Crypto startups kick off Q2 by raising $76m in the first week

Crypto startups kicked off the second-quarter of 2026 with a bang, raising $76 million this week, DefiLlama data shows.

They have now raised nearly $5 billion so far in 2026.

Venture investors including the likes of Sumitomo Corporation, Paradigm and YZi labs are focusing on infrastructure and the overlap between artificial intelligence and decentralised networks, April data suggests.

Still, there are some headwinds for founders angling for new cheques, venture investors say. Chief among them is the uncertainty caused by the US-Iran conflict. While the two have signed a fragile ceasefire, investors are waiting to see how it holds up.

“Given the current macroeconomic outlook, geopolitical uncertainty, and the rapid pace of new AI developments, many capital allocators are taking a more cautious, wait-and-see approach to deployment,”  Min Teo, managing partner at Ethereal Ventures, told DL News.

Here are the top three raises this week.

Pharos, $44 million

Pharos raised $44 million in a Series A round at an undisclosed valuation.

Investors including SNZ Holding, Chainlink and Flow Traders backed the high-performance Layer 1 blockchain. Pharos is built to handle large volumes of transactions and is compatible with Ethereum-based apps, with a focus on real-world assets and decentralised infrastructure networks.

The platform uses a system designed to process transactions quickly while lowering costs.

Oh, $7.5 million

Oh raised $7.5 million in a Series A round at an undisclosed valuation.

Maven 11 led the round, with support from L1 Digital, Hashed, Auros Global and Maelstrom. The company is building a web3 AI platform that focuses on decentralised AI models, including tools like OhChat for interactive AI services powered by its token.

As AI and crypto begin to overlap, Oh is aiming to build AI tools that work within blockchain-based incentive systems rather than traditional centralised platforms.

Kulipa, $6.2 million

Kulipa raised $6.2 million in a seed round at an undisclosed valuation.

Flourish Ventures and 1kx led the investment, with backing from White Star Capital and Fabric Ventures. The platform allows crypto wallets to offer branded payment cards that convert digital assets into traditional currency at checkout.

You’re reading the latest instalment of The Weekly Raise, our column covering fundraising deals across the crypto and DeFi spaces, powered by DefiLlama.

Lance Datskoluo is DL News’ Europe-based markets correspondent. Got a tip? Email him at lance@dlnews.com.

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