We look at some of the top cryptocurrency startups of 2024 and their achievements.
In 2023, the cryptocurrency market underwent a notable change, with its market capitalization growing by 109%. This surge was largely driven by the first and fourth quarters of the year, driven by anticipation of bitcoin ETF approvals and the upcoming bitcoin halving.
Amid this, the global economic environment, characterized by decent GDP growth and moderate inflation rates, further fostered a positive atmosphere for cryptocurrency investments.
Cryptocurrency startups Web3 attracted significant attention, attracting 1,173 investments worth $9 billion. Among them, infrastructure projects received the majority of investments, demonstrating the solid development of the sector.
Additionally, the resurgence in gaming activity and the non-fungible token (nft) market rebound in the final quarter of 2023 were other key highlights.
The nft market, in particular, showed a notable recovery, with volumes in December 2023 reaching $1.7 billion. bitcoin NFTs emerged as a major growth driver within this segment.
Decentralized finance (defi) also demonstrated strong growth, with its total value locked (TVL) increasing by 38.9% year-on-year by the end of 2023. This growth is attributed to the rise of liquid staking tokens (LST) and LSTfi.
With this backdrop, let's dive in and discover some cryptocurrency startups that are making their mark in the industry.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="list-of-crypto-startups-making-strides-in-2024″>List of crypto Startups Moving Forward in 2024
Alchemy
Alchemy has become one of the biggest blockchain startups in 2024.
In February 2022, Alchemy Announced a capital investment of $200 million, increasing its valuation to a staggering $10.2 billion.
This investment round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Silver Lake, with significant contributions from renowned investors such as a16z, Coatue, Addition, Pantera and DFJ.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, Alchemy's platform has partnered with leading organizations such as OpenSea and Adobe.
According to Joe Lau, CTO and co-founder of Alchemy, the project's mission is to make “web3 accessible to everyone” by supporting innovative developers in realizing their blockchain-based ideas.
Alchemy, like many crypto startups, faces the challenge of maintaining its expansion in the changing web3 landscape despite rapid growth.
Chain analysis
Chainalysis, a New York-based blockchain data platform company, is one of the biggest crypto startups in 2024.
The company raised a $170 million funding round. reaching a valuation of $8.6 billion. This funding round, led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, included contributions from notable investors such as Blackstone and Bank of New York Mellon.
Founded in 2014, Chainalysis specializes in blockchain data analysis and plays an important role in the transformation of finance towards cryptocurrencies.
Its services are in high demand for risk management and business intelligence, and serve an expanding market that includes exchanges, defi platforms, and financial institutions entering the crypto space.
Chainalysis's growth is fueled by growing recognition of the importance of blockchain data and growing demand for its services amid growing cryptocurrency adoption and regulatory scrutiny.
fire blocks
Fireblocks, an institutional cryptocurrency custody provider, could also be labeled as one of the best blockchain startups in 2024.
fire blocks crypto/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>increase $550 million in a Series E funding round in January 2022, bringing its total funding to more than $1 billion. This financing raised its valuation to $8 billion.
Founded in 2018, Fireblocks offers an all-in-one platform that includes a range of crypto services such as custody, defi access, staking, and tokenization.
The company boasts of having $45 billion in assets under custody and has securely transferred over $2 trillion in crypto assets through its platform.
Its clients include Bank of New York Mellon, Revolut and Galaxy Digital, and its investors include notable names such as Sequoia Capital.
According to the company, Fireblocks works with more than 1,300 institutional clients, demonstrating its ability to serve diverse clients with different needs in the digital asset space.
Mysten Laboratories
Another notable company among cryptocurrency startups in 2024 is Mysten Labs.
Founded in 2021, Mysten Labs, the developer of the Layer 1 Sui blockchain, has become a key player in the blockchain space, focusing on improving the security and usability of web3 applications.
Mysten Laboratories insured a Series B financing of $300 million in 2022, which will take its valuation to $2 billion. The investment was led by Andreessen Horowitz, indicating great confidence from one of the most reputable venture capital firms in the tech and crypto space.
The startup's mission is to address critical risks in areas such as private keys, smart contract errors, and the complexities of multi-chain operations.
Mysten Labs aims to address the technical obstacles to mass adoption of blockchain technology by developing institutional-grade development tools, auditing services, and decentralized identity protocols.
Mysten Labs' advantages include its strong focus on security and usability, which are crucial to the wider acceptance and growth of web3 technologies.
On the negative side, Mysten Labs is challenged to keep pace with technological advancements and changing web3 and blockchain trends.
Come on
Aleo, known for its contributions to web3 security and allowing users to develop privacy-focused applications, is one of the cryptocurrency startups that will make notable progress in 2024.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Aleo insured a substantial Series B funding of $200 million in February 2022, bringing its valuation to $1.45 billion. Investors backing Aleo include renowned entities such as SoftBank Vision Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, and Tiger Global Management.
The Aleo development team focuses on safeguarding user data using zero-knowledge cryptography and decentralized systems. It is used in several areas of the cryptocurrency world, including defi, ai, blockchain gaming, and other sectors where privacy plays a crucial role.
Aleo's advantages include its strong investor backing, its focus on a critical and growing area of web3 security, and the ease of use it offers developers to create private applications.
On the downside, as with many emerging technologies, there could be challenges related to widespread adoption and the complexity of integrating new security technologies into existing systems.
These features position Aleo as a major player among the top blockchain startups in 2024.
Evolution and challenges ahead
The road ahead for the cryptocurrency market and blockchain startups looks exciting and challenging.
As we move into 2024 and beyond, the sector is expected to evolve, driven by technological advancements, greater regulatory clarity and broader mainstream adoption.
The growth seen in areas like defi, web3 apps, and NFTs could likely accelerate as new innovations and applications emerge.
However, this growth comes with challenges, including scalability issues, cybersecurity threats, and the need to improve user experiences.
Blockchain startups like Alchemy, Chainalysis, Fireblocks, Mysten Labs, and Aleo, which have already demonstrated great potential and growth, could be at the forefront of addressing these challenges.
Additionally, as the cryptocurrency market matures, we may see greater emphasis on sustainability and ethical considerations in blockchain technology, paving the way for cryptocurrency startups.
Overall, the road ahead for cryptocurrencies and blockchain is filled with opportunities for growth, innovation, and the potential to profoundly impact various sectors, from finance to digital art and more.