Crypto Industry Raises $11.2 Billion: Permissionless Era Over
#### Standfirst
In the first half of 2026, the global crypto industry raised $11.2 billion, with all this funding directed to regulated sectors such as payments and stablecoins, prediction markets, and exchanges, marking a significant shift away from unregulated, permissionless experiments.
The rise in regulated investments reflects an evolving landscape where companies are increasingly looking towards compliance for their fundraising needs. Notably, Kalshi, a crypto payment platform, raised $1 billion in its latest round, which included major venture capitalists such as Sequoia Capital, Morgan Stanley, and Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Another example is Polymarket, a prediction markets company, which secured $600 million from ICE, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange.
These developments align with comments from Irina Heaver, founder of NeosLegal, Dubai-based crypto lawyer. She provided insight into the changing landscape, suggesting that the industry is moving towards more structured and regulated approaches in its fundraising activities.
The trend indicates a departure from the unregulated experimentation seen during earlier stages of the crypto boom. The top sectors by capital raised include payments and stablecoins ($3.7 billion), prediction markets ($2 billion), and exchanges and trading platforms ($1.7 billion). This funding pattern is further supported by 34 rounds in the prediction market sector over a six-month period.
While these regulatory shifts offer clarity, their long-term implications remain uncertain. Whether this trend will continue into the second half of 2026 or beyond remains to be seen. Similarly, the extent to which other sectors within crypto are moving towards regulation also warrants further investigation.
Written by Oliver Grant
Markets Desk
