Cryptocurrency
Execs remain positive on long-term prospects amid VC funding downturn

As crypto prices remain at lower levels, venture capital (VC) funding also recorded one of its worst quarters since 2021. Despite this, executives in the space remain optimistic about the industry’s long-term potential.
Crypto data platform RootData highlighted that the second quarter of 2023 delivered one of the worst performances in terms of crypto fundraising. Compared with the first quarter of 2022, where $12.62 billion were raised across 559 funding rounds, Q1 2023 saw around $2.1 billion across 292 rounds — an 83% decrease in VC investments flowing into the space.

Despite the flow of venture capital funds slowing down, professionals working in the space believe there’s still a strong ongoing belief that crypto has potential in the long term.
Gvantsa Chkuaseli, the head of structuring and fundraising at Web3 accelerator Outlier Ventures, told Cointelegraph in a statement that despite the downturn in Q4 2022, there’s also been an uptick in activity. According to Chkuaseli, this suggests investors strongly believe in blockchain’s long-term potential.
“We can see with our own portfolio, such as Mawari’s recent $6.5 million seed round co-led by Blockchange Ventures and Decasonic, and Zinc’s $5 million Series A, that there is interest despite the challenging conditions,” Chkuaseli explained.
Chkuaseli added that some investors appear undeterred by the recent downturn and continue to back early-stage companies within the sector. “We still believe, though, there are reasons to be optimistic,” Chkuaseli said. The executive also noted the massive interest in startups focused on artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting that fetch.ai received $40 million in funding from DWF Labs earlier this year.
JUST IN: AI-focused #crypto protocol @Fetch_ai has raised $40 million in new funding from @DwfLabs.$FET rose 13.9% to $0.388 following the news.
: https://t.co/eeHLD0FOGa pic.twitter.com/czlV9oNrZb
— CoinGecko (@coingecko) March 29, 2023
Saqr Ereiqat, co-founder of Dubai-based venture-building firm Crypto Oasis, believes that despite the negatives brought about by the downturn, there are still positive takeaways from the current situation. Ereiqat explained:
“On the positive side, this shift allows for a more discerning selection process, ensuring that only the most promising projects receive funding. Moreover, the challenging times serve to crystallize the winners, separating the truly innovative ventures from the rest.”
Even though there are positive outlooks, the executive still expressed empathy toward projects that are struggling because of the lack of funding. “It’s disheartening to witness numerous companies facing the risk of extinction due to the scarcity of funding opportunities,” he said. Ereiqat also told Cointelegraph that this situation emphasizes the importance of strategic decision-making for projects.
Similar to Chkuaseli, Ereiqat also highlighted how AI-focused projects are still seeing massive amounts of investments. Citing the $1.3 billion funding round for Inflection AI, the executive said there’s a growing opportunity within the AI startup landscape.
Related: Crypto VC is struggling only from a North American perspective — Animoca Brands CEO
Meanwhile, Phillip Lord, the president of the crypto payments platform Oobit, believes that it’s necessary for entrepreneurs to focus on building companies with sustainable business models and clear revenue streams. According to Lord, this help VCs be compelled to invest in their projects. He said:
“We are currently in a higher interest rate cycle, and rates are expected to remain high for the next three to five years. As such, businesses should avoid the ‘growth at any cost’ model, and instead focus on building strong and sustainable operations that will stand the test of time.“
Lord also highlighted that the VC model is experiencing a change because of AI. “Burn rates of companies can drastically come down if AI is fully embraced,” Lord said. The executive also predicted that there would be solo entrepreneurs earning more than $25 million annually “with literally no staff” because of AI.
Magazine: AI Eye: Is AI a nuke-level threat? Why AI fields all advance at once, dumb pic puns
Cryptocurrency
30K BTC Leaves Exchanges: How Will Bitcoin’s Price React?

