Updated November 2026
342 Crypto Startups
Crypto startups here are the crypto, blockchain and web3 companies founded in 2020 or later. LeadWave's crypto database lists 342 crypto startups, as of November 2026. The table shows the 30 biggest, by funding and market rank, each with one decision maker.
Top crypto startups on the list
Ethena
ZKsync
Variant
World Liberty Financial
Avalanche
Sui
TON
- Crypto startups
- 342
- In LeadWave's database, November 2026
- Decision makers
- 273
- At 267 companies
- On CoinMarketCap
- 64%
- 218 with a ranked coin
- Funding raised
- $12B
- By 276 companies that disclose it
Top Crypto startups
The 30 biggest of 342, by funding raised and CoinMarketCap rank. Each row names one decision maker; the email is in the full list.
| Company | What it does | HQ | Size · funding | Decision maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1EthenaUSDeethena.fi | Ethena Labs is a decentralized finance (DeFi) startup founded in 2023 and headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.Crypto BankingStablecoinRWA Tokenization | Lisbon | $1.2B raised#17 on CoinMarketCap11 employeesFounded 2023 | Elliot ParkerHead of Product Management |
| 2ZKsyncZKzksync.io | ZKsync is a blockchain network developed by Matter Labs, a German engineering company founded in 2018/2019.Crypto ComplianceLayer 1 and Layer 2 BlockchainsWeb3 | Amsterdam | $916M raised#172 on CoinMarketCap33 employeesFounded 2020 | Alex Gluchowski |
| 3Variantvariant.fund | Variant is an early-stage venture firm investing in crypto networks & platforms building The Ownership Economy.Blockchain | New York | $782M raised24 employeesFounded 2020 | Jesse WaldenFounder, General Partner |
| 4World Liberty FinancialUSD1worldlibertyfinancial.com | World Liberty Financial (WLFI) is a decentralized finance (DeFi) company founded in 2024 and registered in Delaware.Crypto BankingCrypto LendingStablecoin | USA | $630M raised#27 on CoinMarketCap21 employeesFounded 2024 | Corey CaplanChief Technology Officer |
| 5AvalancheAVAXavax.network | Avalanche Technology is a start-up dedicated to transforming innovative ideas into successful realities through expert software development and freelancing.RWA TokenizationLayer 1 and Layer 2 BlockchainsWeb3 | London | $480M raised#23 on CoinMarketCap8 employeesFounded 2024 | Matias AntonioCIO |
| 6SuiSUIsui.io | The Sui Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2022 in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.StablecoinCrypto GamingNFT | George Town | $60.6M raised#25 on CoinMarketCap190 employeesFounded 2022 | Ranier GadduangHead of Brand Marketing |
| 7TONGRAMton.org | TON Society is a global grassroots movement and independent organization focused on supporting the TON Community, which is part of The Open Network ecosystem.Crypto ComplianceCrypto WalletLayer 1 and Layer 2 Blockchains | Dubai | $66M raised#26 on CoinMarketCap7 employeesFounded 2024 | — |
8 Standard Cryptostandardvc.com | Standard Crypto is an investment firm. | San Francisco | $500M raised11 employeesFounded 2020 | Adam GoldbergEarly Stage Investor |
9 Humans.aiHEARThumans.ai | Humans.ai is a Web 3.0 deep-tech company founded in 2019 that focuses on integrating artificial intelligence with blockchain technology.Crypto SaaSEnterprise BlockchainNFT | Bucharest | $482.4M raised#1,641 on CoinMarketCap14 employeesFounded 2021 | Sabin DimaFounder |
10 Cipher Digitalcipherdigital.com | Cipher Mining is an industrial-scale Bitcoin mining company dedicated to expanding and strengthening the Bitcoin network's infrastructure.Bitcoin MiningBitcoinCrypto Infrastructure | Rye | $425M raised66 employeesFounded 2020 | Tyler PageChief Executive Officer |
11 ISLMISLMislamiccoin.net | ISLM, known as Islamic Coin, is the first fully Shariah-compliant digital asset, serving as the native cryptocurrency of the HAQQ Network.NFTRWA TokenizationLayer 1 and Layer 2 Blockchains | Baar | $400M raised#1,195 on CoinMarketCap21 employeesFounded 2021 | Mohammed AlhashmiCo-Founder |
12 LayerZeroZROlayerzero.foundation | LayerZero Labs is a blockchain technology company that develops LayerZero, an omnichain messaging protocol designed for secure communication and asset transfer…Crypto CustodyDeFiWeb3 | Vancouver | $320.9M raised#73 on CoinMarketCap170 employeesFounded 2021 | Ally ParkerExecutive Assistant to the CBO and CEO |
