Crypto Company Funding Hits $267 Million Last Week: World, Slash Among Top Dealmakers

According to CryptoRank, 28 crypto companies raised $267.57 million from May 19 to May 25. Leading the pack were World Network, Slash, Catena Labs, Roxom, True Markets, Kira Nexus, and Hyperdrive — spanning sectors from digital identity and decentralized payments to AI-powered infrastructure and DeFi. These investments highlight the diversity of use cases shaping the crypto ecosystem, from privacy-preserving identity systems to AI-native financial platforms. Below is an in-depth look at the week’s most notable funding rounds, showcasing the projects and their potential impact.

1. World Network, $135 Million: Scalable Privacy-Preserving Digital Identity

World, previously known as Worldcoin, is a digital identity network leveraging proof-of-personhood to create a privacy-preserving global ID system (World ID). Founded in 2021 by Sam Altman, World uses biometric technology, such as iris scanning, to verify unique human identities, enabling secure access to Web3 services. Its native token, $WLD, powers the ecosystem.

On May 21, 2025, World Network’s subsidiary, World Assets Ltd., raised $135 million through a private token sale of $WLD, co-led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Bain Capital Crypto, with participation from Selini Capital, Mirana, and Arctic Operators. The sale, conducted at market prices without lockups, increased the circulating supply of $WLD, contributing to a market cap spike. The funds will support network scaling, particularly expanding biometric operations in the U.S. and integrating World ID with decentralized applications (dApps).

The announcement drove a 37% price surge for $WLD within 24 hours, fueled by investor confidence in the project’s heavyweight VC backing and its focus on AI-proof human verification.

2. Slash, $41 Million: Decentralized Payment Infrastructure

Slash is a fintech platform providing banking services tailored for entrepreneurs and small businesses, offering commercial accounts, physical and virtual corporate cards, and real-time transaction tracking. Customer funds are held with partner banks, benefiting from up to $2 million in extended FDIC insurance coverage. In the crypto space, Slash focuses on decentralized payment infrastructure, enabling seamless blockchain-based transactions.

On May 20, 2025, Slash secured $41 million in a Series B funding round led by Goodwater Capital, valuing the company at $370 million. The capital will drive the development of Slash’s payment channels, expand merchant adoption, and enhance interoperability with major blockchains.

3. Catena Labs, $18 Million: AI-Native Financial Infrastructure

Catena Labs is building a regulated financial infrastructure designed for AI agents, enabling them to perform identity verification, hold assets, execute payments, and interact with other agents. The platform integrates with traditional banking systems and supports stablecoins, positioning itself as an “AI-native bank” with a focus on compliance and risk management for AI-driven use cases.

On May 20, 2025, Catena Labs raised $18 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Coinbase Ventures and CoinFund. The funds will accelerate the development of Catena’s infrastructure, particularly its stablecoin integration and compatibility with existing financial systems.

4. Roxom, $17.9 Million: Bitcoin-Denominated Trading Exchange

Roxom is a cryptocurrency exchange that enables users to trade stocks, commodities, and futures priced and settled in Bitcoin. By using Bitcoin as the base currency, Roxom aims to position it as a global store of value and medium of exchange, providing a public market for Bitcoin-based financial instruments.

On May 22, 2025, Roxom raised $17.9 million in a funding round backed by Draper Associates, Borderless Capital, and Kingsway Capital, building on their support from a pre-seed round in July 2024. The capital will enhance Roxom’s trading infrastructure and expand its market offerings, reinforcing Bitcoin’s role in global finance.

5. True Markets, $11 Million: Stablecoin-Native Exchange on Solana

True Markets is a non-custodial, stablecoin-native exchange built on the Solana blockchain, offering advanced trading technology and global market access. Its proprietary matching engine ensures efficient order execution and secure separation between trading and asset custody. Transactions are settled seamlessly in stablecoins, with PayPal’s PYUSD as the default currency.

On May 20, 2025, True Markets raised $11 million in a Series A round led by Accomplice and RRE Ventures, with participation from Variant. The funds will support platform development and liquidity expansion, aiming to enhance True Markets’ position in the competitive Solana DeFi ecosystem.

6. Kira Nexus, $7 Million: AI-Driven Blockchain Innovation

Kira Nexus is pioneering the integration of AI and blockchain through its Proof-of-Intelligence (PoI) consensus model, which rewards nodes for AI computations to enhance dApp security and performance. Its AI Virtual Machine (AIVM) provides a scalable framework for on-chain AI training and inference, enabling real-time, secure AI-driven applications.

On May 21, 2025, Kira Nexus secured $7 million in a Series A round led by D5wav. The funds will support the development of PoI and AIVM, with the project’s $KLAI token nearing the end of its second presale phase. The investment highlights the growing interest in AI-blockchain convergence, particularly for dApps requiring advanced computational capabilities.

7. Hyperdrive, $6 Million: DeFi on Hyperliquid Network

Hyperdrive is a DeFi platform built on the Hyperliquid network, offering yield-generating strategies such as spot lending, $HYPE token liquid staking, and leveraged exposure to Hyperliquid LP (HLP) assets. Users can supply USDC to earn interest, lend against various tokens, and optimize portfolios with one-click strategies.

On May 23, 2025, Hyperdrive raised $6 million in a Series A round led by Arrington Capital and Hack VC, with participation from Delphi Ventures. The funds will enhance Hyperdrive’s DeFi offerings and expand its integration with the Hyperliquid ecosystem, known for its high-performance blockchain infrastructure.