Crypto Funding Reaches $159 Million as Stablecoin and AI Deals Expand
Global blockchain startups announced more than $159 million across 10 funding and strategic investment deals from 28 September to 4 October 2026. The broader September crypto funding market recorded 61 disclosed deals totaling about $1.269 billion. Deal volume fell 35.1% year on year, while monthly funding rose 71.1% from August but remained below 2025 levels.
Crypto funding continued to favor financial infrastructure. Fintech company Jeeves raised $110 million in a Series C led by CoinFund, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and Coinbase Ventures. Jeeves plans to expand stablecoin wallet infrastructure, AI automation and instant payments across more than 25 countries. The company says stablecoins such as USDC and EURC already process 50% to 60% of its international payments.
Crypto banking platform Limited raised $18.5 million in seed funding from investors including DCG. PERPTools raised $8 million across two token financing rounds and plans a token generation event in the fourth quarter of 2026. Prediction-market liquidity provider Raven secured strategic backing from Coinbase Ventures and CMCC Global at a reported pre-money valuation of $90 million.
Other notable deals included $46 million for payments infrastructure provider Walapay, $15 million for Brazil’s NG.CASH, and $5 million for SocialFi platform KIVO. Multicoin Capital also invested in DePIN project Grass, which reported $17 million in revenue in 2025 and the first half of 2026.
AI investment remained concentrated in models and infrastructure. SoftBank completed a $10 billion investment in OpenAI, Helix Digital Infrastructure received $1 billion from Samsung, and GMI Cloud raised $668 million. The funding trend supports continued institutional demand for stablecoin payments, trading infrastructure, DePIN and AI-related blockchain applications.
Neutral
The immediate market impact is neutral. The crypto funding data shows sustained institutional interest, but it is not a direct announcement of token purchases, protocol revenue distributions or increased on-chain liquidity. Funding is also concentrated in private companies and infrastructure projects, so the capital may not flow into liquid crypto assets in the short term.
The bullish elements are the $110 million Jeeves round, growing stablecoin settlement volumes, investment in DePIN project Grass and continued backing for trading infrastructure. These developments could support long-term adoption of USDC, EURC and blockchain-based financial services. Historically, large venture rounds in stablecoin payments and institutional trading have strengthened sector narratives, but their effect on major tokens has usually been limited unless accompanied by rising transaction activity or token launches.
Short-term traders may react selectively to related tokens, particularly where a future TGE is expected, such as PERPTools. However, a planned token launch can also create volatility through speculation, unlock concerns and liquidity gaps. The AI funding announcements may improve broader risk sentiment, but they are primarily equity and infrastructure transactions rather than direct crypto catalysts.
Longer term, the expansion of stablecoin payment rails, institutional market-making and decentralized physical infrastructure could improve crypto market depth and utility. Traders should monitor stablecoin supply, protocol volumes, token unlock schedules, exchange liquidity and BTC correlation before treating the funding trend as a broad bullish signal.