13 WorldcoinWLDworldcoin.org | Worldcoineros is associated with the Worldcoin ecosystem, which focuses on digital identity and finance.Crypto ComplianceCrypto WalletDeFi | Tres Arroyos | #54 on CoinMarketCap48 employeesFounded 2023 | Steven Smith |
14 MorphoMORPHOmorpho.org | Morpho is an open-source DeFi lending protocol that connects lenders and borrowers globally.Crypto LendingDeFiWeb3 | Paris | $244.3M raised#56 on CoinMarketCap94 employeesFounded 2021 | Florian MiramonSolution Architect / Prime Integrations |
15 VeniceVVVvenice.ai | Venice.ai is a privacy-first generative AI platform founded in May 2024 by Erik Voorhees, Jesse Proudman, and Teana Baker-Taylor.AI Crypto | Bengaluru | $65M raised#60 on CoinMarketCap36 employeesFounded 2024 | Matthew SchiltzInvestor and Advisor |
16 JupiterJUPjup.ag | Jupiter is a prominent DeFi superapp and liquidity infrastructure provider on the Solana blockchain.Crypto Trading FirmsCrypto ExchangesDeFi | Singapore | $40M raised#63 on CoinMarketCap84 employeesFounded 2020 | Xiao |
17 Boba NetworkBOBAboba.network | Boba Network is a multichain Layer-2 blockchain scaling solution that enhances transaction efficiency and reduces costs for users and developers.Enterprise BlockchainLayer 1 and Layer 2 BlockchainsWeb3 | San Francisco | $230M raised#1,003 on CoinMarketCap10 employeesFounded 2021 | — |
18 ether.fiETHFIether.fi | ether.fi is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol focused on liquid restaking within the Ethereum network.Crypto BankingCrypto CustodyCrypto Wallet | George Town | $64.6M raised#74 on CoinMarketCap68 employeesFounded 2022 | Mike SilagadzeFounder and CEO |
19 BitCloutbitclout.com | BitClout is an open-source social media platform that builds a Proof-of-Work blockchain for its users.BitcoinBlockchain | Osaka | $200M raised6 employeesFounded 2021 | Mae BeamCo-Founder |
20 TeraWulfterawulf.com | TeraWulf promises a new paradigm for crypto mining in the future, producing domestic bitcoin using over 90% zero-carbon energy.Bitcoin MiningBitcoin | Easton | $200M raised150 employeesFounded 2021 | Paul PragerCo-Founder & Chief Executive Officer |
21 Decentralized SocialDESOdeso.com | DeSo Blockchain, also known as Decentralized Social, is an open-source Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for decentralized social media applications.Layer 1 and Layer 2 BlockchainsWeb3Crypto Infrastructure | Los Altos | $200M raised#1,099 on CoinMarketCap20 employeesFounded 2021 | Nader Al-NajiFounder of DeSo |
22 Flying TulipFTflyingtulip.com | Flying Tulip is an on-chain financial marketplace and decentralized exchange based in San Francisco, California, with operations also noted in New York City.Crypto LendingStablecoinCrypto Exchanges | New York | $200M raised#1,442 on CoinMarketCap4 employeesFounded 2024 | Andre Cronje |
23 Pyth NetworkPYTHpyth.network | Pyth Network is a decentralized oracle and market-data network that provides real-time financial data on-chain for blockchain applications and smart contracts.Crypto Trading FirmsCrypto LendingCrypto Asset Managers | Zug | #80 on CoinMarketCap20 employeesFounded 2021 | — |
24 1inch1INCH1inch.com | 1inch Limited builds decentralized protocols and contributes to the development of the 1inch Network.Crypto Data and AnalyticsCrypto WalletCrypto Exchanges | Moon | $189.8M raised#167 on CoinMarketCap150 employeesFounded 2020 | Anton GribkovCo-Founder |
25 ZamaZAMAzama.org | Zama is an open-source cryptography company founded in 2020 by Rand Hindi and Pascal Paillier.AI CryptoWeb3Crypto Infrastructure | Paris | $181.5M raised#136 on CoinMarketCap120 employeesFounded 2020 | Rand HindiCo-founder & CEO |
26 StableSTABLEstable.xyz | Stable is an institutional-grade blockchain platform that operates the Stablechain, specifically designed for stablecoin payments.Crypto CustodyStablecoinCrypto Wallet | Wisconsin Rapids | $28M raised#84 on CoinMarketCap8 employeesFounded 2024 | Brian MehlerChief Executive Officer |
