Between September 2021 and mid-June 2022, Samsung invested in 13 crypto/blockchain companies, making the Korean firm the most active among the top 40 companies. Meanwhile, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, tops the category of top companies that participated in the largest funding rounds.
40 corporations invested $6 billion
According to research firm Blockdata’s analysis of blockchain and crypto startup investments by top firms from September 2021 to mid-June 2022, South Korean electronics giant Samsung was the most active, investing in 13 firms; United Overseas Bank was the next most active, followed closely by US financial services giants Citigroup (6 companies) and Goldman Sachs (5 companies). As shown in
analysis ofthe number of crypto and blockchain startups funded by Samsung, United Overseas Bank, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs was found to be almost half (31) of the total number of startups funded by the top 40 companies (65).
Data on the exact amount invested by each company is not available, but Blockdata’s analysis nevertheless provides an estimate of the amount invested by all companies.
“Forty companies invested approximately $6 billion in blockchain startups between September 2021 and June 2022. Since some rounds involved multiple investors, it is not known how much each company invested in the project,” Blockdata’s research report states.
Meanwhile, as for companies active in the largest funding rounds, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, topped the category, participating in a round that raised just under $1.51 billion; in second place was Black Rock.
Third place went to American financial services giant Morgan Stanley, which participated in two rounds and raised $1.1 billion, while Samsung came in fourth with $979 million.
Companies invest in NFT companies
Regarding use cases of interest to top companies, Blockdata determined that 19 of the funded companies are doing “some form of non-fossil token (NFT) solution or service.” 12 are marketplaces and 11 are gaming service businesses that provide.
The research firm explained the differences in investment approach by the top firms.
Samsung is betting on the entire blockchain ecosystem, investing in companies focused on 15 different use cases, including blockchain services, development platforms, NFTs, and social networks. Alphabet and BlackRock, on the other hand, showcase a very different strategy by betting intensively on a smaller group of companies.
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