Facebook, Google, Mozilla, Twitter and many applications we use today, were made possible by VCs turning them from ideas to global brands. Although many are still in their early days, crypto startups have also captured the attention of respectable VCs and investment banks.
Here is a list of most notable investors who have put their money in cryptocurrency:
500 Startups
500 Startups is an early-stage seed fund startup accelerator. It has a portfolio of over $175million invested around the world in 656 companies. Founded by former team members of PayPal and Google, the firm is part of a Fintech syndicate that focuses exclusively on Bitcoin financial technologies.
Its investments include Change tip, Chain, BlockCypher, melotic exchange and GogoCoin. Others are Coinalytics, Neuroware, Monetsu and Bonafide.
Boost VC
Boost VC is a tech startup accelerator wholly focused on bitcoin technology that is based in San Mateo, California. It takes in young entrepreneurs through a three-month program offering mentorship, working space and capital. Tim Draper, a serial bitcoin investor, best known for purchasing 30,000 BTC seized from Silk Road at a public auction, co-founded this program, alongside Brayton Williams. It has invested in over 100 startups to date.
Some of its bitcoin investments include Volabit exchange, Blockscore, and BitPagos. Others are Snapcard, Gliph, Vaurum and blockcypher
Union Square Venture
This is New York-based venture capital firm that runs a portfolio worth over $1 Billion. It was founded by Fred Wilson and Brad Burnham in 2003 and is best known for early stage investments in Twitter, Zynga and Tumblr. Besides early entries, it also invests in growth capital, late stage and start-up financing. So far, USV has racked up 163 investments in 77 companies, 4 IPOs and 16 acquisitions.
Its cryptocurrency portfolio consists of Coinbase and Onename.io
Google Ventures
This VC firm is part of Google Inc., a corporate investment arm of the search giant. It targets technology start-ups and companies in different stages of development for seed, venture and growth funding. Since its founding by Bill Maris in 2009, it has injected capital into 349 investments and 243 companies. With $ 1.1 Billion raised and under active management, it has too set its eyes on opportunities in decentralized cryptocurrency technologies.
So far, it has invested in Ripple Labs, Buttercoin and Digital Currencies FinTech
Bitcoin Opportunity Fund
This is an investment vehicle founded by Barry Silbert, one of bitcoin’s most publicly vocal advocates. It specializes in early stage and seed venture capital and is purely dedicated to bitcoin-related companies. As one of the early entrants into this space, it has significant holdings in multiple start-ups, more than any other firm; 13 investments in 12 companies spread out across Europe, Africa, India, US and Latin America.
All of its startups are in different sectors such as financial services, security, P2P lending, and infrastructure. They include Ripple labs, BitPesa, Coinapult, Kraken exchange, Safello,Tradeblock, Colu, BitNet, Melotic exchange, Unocoin, BitGo and BTCJam.
Andreessen Horowitz
This is a $ 2.7 billion venture fund founded in 2009 by two successful tech entrepreneurs from the early days of the internet – Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. Leveraging their industry experience, they invest and advise early-stage startups and established growth companies in tech. It has been ranked as one of the most successful venture capital firms after huge exits and acquisitions in Groupon IPO, Skype, Zynga, Instagram, Nicira, and Oculus VR.
After the emergence of bitcoin, it has channeled some of its funds into companies exploring this space such as 21 Inc, Coinbase, Tradeblock and Ripple Labs
Cryptocurrency technology startups have also caught the attention of venerable financial institutions as well. Goldman Sachs, BBVA, USAA, NYSE, NASDAQ all have invested in this space. For a complete list of investments in this sector, Coindesk has a summary worth looking at.
