Binance’s new CEO: Hopes to work with partners to drive growth and adopt Web3
Richard Teng, the new CEO of Binance, stated on X platform that the former CEO Zhao Changpeng is still a major shareholder of Binance. Binance is stronger than ever before and hopes to work with partners to promote growth and adopt Web3.
Former Revolut executive Hannes Graah launches crypto wallet Zeal
According to The Block, Hannes Graah, the former growth VP of Revolut, has launched a new cryptocurrency wallet called Zeal. Zeal wallet will allow users to transfer USDC stablecoins to their bank accounts for free. Investors in Zeal include Galaxy, Framework, Variant Fund, and Northzone. The company says that in addition to Revolut alumni, Zeal's team also includes former Coinbase and Spotify employees.
Privy Raises $18M in Series A Funding for API Development in Consumer Crypto Products
Privy, a New York-based company that builds APIs for developers to onboard users to consumer crypto products, has secured $18 million in Series A funding. The funding round was led by Paradigm, with participation from existing investors such as Sequoia Capital, BlueYard Capital, and Archetype. The company plans to use the funds to expand its operations and development efforts. Privy's infrastructure processes millions of transactions every month and has onboarded over one million users to onchain products across various industries. The company's SDK offers authentication flows that enable developers to onboard consumers quickly.
a16z partner: 100% committed to the encryption field and has raised nearly $7.5 billion in funding for the field
Ali Yahya, a general partner at a16z, said that the company has raised about $7.5 billion for the cryptocurrency field. He stated that the company still operates an 85-person cryptocurrency team, while a16z's other co-founder, Ben Horowitz, is more focused on cryptocurrency. Regarding the current investment landscape of cryptocurrency and Web3, Ali Yahya said, "For us, we're not shifting business, we're continuing to operate. There is little competition, and we can make the investments we want."
Last week saw four of the largest cryptocurrency funding rounds in recent months
Last week saw the four largest cryptocurrency financings in several months. Cryptocurrency trading and wallet service Blockchain.com raised $110 million in a series E financing led by Kingsway. OSL's parent company, a cryptocurrency exchange, raised $91 million through stock subscriptions. Tokenized currency company Fnality announced the completion of a $95 million financing round led by Goldman Sachs. Cryptocurrency media The Block CEO Larry Cermak confirmed on his social platform that Foresight Ventures acquired The Block for $70 million valuation.
Investment in Web3 and crypto startups in Latin America fell 83% from the previous year to just $1.1 billion
In Latin America in 2023, Web3 and crypto startups face financing challenges, with funding for Latin American startups decreasing by 83% compared to the previous year, with investment totaling only $1.1 billion. Similarly, venture capital funding for global cryptocurrency companies decreased significantly in the first quarter of 2023, plummeting 80% compared to the previous year, with investment dropping from $12.3 billion in 2022 to $2.4 billion in 2023.<br>A survey by Goldman Sachs showed that only 12% of family offices expressed potential interest in cryptocurrency in the future, down from 45%. The extreme volatility of the cryptocurrency market over the past year seems to have cooled their interest, with 62% of people saying they have not invested and are not interested in future cryptocurrencies, a proportion higher than 39%.
Mayor of Chaoyang District, Beijing: Actively build an Internet 3.0 industrial base and form an industrial ecological closed loop in the district
On November 18th, the "Fourth Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence Industry Ecological Conference: Continuation and Innovation in the Intelligent Metaverse" was jointly hosted by the Chaoyang District Government, Metaverse, and the Thirty-Person Forum on Artificial Intelligence. Wu Xiaojie, the head of Chaoyang District, stated that the district is actively building an Internet 3.0 industry base and has formed an industrial ecological closed loop throughout the district. During the conference, the Beijing-Hong Kong Internet 3.0 Industry Center and Youth Talent Base was unveiled, which will rely on the complementary nature of the Internet 3.0 industry ecological layout in Beijing and Hong Kong to jointly conduct research and development innovation and application of new technologies, attract and incubate outstanding Internet 3.0 enterprises and innovative projects, and build a Beijing-Hong Kong Internet 3.0 industry innovation gathering area and youth talent innovation and entrepreneurship gathering area.
Web3 Social Network Sleek Raises $5 Million to Bring Blockchain-Powered Social Media to the Masses
Hong Kong-based Web3 social network, Sleek, has raised $5 million in a seed round to bring blockchain-powered social media to the masses and power the ownership economy. The company's platform, which includes Sleek Card and a knowledge marketplace launching in 2024, aims to revolutionize human connection by making networking simple, fun, and productive. Sleek Card has already facilitated over 300,000 connections and partnered with several events, while the knowledge marketplace will allow domain experts to monetize their knowledge into liquid and accessible assets. Investors include Binance Labs, Shima Capital, and Spartan Group.
BLOCKSMITH completed angel round financing, SBI Group and others participated in the investment
Web3 technology company BLOCKSMITH announced that it has successfully completed its angel round of financing, attracting investment from SBI Group, Headline Asia, J-CAM Corporation, and others. Previously, the company's 100% equity was held by its parent company KLab Inc. and founder Tetsuya Sanada. This is the company's first external funding, and this financing is to strengthen its financial situation and prepare for listing. The funds raised will be used for product development, research, and other aspects.
Sheng Yang Group: Confident in the development of the Web 3.0 industry, the group plans to open an account at HashKey Exchange
Sound Group (08163) has announced that the company has been seeking suitable investment and business opportunities in response to market conditions, in order to create long-term sustainable value for the company and its shareholders. In view of the flourishing development of Web3.0 in recent years, which is full of potential, the company has completed the acquisition of digital business NOIZChain Limited in the second half of 2022. With confidence in the development of the Web3.0 industry, the group plans to open an account on HashKey Exchange, which is the first virtual asset trading application licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, holding Class 1 (securities trading) and Class 7 (providing automated trading services) licenses.
