Report: It is expected that the encryption field will usher in a wave of mergers this year, with VC in particular following stablecoins and the AI field.

Odaily Planet Daily News, investment research firm PitchBook said in a report that in the fourth quarter of 2024, the financing amount in the cryptocurrency field rose 13.6% compared to the previous quarter, reaching 2.5 billion US dollars, with a total of 351 transactions. Investors made larger investments in a few start-ups with soaring valuations, with an average pre-investment valuation rise of 70.2% compared to the seed round stage. The report states that although the total financing in the cryptocurrency field will remain stable at $10 billion in 2024, the number of transactions has decreased. Investors mainly put money into early-stage startups, with the median valuation doubling year-on-year to reach $52 million, while later-stage companies only received 5% of all financing rounds. PitchBook describes 2024 as a year of continuously improving investor selectivity, and expects consolidation among infrastructure providers, exchanges, and custodians this year, with VCs particularly enthusiastic about stablecoins and artificial intelligence.