
Horizon Blockchain Games: Building a decentralized online game on Ethereum
Skew: A crypto asset data analysis and transaction execution platform for institutional investors
Lolli: Bitcoin reward platform
Avanti Financial GroupL: a compliance bridge for the U.S. dollar payment system and a custodian of digital assets
Paradigm: Institutional platform for OTC digital asset transaction process automation
CURV: Cryptocurrency Security Startup
The Graph: Decentralized Indexing Protocol
Circle: Digital payment tool, cryptocurrency service company
Acala Network: Design stablecoin and DeFi ecosystem company for Polkadot
Dune Analytics: Blockchain data analysis platform
Jiko: Small independent financial institution
NIFTEX: Self-service NFT Liquidity Solution
API3: Web 3.0 decentralized API service
Fireblocks: a platform to protect the transfer of digital assets
Slingshot: Decentralized trading platform
Coinme: Bitcoin ATM Company
DECENT: Open source non-profit digital content distribution network
Coin Metrics: Open source blockchain data and analysis project
Dragonfly Capital:
Paradigm: Institutional platform for OTC digital asset transaction process automation
Bybit: a trading platform focusing on digital currency perpetual contracts
TaxBit: cryptocurrency tax software
1inch: Decentralized token transaction aggregation platform
DDX: Decentralized Derivatives Trading Agreement
Celo: Digital Payment Platform
BABEL Finance: Comprehensive encrypted financial service provider
NUMERAI: a hedge fund developed around distributed trading algorithms
Amber Group: Global Crypto Financial Service Provider
Coin Metrics: Open source blockchain data and analysis project
Skynet: Decentralized file and application sharing platform
StableHouse: A global digital currency clearing house for real-time cross-chain payments
Dune Analytics: Blockchain data analysis platform
Cozy Finance: DeFi Risk Management Company
Opyn: DeFi hedging tool
Hashkey Capital:
Infinity Stones: A blockchain company that does security maintenance for nodes
Blockdaemon: Blockchain node provider
XanPool: automatic peer-to-peer cryptocurrency to local fiat currency
BlockFi: A startup company that provides loans to digital asset owners
Moonbeam: Building a cross-chain connected DApp
HashQuark: A blockchain mining pool focusing on PoS, DPoS and other consensus mechanism public chains
Zenlink: Polkadot-based cross-chain DEX protocol
Mask: Open source encryption product on social platforms
O(1) Labs: The world’s lightest blockchain Mina development team
Opium Network: On-chain derivatives agreement
Braintrust: A market that connects organizations directly with top technical talent
BoringDAO: Infrastructure connecting blockchain assets and DeFi world
Lightnet: Building the next-generation financial mobile network on Stellar
Acala Network: Design stablecoin and DeFi ecosystem company for Polkadot
NGC Ventures:
Banxa: fiat channel compliance provider
Phemex: Cryptocurrency Derivatives Trading Platform
Hedget: DeFi derivatives platform
Persistence: NFT bridging project in the financial sector
Terra Virtua: NFT digital collection platform that allows cross-platform interaction
Razor: Decentralized oracle
Bifrost: Middleware platform between DApp and protocol
Frontier: Off-chain DeFi aggregation layer
Kira Core: Decentralized solution using Tendermint and Cosmos SDK
Crust Network: Decentralized cloud ecosystem
Reef: Cross-chain DeFi operating system
Polkastarter: A DEX that focuses on cross-chain and auction of tokens
CryptoLocally: Cryptocurrency trading platform
O(1) Labs: The world’s lightest blockchain Mina development team
Litentry: Web 3.0 decentralized identity management service
Linear: Work task tracking tool
Pantera Capital:
bakkt: compliant digital currency trading platform
NEAR: A project dedicated to realizing sharding to improve the TPS of the public chain
Coinme: Bitcoin ATM Company
API3: Web 3.0 decentralized API service
wyre: cross-border payment tool
Amber Group: Global Crypto Financial Service Provider
Bitso: Latin America’s largest crypto trading platform
injective protocol:
Audius: Streaming media service provider
Acala Network: Design stablecoin and DeFi ecosystem company for Polkadot
DODO: Decentralized trading platform based on active market maker algorithm
1inch: Decentralized token transaction aggregation platform
Transparent Systems: Seattle Payment and Settlement Company
Polychain Capital:
Alpha5: Bitcoin’s derivatives trading platform
Celo: Digital Payment Platform
Gauntlet: a simulation test platform for encrypted networks
Notional: A liquidity pool that gives time value to tokens
CoinDCX: India’s largest cryptocurrency trading platform
StakerDAO: DeFi management platform
Amber Group: Global Crypto Financial Service Provider
DDX: Decentralized Derivatives Trading Agreement
KEEP: The privacy protocol layer on the Ethereum chain
Acala Network: Design stablecoin and DeFi ecosystem company for Polkadot
Liquity: Decentralized loan agreement
keeperDAO: DeFi’s on-chain liquidity underwriter
Polymarket: Trade Information Market
River Financial: Help users invest in Bitcoin companies and provide technical support
YellowCard: Nigerian Cryptocurrency Exchange
Rhythm BlockBeats has compiled some investment institutions that are not included in the original text of The Block. Its 2020 investment projects are as follows:
Multicoin Capital:
Math Wallet: Universal crypto asset wallet
The Graph: Decentralized Indexing Protocol
Perpetual Protocol: AMM solution
Dune Analytics: Blockchain data analysis platform
TORUS: Private Key Management Network
Swivel Finance: Decentralized Fixed Rate Loan and Interest Rate Derivative Agreement
Braintrust: Freelance Market
Alpha Finance Lab: Cross-chain DeFi Ecosystem Product
Audius: Streaming media service provider
IOSG:
Mask Network: A portal to help users seamlessly transition from Web2.0 to Web3.0
Razor: Decentralized oracle
UMA: Trust-free financial contracts and decentralized oracles
1inch: Decentralized token transaction aggregation platform
Phala Network: Polkadot privacy computing parachain
Paradigm:
Fireblocks: a platform to protect the transfer of digital assets
Sia: Distributed Private Cloud Network
Gauntlet: a simulation test platform for encrypted networks
Uniswap: Decentralized trading platform
Reflexer Labs: collateral project with low volatility
Yield Protocol: “Fixed interest rate lending” protocol based on Ethereum
KEEP: The privacy protocol layer on the Ethereum chain
Diem: Facebook encrypted stablecoin project
Amber Group: Global Crypto Financial Service Provider
