Ark Invest exec: Maturing crypto projects need TradFi investors more than VCs

Lorenzo Valente, Director of Crypto Research at Ark Invest, has argued that as cryptocurrency projects mature, they should prioritize attracting investment from traditional financial institutions over crypto-native venture capital. In a post on X, Valente stated that while crypto VCs are crucial in a project's early stages, the investor profile needs to change as the industry moves closer to traditional finance. He noted that asset managers, banks, and fintech firms are becoming increasingly important strategic partners. Citing MORPHO's recent funding round, which included participation from Apollo, VanEck, SBI, and Bpifrance, Valente explained that new projects can benefit from targeting the traditional market from the outset amid the growing trend of crypto's institutional adoption.