5 VC Bets Pointing to Crypto’s Next Big Themes
From fledgling bets to bona fide unicorn hype machines, these crypto startups have narrative momentum on their backs.
Some of crypto’s biggest winners aren’t born onchain. They start in private markets, quietly accumulating capital, traction, and regulatory leverage long before tokens or tickers appear.
While most investors can’t access these rounds directly, paying attention to who is raising and what trends they represent offers a powerful edge. Venture funding often surfaces the builders and businesses that will define crypto’s next cycle, and this most recent raise class appears especially promising, with several candidates already resembling prime IPO plays.
Here are five venture-stage crypto companies with narrative momentum at their backs that are worth tracking in 2026. 👇
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Jack Inabinet
Jack Inabinet is a Senior Analyst with a passion for exploring the bleeding edge of crypto and finance. Prior to joining Bankless, Jack worked as an analyst at HAL Real Estate where he conducted market research and financial analysis for commercial real estate development and acquisition activities in the Seattle region. He graduated from the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business.
