European Blockchain Startups Surge Amid Regulatory Boost

Amidst a backdrop of regulatory clarity in both the US and Europe, blockchain startups in Europe are experiencing a revival after a period of funding downturns. Landmark legislation in these regions has instilled confidence in crypto as an asset class, leading to increased dealmaking, with $386m invested in 68 European blockchain startups in the first quarter of 2023 alone. This surge in activity has prompted leading venture investors to share their insights on promising up-and-coming startups in the sector, providing valuable perspectives for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Blockchain Startups in Europe: A Resurgence

After enduring a challenging period marked by funding downturns, blockchain startups in Europe are exhibiting signs of revival. The past two quarters have witnessed a surge in dealmaking, with $386 million injected into 68 European blockchain startups in the first quarter alone. This uptick follows the enactment of transformative legislation in both the United States and Europe, which is anticipated to bolster investor confidence in cryptocurrencies as an asset class.

Regulatory Winds Favor Innovation

In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved 11 bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This move paves the way for retail and institutional investors to gain direct, regulated exposure to the pioneering blockchain-based cryptocurrency.

Meanwhile, in Europe, the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) law, passed by the European Union in May 2022, establishes clear operational guidelines for crypto companies across the European bloc.

Industry Leaders Identify Promising Startups

Amidst this supportive regulatory landscape, we sought insights from Europe's top crypto-focused venture investors regarding their picks for up-and-coming startups in the sector. Notably, these selections are non-portfolio companies, representing the investors' independent assessments.

Ash Arora, Partner at LocalGlobe

• Morpho Labs: A Paris-based startup aiming to transform financial services with its decentralized lending protocol on the Ethereum blockchain.
• Compass Labs: A UK-based provider of simulation tools for individuals and institutions to design and test trading strategies for decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.
• Mira: A remote startup headquartered in Portugal that has developed an open-source AI platform for model and data orchestration, ensuring contributors are compensated with crypto tokens for their contributions.

Luc Jodet, Partner at Xange

• Swaap: A French startup addressing challenges faced by liquidity providers in decentralized exchanges by employing sophisticated market-making strategies.
• Validation: A Swiss startup offering high-performance node infrastructure that outperforms competitors in terms of execution speed and reliability.
• Bubblemaps: A French startup specializing in data visualization, providing sophisticated tools for analyzing blockchain data for financial tracing and marketing strategy development.

Lasse Clausen, Founding Partner at 1kx

• Tenderly: A Serbian full-stack web3 infrastructure solution that enables developers to build, test, and optimize smart contracts.
• Finoa: A German-based institutional-grade custody provider that offers secure storage, staking, and trading services for a wide range of digital assets.
• BWare Labs: A Romanian infrastructure and development platform tailored to web3 builders, enterprises, and ecosystems.

Samantha Bohbot, Chief Growth Officer and Partner at RockawayX

• Ethena: A Portuguese startup that has gained traction for its synthetic dollar protocol, offering yield-bearing "internet bonds" and leveraging cash-and-carry trades for profit.
• Union: A Netherlands-based startup that provides interoperability solutions for crypto "infrastructure," allowing startups to choose their preferred blockchains for building applications.
• MatrixOne: A Portuguese startup focused on creating AI avatars for various online contexts, providing a bridge between AI and web3.

Thomas Turelier, Investment Director at Eurazeo

• Hylé: A French startup building a blockchain specifically designed to verify zero-knowledge proofs, enabling validation of proofs regardless of their source blockchain.
• Kiln: A French leading provider of enterprise-grade staking solutions, facilitating access to staking services for crypto companies and products.

Gleb Dudka, Principal at Greenfield

• Usual Money: A French stablecoin issuer backed by real-world assets, poised to launch and compete with US-based stablecoin giants.
• Euler Finance: A London-based lending protocol that boasts unique features such as per-market operation and an efficient liquidation mechanism.

Conclusion

The resurgence of blockchain startups in Europe is a testament to the transformative potential of this technology. With regulatory tailwinds, a growing ecosystem of infrastructure providers, and innovative startups emerging, the European blockchain landscape is ripe for growth. The startups highlighted here represent a diverse array of solutions that are poised to shape the future of finance, decentralized applications, and AI. As the industry continues to mature, these startups are well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the evolving blockchain ecosystem.