27 LidoLDOlido.fi | Lido Finance is a leading liquid staking protocol that allows users to stake digital tokens on Proof-of-Stake networks, primarily Ethereum and Polkadot, while…DeFiWeb3Crypto Infrastructure | London | $169M raised#108 on CoinMarketCap82 employeesFounded 2020 | Vasiliy ShapovalovCo-Founder |
28 ScrollSCRscroll.io | Scroll is a security-focused Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, founded in 2021.Layer 1 and Layer 2 BlockchainsWeb3 | Victoria | $163M raised#1,369 on CoinMarketCap56 employeesFounded 2021 | — |
29 Curve FinanceCRVcurve.finance | Curve is a decentralised protocol powering stablecoin and crypto markets across DeFi.Crypto LendingStablecoinCrypto Exchanges | Zuerich | $5M raised#93 on CoinMarketCap5 employeesFounded 2020 | Michael EgorovFounder |
30 XterioXTERxter.io | Xterio is a global Web3 gaming developer and publisher founded in 2022, focused on creating immersive gaming experiences that incorporate digital ownership.Crypto GamingLayer 1 and Layer 2 BlockchainsAI Crypto | Zug | $135M raised#1,703 on CoinMarketCap16 employeesFounded 2022 | Jeremy HornFounding Partner |
| Showing 30 of 342 crypto startups. Unlock them all, with 273 decision makers' emails. | ||||
Crypto startups at a glance
- 276 of the 342 crypto startups have disclosed funding, $12B raised in all.
- 218 (64%) have a coin or token ranked on CoinMarketCap.
- Most are small teams: 84% of those with a known headcount have 50 employees or fewer, and 1 have more than 500.
- USA has the most with a known headquarters: 136.
- Many are also on other lists: Crypto Infrastructure (152), Web3 (138) and DeFi (131).
- 267 of them (78%) have a decision maker in the list, 273 people in all.
- USA136 · 40%
- Singapore34 · 10%
- Switzerland21 · 6%
- UK13 · 4%
- Canada12 · 4%
- Cayman Islands10 · 3%
- United Arab Emirates10 · 3%
- India8 · 2%
- Crypto Infrastructure152 · 44%
- Web3138 · 40%
- DeFi131 · 38%
- AI Crypto72 · 21%
- Layer 1 and Layer 2 Blockchains50 · 15%
- NFT50 · 15%
- RWA Tokenization49 · 14%
- Crypto Gaming38 · 11%
- 20256 · 2%
- 202427 · 8%
- 202323 · 7%
- 202241 · 12%
- 2021126 · 37%
- 2020119 · 35%
How this list was built
Crypto startups here are the crypto, blockchain and web3 companies founded in 2020 or later. Companies whose website no longer works, or that collapsed (FTX, Celsius, BlockFi …), are left out.
The data comes from LeadWave's crypto database, last updated in November 2026: companies from Crunchbase and CoinMarketCap, each website checked to be live, with headquarters, headcount and funding refreshed in November 2026. Decision makers who had moved to another company were replaced or taken out. The table ranks companies by funding raised and CoinMarketCap rank, whichever puts them higher.
Every company here is in the list of crypto companies, 1,324 companies with their decision makers' emails.
More crypto company lists
- List of crypto companiesThe 1,300 Crypto Companies List, with decision makers' emails
- Crypto companies email listDecision makers at every company
- Crypto VC firms132 investors in crypto and web3
- DeFi companies336 companies
- Bitcoin companies199 companies
- AI crypto companies194 companies
- Crypto exchanges166 companies
- Layer 1 and layer 2 blockchains161 companies
- All crypto company listsBy segment and location
Frequently asked questions
LeadWave's crypto database lists 342 crypto startups, as of November 2026. Each company is counted once, however many coins or tokens it has.
The biggest, by funding raised and CoinMarketCap rank, are Ethena, ZKsync, Variant, World Liberty Financial and Avalanche. The table on this page lists the top 30, each with one decision maker.
Each row on this page names one decision maker, often the CEO or a founder. Their emails are in the 1,300 Crypto Companies List: 1,324 companies and 1,165 decision makers' emails, 1,066 of them verified. It costs $99, one-time.
Companies come from Crunchbase and CoinMarketCap, and each website is checked to be live. Headquarters, headcount, founding year and funding were refreshed in November 2026. Decision makers' emails are found and verified one by one, and each person is checked against where they work now: anyone who had moved on was replaced with the company's current CEO or a founder, or taken out. The list is refreshed as the database grows; this page is from November 2026.