Animoca Brands: Pioneering a Diversified Web3 Ecosystem in DeFi, AI, and Stablecoins

In the rapidly evolving landscape of blockchain and digital assets, Animoca Brands has emerged as a strategic innovator, leveraging its expertise in gaming, decentralized finance (DeFi), artificial intelligence (AI), and stablecoins to position itself at the forefront of the next phase of crypto growth. With a diversified portfolio spanning 628 Web3 projects and a bold vision for institutional adoption, the company is redefining how traditional and digital finance intersect. This analysis explores Animoca's strategic positioning, its alignment with macro trends in institutional investment, and the rationale for its role in shaping the future of Web3.

Strategic Financial Performance and Institutional Partnerships

Animoca Brands reported total bookings of $314 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, driven by a 116% year-over-year growth in its Digital Asset Advisory (DAA) business, which contributed $165 million in revenue. The company's Web3 operating businesses, including blockchain-based sales and in-app purchases, added $110 million in revenue, underscoring its ability to monetize Web3 ecosystems.

A pivotal development in 2025 was the establishment of Anchorpoint, a joint venture with Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) and HKT, to apply for a stablecoin issuer license in Hong Kong under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). This initiative reflects Animoca's commitment to regulated digital assets and its ambition to bridge traditional finance with Web3 infrastructure. Additionally, the company's $10 million investment in Moca Network-a decentralized identity infrastructure-highlights its focus on enterprise-scale solutions for AI-powered agents and DeFi applications.

Institutional Investment Trends and Regulatory Clarity

The institutional investment landscape in 2025 has been reshaped by regulatory clarity and macroeconomic tailwinds. The U.S. GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025, provided a clear framework for stablecoin issuance and oversight, encouraging institutional participation in digital assets. As a result, exchange-traded products (ETPs) now hold a 169% increase from the previous year.

Animoca's strategic alignment with these trends is evident in its reverse merger with Currenc Group, a Nasdaq-listed fintech company, which aims to create the world's first publicly-listed, diversified digital assets conglomerate. This move would grant investors direct exposure to altcoin-driven sectors such as DeFi, AI, and decentralized science (DeSci), mirroring the early internet's public-market success stories. Furthermore, Animoca's $10 million liquidity pool for student loans via Pencil Finance demonstrates its ability to leverage DeFi principles for real-world financial inclusion.

Diversified Web3 Portfolio and Altcoin Exposure

Animoca's institutional investment rationale is anchored in its 628-project portfolio, spanning gaming, AI, DeFi, and blockchain infrastructure. The company's co-founder, Yat Siu, argues that altcoins will outperform Bitcoin over the long term due to their role in diverse Web3 applications, from gaming to decentralized infrastructure. By holding a broad range of altcoins, Animoca aims to capture value from emerging projects before they achieve mainstream adoption, a strategy akin to early-stage venture capital as reported by FinanceFeeds.

This approach is further supported by Abu Dhabi's in-principle approval for Animoca to operate as a regulated fund manager within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), enabling compliant institutional participation in Web3. Such regulatory milestones reinforce Animoca's global expansion strategy and its appeal to institutional investors seeking diversified crypto exposure.

AI Integration and DeFi Innovation

Animoca's integration of AI into DeFi and stablecoin strategies is another key differentiator. The company's investment in Bio Protocol-a decentralized biotech research platform-underscores its commitment to AI-native scientific innovation. Additionally, its partnership with IoTeX-a blockchain platform for AI and IoT-highlights its focus on compliant digital asset infrastructure in Asia. These initiatives position Animoca as a leader in AI-driven financial services, a sector projected to grow alongside the 2 trillion stablecoin market by 2028.

Expert Validation and Market Outlook

Analyst reports validate Animoca's strategic positioning. A CoinDesk analysis notes that Animoca's reverse merger with Currenc Group could democratize access to early-stage altcoin investments, previously reserved for venture capital firms. Similarly, Morgan Stanley highlights stablecoins as a cornerstone of modern financial infrastructure, citing their role in cross-border payments and B2B settlements. With 30% of global on-chain crypto transaction volume attributed to stablecoins in 2025, Animoca's focus on regulated stablecoin issuance aligns with a critical growth vector.

Conclusion

Animoca Brands is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the next phase of crypto growth through its diversified Web3 ecosystem, regulatory agility, and institutional-grade infrastructure. By combining DeFi innovation, AI-driven financial services, and stablecoin partnerships, the company is not only addressing current market demands but also laying the groundwork for a future where digital assets are integral to global finance. For institutional investors, Animoca represents a compelling vehicle to access the altcoin-driven opportunities reshaping the crypto landscape.