Bitcoin (BTC) is flashing a critical supply signal as investors withdrew at least 30,000 BTC from crypto exchanges in a week.
With corporations like Strategy aggressively accumulating the number one cryptocurrency, market watchers warn of a liquidity crunch that could ignite volatility.
Bitcoin Outflows Point to Reduced Selling Pressure
Recent on-chain data from Santiment, shared by analyst Ali Martinez on X, shows that over 30,000 BTC, valued at $2.5 billion, had been withdrawn from exchanges since March 24. Martinez also noted a parallel $106 million worth of Bitcoin had been transferred to private wallets in the last few hours.
When traders remove their BTC from exchanges into private wallets, it is often for long-term holding. This reduces the available supply in the market, potentially driving up prices if demand remains strong.
The trend aligns with a corporate buying spree that has intensified the supply squeeze. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) added 6,911 BTC valued at $584 million to its holdings last week, bringing its total ownership of the asset to a staggering 506,137 BTC.
Japan’s Metaplanet and California-based KULR Technology also contributed to the scarcity of available BTC, buying $12.6 million and $5.3 million worth of the cryptocurrency, respectively. Even meme stock darling GameStop entered the fray, approving a plan that will see it spend $1.3 billion on the digital asset.
Consolidation Before the Next Move
Meanwhile, trader @TedPillows recently pointed out that BTC might be in a Wyckoff re-accumulation phase. This is when large institutional investors or the so-called “smart money” acquire crypto at lower prices, as it occurs right after a downtrend.
According to Ted’s analysis, Bitcoin’s drop below $85,000 is a form of “manipulation” designed to shake out weaker hands. He predicts that if the OG cryptocurrency recovers to surpass $92,000, bearish traders could face significant losses.
Changing hands at under $82,000 at the time of this writing, BTC’s price action suggests short-term weakness but long-term strength. It is down about 1.2% in the last 24 hours and 6.1% over the past seven days, a shade below the broader crypto market’s 7.60% drop in the same period. However, zooming out to the last 12 months reveals more encouraging data, with Bitcoin maintaining a 16.5% gain in that time.
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Cryptocurrency
Oh Whale Launches Purpose-Driven Presale with Ocean Conservation at Its Core

