VC Roundup: Binance Labs invests in gamified fitness app Moonwalk

Web3 startups have raised over $5.4 billion in venture capital during the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Crunchbase

Web3 startups raised over $5.4 billion in venture capital during the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Crunchbase’s Web3 tracker. Capital poured into blockchain-based companies stood at $1.4 billion in the last quarter alone.

Investors are increasingly targeting emerging markets at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence, while projects focused on decentralized blockchain infrastructure have also drawn substantial capital flow recently.

October’s funding highlights include Glow’s $30-million raise to develop a decentralized solar grid and the Nillion Network’s $25-million funding round to advance its decentralized privacy platform.

Venture capital firms are gearing up for 2025 by announcing new funds with a focus on Web3. Gate Ventures and Boon Ventures recently partnered with Movement Labs to launch a $20-million fund dedicated to Web3 startups, while Dragonfly Capital is in the process of raising $500 million for its fourth crypto fund.

This edition of Cointelegraph’s VC Roundup features some of the startups that raised capital in late October.

Binance Labs invests in gamified fitness app Moonwalk

Binance Labs has invested an undisclosed amount in Moonwalk Fitness, a fitness accountability app that combines gamification and financial incentives for healthier lifestyles.

The app offers gamified fitness challenges where users can earn rewards by meeting daily step goals. Users stake USDC, SOL or BONK and must reach their crew’s step target or keep pace with the leader’s best performance, risking a portion of their stake if they fall short. Moonwalk Fitness is built on the Solana blockchain. The funding will accelerate the product development of its iOS and Android app.

Craftt raises $2 million for decentralized benefits

Craftt, a platform built on decentralized infrastructure for workforce benefits, has successfully closed $2 million in seed funding led by Superscrypt and DCG, with participation from other angel investors.

Let’s be honest — DeFi is still pretty confusing for the masses.

Navigating multiple platforms, understanding complex protocols, and managing assets across blockchains can be overwhelming. This raises an important question: Is there a way to simplify the decentralized finance (DeFi) experience without sacrificing its core advantages?

Well, there is a way for users to set their money-making goals and let one platform handle every trade afterward. This is intent-based trading, a concept that could redefine how we interact with the DeFi ecosystem.

The main goal of this piece is to explore whether it is just another passing trend or signals the next major leap in financial technology.

What is intent-based trading?

Intent-based trading involves formulating investment goals—such as focusing on eco-friendly tokens or aiming for high returns—and then allowing an automated system to handle the execution.

Traditionally, investors needed to manually manage different wallets, switch between platforms, and keep track of multiple tokens and strategies. With this new approach, the system automatically executes the investment plan across different blockchains, growing assets on autopilot.

Profitability in trading depends on intentionality. Source: X

Intent-based trading timeline

The evolution of intent-based trading can be traced through several key stages:

Aiming to provide universal benefits like healthcare and financial support, Craftt enables freelancers, consultants and creators to access resources traditionally reserved for full-time employees. By using network economics and verifiable “self-sovereign” credentials, the startup enables global payments and provides universal benefits to independent professionals. The funds will accelerate the development of Craftt’s decentralized infrastructure and community-building efforts.

Borderless.xyz secures $3-million pre-seed for stablecoin payment network

Global payments infrastructure company Borderless.xyz has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding led by Amity Ventures. The company aims to build a modern global stablecoin payment network, utilizing its Global Transfer Protocol (GTP) to bridge stablecoins and real-world assets (RWAs) with local fiat currencies across more than 50 countries and 23 currencies.

The network seeks to provide real-time, low-cost settlements for cross-border transactions, payouts, collections, on-ramps and off-ramps. The funding will accelerate the development of Borderless.xyz’s infrastructure.

Vixichain raises $7 million to bridge TradFi with blockchain compliance-focused infrastructure

Layer-1 blockchain Vixichain has raised $7 million through a private funding round aiming to address traditional finance’s compliance demands toward public blockchains. The funding will drive Vixichain’s R&D expansion, strategic partnerships with financial institutions and its DevNet and mainnet launches.

Vixichain’s onboards banks as network validators to earn transaction fees, incentivizing their participation. The platform also features a “non-fungible stable token” (NUSD), a fiat-backed token that bridges Vixichain’s private network with the broader Web3 ecosystem.

Karpatkey secures $7 million to