Dragonfly Capital closes $650 million crypto fund amid downturn

Crypto venture firm Dragonfly Capital has raised $650 million for its fourth fund, even as the cryptocurrency market grapples with declining prices and waning investor interest. The new fund targets early-stage investments in a sector facing reduced deal activity. Co-founder Haseeb Qureshi highlighted the firm's candid approach as a key strength.

Dragonfly Capital, a prominent crypto venture capital firm, announced the closure of its fourth fund totaling $650 million. This comes at a time when the broader cryptocurrency market is experiencing a severe downturn, marked by falling token prices and diminished investor enthusiasm.

The firm's previous fund, its third, successfully deployed $500 million into various startups, including Polymarket, Rain, and Ethena. The latest $650 million vehicle is intended to support continued early-stage investments. According to reports, the crypto venture sector is currently slowing, with declining deal activity and difficulties in securing additional capital from investors.

Haseeb Qureshi, co-founder of Dragonfly, commented on the firm's strategy: “We talk out loud and we say what we think. In a space that is just completely flooded with bulls**t and with fakers and self-promoters, I think that has actually been a superpower.”

Dragonfly's portfolio includes investments in Layer 1 blockchain projects such as Avalanche, financial services companies like Amber Group, and other cryptocurrency initiatives. The firm has navigated multiple market challenges, including the collapse of the Terra Luna ecosystem, the bankruptcy of FTX, and relocation from China following a local crackdown on crypto activities.

Additionally, Dragonfly faced regulatory attention from the U.S. Department of Justice. In July 2025, during the trial of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm—who was convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmission business—prosecutor Nathan Rehn informed District Judge Katherine Polk Failla that charges were under consideration against Dragonfly employees, including general partner Tom Schmidt, related to a 2020 investment in Tornado Cash. The firm has cooperated with the investigation since 2023, and Qureshi stated that they would defend themselves if charges were filed. Ultimately, the Justice Department did not pursue charges against Schmidt.

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Photo illustrating the cryptocurrency market crash, showing falling prices on trading screens and a worried trader amid financial turmoil.
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Crypto market extends losses amid tightening liquidity

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Major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, and Solana fell sharply on October 16, 2025, as tightening liquidity in the US financial system curbed risk appetite. Bitcoin dropped below $109,000 to around $108,800, while altcoins saw steeper declines of up to 13%. The sell-off follows a weekend wipeout of about $500 billion in market value.

Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at crypto venture firm Dragonfly, argues that comparisons between AI's rapid adoption and crypto's trajectory overlook key differences in their products. In an interview at NEARCON 2026, he dismissed concerns that capital is permanently moving away from crypto, calling the current contraction a necessary market correction. Qureshi emphasized crypto's strong fundamentals, including steady stablecoin growth.

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Venture capitalists in the crypto sector report that despite a $2 trillion industry wipeout, startup funding continues, albeit at reduced levels. This week, crypto firms secured $18.5 million, the lowest since the New Year break. Investors maintain that blockchain fundamentals remain strong.

A Coinbase Institutional analysis predicts a major surge in the crypto market by 2026, driven by expanding global liquidity. Federal Reserve policies are creating a favorable environment for risk assets like cryptocurrencies. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley suggests the traditional four-year cycle may be over due to institutional demand.

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Christopher Alexander Delgado, the CEO of Goliath Ventures, faces federal charges for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of at least $328 million. The scheme promised returns from cryptocurrency liquidity pools but used most funds for payments to earlier investors and personal luxuries. Delgado was arrested on Tuesday and released after his first court appearance.

South Korean investors shifted more than 160 trillion won ($110 billion) from local crypto exchanges to foreign platforms last year, driven by restrictive domestic regulations. A joint report from Coingecko and Tiger Research highlighted this outflow, attributing it to delays in broader crypto frameworks. Officials acknowledged the need for updated rules, but disagreements over stablecoins stalled progress.

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Brandon LaRoque, a veteran from Raleigh, North Carolina, lost his life savings of approximately $3 million in XRP cryptocurrency to a hack in October. This personal tragedy highlights broader risks in the unregulated crypto industry, which has seen President Donald Trump and his family earn billions while rolling back regulations. Experts warn that such deregulation enables scams and allows crypto interests to influence politics.

 

 

 

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