[PRESS RELEASE – London, United Kingdom, March 31st, 2025]
As market uncertainty looms and investors navigate the recent turbulence caused by macroeconomic shifts like U.S. tariff developments, Oh Whale enters the crypto space with a mission-focused approach. A truly mission-driven project, Oh Whale is inviting early supporters to join its live Stage 1 presale, the only phase where $OHW tokens are offered at the lowest possible price. And with a powerful mix of transparency, utility, and social impact, Oh Whale aims to build a purpose-driven ecosystem beyond typical token launches.
Beyond a Token – A Mission to Protect the Oceans
Oh Whale is built around the Ocean Conservation Pool (OCP), a unique feature encoded into the token’s core. With every stage of the presale, up to 15% of raised funds will be allocated to ocean preservation efforts, and the community itself will vote on which NGOs receive support. Once launched, $OHW will also include a small 0.5% tax (the same size as Loki, for example) on every transaction, ensuring continuous funding for marine conservation. This model enables investors to contribute to a meaningful cause with every token movement without hurting the token price.
Trust First: Doxxed, Audited, and Transparent
Oh Whale is proud to be fully doxxed and KYC-verified by SolidProof, standing apart from countless anonymous teams in the space. Its smart contracts have been audited, ensuring safety and peace of mind for all participants. Transparency remains a core principle of the project, with all members being visible, accountable, and actively engaging with the community.
Incentives Available During Stage 1
- Investor Bonuses – Every contribution over $1,000 during Stage 1 includes a free, utility-packed NFT.
- Ocean Legends Loyalty Program – Points earned through referrals, community engagement, and social activity can unlock future perks, exclusive merchandise, and staking multipliers.
- Limited-Time 10% Self-Buy Bonus – Early participants in Ocean Legends may receive up to 10% in additional tokens on qualifying contributions during Stage 1.
- Flat Staking Model – Rewards begin from launch, with no lockups. The structure is designed to support steady token flow and promote long-term ecosystem growth.
Beyond the numbers, early participation positions investors at the forefront of a project that values community, transparency, and giving back. The Ocean Legends program also introduces gamified features, including badge systems and rank-based rewards that create a rewarding experience.
Built to Grow: Ecosystem, NFTs, and P2E Adventure Coming
Oh Whale’s roadmap is packed with milestones that reflect its commitment to real, steady growth:
- Gradually Released Tokenomics Ensuring Sustainable Expansion
- Centralized Exchange Listings
- Exclusive Partnerships with Ocean Conservation Organizations
- Full NFT Collection with In-Ecosystem Utility
- Play-to-Earn Game Featuring NFT Integration
- DAO Governance for Long-Term Community Involvement
- Exclusive Partnerships with Ocean Conservation Organizations
This is not just a placeholder roadmap—it reflects a structured, phased approach to development, designed to support organic and sustainable growth.
$20,000 Stage 1 Giveaway
To boost early adoption, Oh Whale is hosting a $20,000 contest on their X for all Stage 1 contributors. This is more than a typical raffle, it’s an opportunity for early backers to amplify their holdings while playing a part in protecting the oceans.
Riding Out the Red Market with Purpose
While much of the crypto world is waiting out the storm, Oh Whale is building on-chain, out loud, and with real impact. This project isn’t about short-term hype—it’s a transparent, long-term initiative driven by real contributors and real-world outcomes.
At a time when skepticism is warranted and presale risks are high, Oh Whale offers a differentiated approach rooted in accountability and aligned values. For those seeking to support a mission-focused project with community engagement and lasting goals, this moment presents a meaningful opportunity.
About Oh Whale
Oh Whale is a blockchain-based project dedicated to ocean and whale conservation. built on ethereum, it supports marine protection through the ocean conservation pool (OCP), which funds non-profits chosen by the community. the project emphasizes decentralized decision-making and features a unique nft collection.
Website: ohwhale.io
Whitepaper: whitepaper.ohwhale.io
Twitter: x.com/The_Oh_Whale
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Cryptocurrency
Strategy Resumes Multi-Billion Dollar Bitcoin Purchases by Acquiring Over 22K BTC

The NASDAQ-listed largest corporate holder of bitcoin seems unfazed by the asset’s lackluster price performance lately, as it continues to scoop up more.
In its latest announcement, company co-founder Michael Saylor said the firm spent almost $2 billion to acquire 22,048 BTC.
$MSTR has acquired 22,048 BTC for ~$1.92 billion at ~$86,969 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 11.0% YTD 2025. As of 3/30/2025, @Strategy holds 528,185 $BTC acquired for ~$35.63 billion at ~$67,458 per bitcoin. $STRK $STRF https://t.co/1sfyBIglnt
— Michael Saylor⚡️ (@saylor) March 31, 2025
After the conclusion of the US elections, when it became clear that there would be a big regulatory change in the country, MicroStrategy (as it was called at the time before it rebranded to Strategy in 2025) went on an accumulation spree, spending billions of dollars to increase its BTC stash.
Its progress stalled in the past few months, as its purchases declined in terms of USD value, including a modest one of just over $10 million from a couple of weeks ago.
However, last week’s acquisition was a bigger one (nearly $600 million at then-prices), while Saylor’s announcement from today put the company’s acquisitions into the billions once again.
The 22,048 BTC acquired for $1.92 billion means that the average price was at just shy of $87,000 per bitcoin. Strategy’s total stash has grown to 528,185 BTC, currently valued at roughly $43.3 billion, given bitcoin’s price slide to $82,000 as of press time.
Still, this puts Strategy at an unrealized profit worth almost $8 billion, given that the firm has spent $35.63 billion to accumulate its BTC fortune.
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