Money

Crypto funding surge following Bitcoin’s strong performance

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2024

After enduring a prolonged period of volatility and uncertainty, the crypto industry witnessed a resurgence in venture funding in the fourth quarter of 2023, marking the first uptick since the onset of the “crypto winter” nearly two years ago.

According to data from PitchBook released on Thursday, venture funding for crypto-related companies reached $1.9 billion in the final quarter of 2023, representing a 2.5% increase compared to the previous quarter.

This positive trend comes as a relief for crypto entrepreneurs who have struggled amidst the challenging fundraising landscape in recent years.

The “crypto winter,” characterized by a downturn in investor sentiment and heightened regulatory scrutiny, dampened the fundraising efforts of crypto startups throughout 2022.

Tesla deliveries expected to fall

Rising interest rates from major central banks further exacerbated the situation, prompting investors to retreat from riskier assets including cryptocurrencies.

Crypto winter

Compounding the challenges were high-profile collapses of crypto firms such as Do Kwon’s Terra and Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX, leading to significant losses for major venture funds like Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital.

However, with a resurgence in crypto asset prices and improved public market valuations for companies like Coinbase and MicroStrategy, investor confidence has begun to rebound. Over the past year, bitcoin has more than doubled in price, surpassing $52,000 per coin, while Coinbase stock has surged nearly 140%.

“We’re starting to see a correlation between investments in private markets and the public markets,” says a spokesperson from PitchBook in an interview with CNBC.

“The uptrend in publicly-traded crypto companies is now being reflected in private investments as well.”

Capital flowing

While the total number of deals declined slightly in the fourth quarter, PitchBook suggests that capital is flowing towards stronger startups within the crypto space.

This concentration of investment is evident in notable fundraises such as those for Swan Bitcoin and Blockchain.com, which raised $165 million and $100 million, respectively.

Money

U.S. jobs report, Fed decisions, and Japan’s economic risks explained

January US jobs report sparks uncertainty; analysts debate impact on Federal Reserve policy and market confidence.

Published

3 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

January US jobs report sparks uncertainty; analysts debate impact on Federal Reserve policy and market confidence.

The January US jobs report shows a mixed picture for the economy, with payroll revisions and steady unemployment leaving analysts questioning the impact on Federal Reserve policy. We break down what the numbers mean for interest rates and market confidence.

US stock markets could face turbulence as investors digest the latest jobs data. David Scutt from StoneX explains how these figures may influence equities and what the outlook is for global markets.

Meanwhile, developments in Japan and a strengthening yen could spark new macroeconomic risks. From carry trades to unexpected shocks, we explore how these factors ripple across the global economy.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

#USJobsReport #FederalReserve #StockMarket #MacroRisks #JapanEconomy #GlobalMarkets #CurrencyTrading #EconomicUpdate

Money

Alphabet launches $20B bond to fund AI expansion

Alphabet’s $20B bond offering highlights investor confidence in AI growth, enabling funding without shareholder dilution.

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Alphabet’s $20B bond offering highlights investor confidence in AI growth, enabling funding without shareholder dilution.

Alphabet has launched a record $20 billion bond offering to finance its massive AI infrastructure build-out, signalling strong investor confidence in the company’s growth strategy. The oversubscribed sale shows that investors are betting on Alphabet’s AI potential and long-term returns.

By using debt instead of equity, Alphabet can raise funds without diluting shareholders. The money will support AI research, advanced computing, and other strategic projects, cementing the company’s leadership in the sector.

Brad Gastwirth from Circular Technologies explains how corporate debt is reshaping tech financing and how investors perceive AI-linked bonds. This record issuance could set a trend for other tech companies looking to fund innovation.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

Money

AI tax tool sparks market turmoil for financial firms

Major financial firms’ stocks fell sharply after an AI tax tool launch, raising investor fears of disruption in advisory services.

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Major financial firms’ stocks fell sharply after an AI tax tool launch, raising investor fears of disruption in advisory services.

Shares of major financial services firms tumbled after the launch of a new AI-powered tax planning tool. LPL Financial dropped nearly 11%, while Charles Schwab and Raymond James Financial fell more than 9%, signalling investor concern over AI disrupting traditional advisory services.

Morgan Stanley also saw a 4% decline as fears grow that AI could replace some of the most profitable offerings of established firms. Earlier this year, the introduction of other AI models already caused turbulence in software stocks, suggesting this could be a broader trend affecting multiple sectors.

The iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers and Securities ETF was down 4% on Tuesday, reflecting the market-wide uncertainty surrounding AI adoption in finance. Investors are closely watching whether AI will complement or cannibalise the industry’s core services.

#AIImpact #WallStreet #FinancialMarkets #InvestingNews #MorganStanley #CharlesSchwab #RaymondJames #FinTech