Crypto Funding Surges to $19B in 2025 with $2.5B Raised in October

Crypto fundraising surged in October with 27 companies raising over $2.5 billion, bringing the year's total to over $19 billion. Investors now expect total fundraising to top $25 billion by year's end, with Polymarket securing a $2 billion investment from ICE. The deal values Polymarket at $9 billion, marking one of the largest single rounds in crypto history.

Crypto fundraising surged in October, with 27 companies raising over $2.5 billion, according to recent reports. This significant activity brings the year's total fundraising to over $19 billion. Investors now expect the total to exceed $25 billion by year's end, fueled by high-profile deals such as the $2 billion investment in Polymarket by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

One of the standout deals of the month was ICE's $2 billion investment in Polymarket, which valued the prediction market operator at $9 billion post-investment. Moody’s report calls this move a strategic win for ICE, enhancing its revenue stream and deepening its exposure to the fast-growing world of decentralized finance (DeFi).

Ripple also led a significant fundraising effort, aiming to raise at least $1 billion to accumulate XRP. The raise will be facilitated via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), with Ripple contributing a portion of its XRP holdings. The funds will be held in a new digital-asset treasury (DAT) structure, according to a ZyCrypto report.

These fundraising activities reflect a broader trend in the crypto sector, where companies are increasingly seeking to build treasuries and enhance their market positions. For instance, the ZyCrypto report notes that Ripple's effort to accumulate XRP could make its new entity the largest crypto treasury focused on the Ripple-linked cryptocurrency.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) also granted preliminary banking charter approval to Erebor, a crypto-focused bank backed by prominent investor Peter Thiel. This move marks a pivotal step toward integrating digital assets more deeply into traditional banking systems, potentially opening doors for enhanced institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH, as reported by blockchain.news.

These regulatory advancements and significant fundraising rounds indicate a maturing crypto industry, with increased institutional participation and investment. However, risks remain, including potential regulatory hurdles and market volatility.