The crypto venture capital landscape remained resilient during the week of May 11–17, 2025, with $73.2 million in total investments flowing into blockchain startups across DeFi, gaming, infrastructure, and AI-focused verticals. The week was led by Gnosis HQ’s high-profile acquisition deal, alongside a series of notable seed rounds and ecosystem bets.
Gnosis HQ Closes $14.95M Strategic Deal with HQ.xyz
The largest transaction of the week came from Gnosis, a prominent German Web3 infrastructure firm. Gnosis acquired Singapore-based on-chain business account platform HQ.xyz in a deal valued at $14.95 million.
The deal includes:
- $8.95 million investment from GnosisDAO’s treasury (approved in January)
- An additional $6 million in working capital to accelerate HQ.xyz’s global expansion
The acquisition marks a major step in Gnosis’ mission to build out decentralized financial tools tailored to organizations.
DeFi, Gaming, and Infra Projects See Multi-Million Dollar Backing
Perpl, a stealth-mode startup, secured $8.25 million in an undisclosed round, with backing from Dragonfly, Erzonia, and Brevan Howard.
KYD Labs, which builds location-based social tools, raised $7.1 million in a Seed round supported by CSX, Finality Capital Partners, and Ambush.
Gaming and ticketing also saw significant interest:
- Turtle Club, a gaming community initiative, raised $6.2 million from Delphi Digital, SIG, and Consensys
- XP (Captain Labs), a Web3 ticketing platform, also raised $6.2 million, backed by BlockChange, Neon, and Reflexive
Smaller Rounds Reflect a Broader Interest in Ecosystem Plays
Several other projects raised between $700,000 and $6 million:
- Nirvana Labs – $6M (Seed round)
- TrendX – $5.2M (Undisclosed round)
- XSY (Unity) – $5M (Series A)
- DoubleUp – $4M (valued at $40M FDV)
- Vinanz – $4M (Undisclosed)
- Giza – $2.2M for AI, Ethereum infrastructure, gained +15 new investors
- N1 (ex-Layer N) – $2M (Public sale)
- Puffverse – $700K (Public sale, $70M FDV)
These smaller rounds underline the continuing investor appetite for AI-integrated protocols, public participation in token sales, and Web3 infrastructure tools.
Outlook: VC Flow Remains Selective but Steady
Although the market remains cautious amid broader macroeconomic uncertainty, the Web3 fundraising scene has shown signs of strategic consolidation and long-term vision. Deals like Gnosis-HQ.xyz highlight DAO-led capital deployment, while early-stage projects continue to attract interest from major VC names.
As venture capital activity continues to pivot towards infrastructure, gaming ecosystems, and real-world applications, the space looks poised for continued innovation, albeit with more selective capital flow.
