By Key Points
- 4 Explosive VC Interests 2025 to Watch in Crypto’s Comeback
- VCs eye stablecoin issuers with 10x growth potential and airdrop perks.
- Real-world assets (RWAs) lead interest, backed by BlackRock’s push.
- Decentralized AI attracts top Web2 talent despite slow traction.
- Bitcoin liquidity markets remain on VC radars amid 2025 losses.
As 2025 enters its second half, crypto portfolios for retail investors may still look red—but venture capitalists are moving with clarity. Their interests paint a picture of where the smart money is headed next.
Stablecoins are front and center. Andy from The Rollup Co. says VCs expect the number of stablecoin issuers to grow 10x in the coming months. With over 200 stablecoins tracked by CoinMarketCap and more than 300 by CoinGecko, there’s already plenty of action—but the real opportunities lie ahead.
Key takeaways from meetings with prominent VCs over the last few days:
– Stablecoin issuers are very investable & will likely 10x in quantity
– The AI sector is interesting but better builders in Web2, for now
– RWAs, RWAs, RWAs are all that matter
– Valuations still quite high…— Andy (@ayyyeandy) April 29, 2025
Stablecoin issuers often use airdrops and yield incentives to attract liquidity, offering retail users early access to potentially lucrative rewards. Currently, Tether and Circle dominate the $225B stablecoin market, but as the field diversifies, VCs see ample room for disruption and investment.
In the broader scope, this growth also supports the evolving Ethereum ecosystem, which is grappling with its own challenges. If you’re following Ethereum’s narrative problems, check out this Ethereum narrative crisis analysis to see how stablecoins might help redefine its role.
Stablecoin Capitalization by Issuer. Source: Token Terminal – Techtoken
Meanwhile, decentralized AI (DeAI) is gaining slow but steady traction. According to Andy, most strong builders are still in Web2—but this is starting to change. Anthony from blockchain121 points out that top-tier engineers from traditional AI sectors are crossing over into Web3 AI projects.
BeInCrypto’s data shows AI agents are growing by 33% monthly, yet only 3% are powered by Web3 solutions. The gap is clear—but closing. Our deep dive on AI agent adoption bottlenecks highlights the exact hurdles that DeAI projects are working to overcome.
If DeAI can move past these barriers and prove its utility, the next wave of AI in Web3 could be investor gold.
Ethereum is really not looking good now
I know it’s impolite to gloat and all that, but I think shitcoins like ETH, that are centralized & premined, have PoS instead of PoW, switch supply schedule at will, are harmful and deserve all the mockery they gethttps://t.co/4EAh8LvsvD pic.twitter.com/nLTLqJz4wp
— PlanB (@100trillionUSD) April 20, 2025
RWAs and Bitcoin Liquidity Markets are Gaining Traction
“RWAs, RWAs, RWAs are all that matter.” – Andy
Real-world assets (RWAs) have captured the spotlight. With the backing of institutional players like BlackRock and Fidelity, this niche is now considered one of the most promising crypto investment zones.
In April, RWA market cap crossed $20B, though it’s currently around $18.9B. Long-term projections from Tren.finance estimate the sector could balloon to over $10 trillion by 2030. That’s a staggering growth curve that’s hard for VCs—and savvy investors—to ignore.
great insights, as someone that runs one of leading recruiting firm in Web3 and been at the front line of hiring in this industry for the last 6 years. Legit DeAI projects really are, for the first time, attracting legit world class engineers and researchers from web2 Ai.
— Anthony | Blockchain 121 (@TonyHB121) April 29, 2025
Tokenized assets like real estate, U.S. Treasuries, and even art are being brought on-chain. With better infrastructure and regulatory clarity, RWAs are becoming less speculative and more integral to the real economy.
Bitcoin liquidity markets are another rising star. As token launches stall and OTC activity dries up, VCs are turning to more foundational protocols that enable better BTC market access.
This trend is directly influenced by macro shifts, such as the Trump-era tariffs and their lingering impact. For a deeper look at how tariffs are shaping BTC’s positioning, visit our report on the Trump tariffs and Bitcoin revaluation.
Total RWA Value. Source: RWA.xyz – Techtoken
As liquidity gets tighter, protocols that provide efficient, non-custodial access to Bitcoin could define the next stage of crypto finance.
VC Strategy Shifts in 2025 Show Adaptation Over Abandonment
2025 hasn’t been kind to most crypto VCs. With token prices down, OTC deals drying up, and investor confidence shaken, many firms are struggling to deliver positive returns to LPs.
Andy shared a bleak yet honest update:
Crypto VCs are getting their margins squeezed as of recent.
Many will not return their LPs positive returns. Others are having trouble raising new funds, especially in the post-tariff world.
A lot of the tokens they invested into over the last two years haven’t launched or are…
— Andy (@ayyyeandy) April 29, 2025
Still, Q1 2025 saw $4.8B in VC funding, the highest since Q3 2022. April alone clocked $2.3B across 87 deals—showing that capital is still entering the ecosystem, albeit more carefully.
Top deals like MGX and Kraken are drawing interest not just for their potential returns but for their infrastructure-first approach, which resonates in today’s more cautious climate.
This mirrors the approach of BNB Chain’s Lorentz upgrade, which accelerated block times to 1.5s. That’s not just a speed boost—it’s a signal that core scalability improvements are gaining attention. Check out how this affects broader DeFi capabilities in our BNB Chain Lorentz fork breakdown.
Meanwhile, privacy coins like Monero are making waves with unexpected price surges, reinforcing that alternative assets still matter. If you’re curious about how privacy is playing into VC strategy, this Monero price surge analysis explains it well.
Ultimately, while 2025 has been harsh, VCs aren’t walking away—they’re adapting. The bets are more strategic, more focused on utility, real-world connections, and resilience.
For retail investors, this is a playbook worth watching.
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