In recent years, everything related to crypto has skyrocketed in value, and expectations are only higher for 2022. The amount invested by venture capitalists in 2021 reached nearly $30 billion, and the momentum does not stop with funding. Talents from big companies worldwide are flocking to the possibilities offered by crypto companies.
Crypto startups are the new way to get rich quickly, and the opportunity is attracting a lot of people. The interest is not limited to cryptocurrencies and NFTs, with all types of crypto startups appearing. These startups deal with blockchain, mining, trading, software, fintech, marketplace services, and more. Everything crypto is on the rise.
With finances, talent, and explosive growth all gathered together, there is no doubt that crypto startups will leave their mark in 2022. However, the numerous people swarming toward crypto means that there will be many startups that do not do well. Read on to learn about startups expected to do big things in the days to come.
Zerion
Decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to financial services. But unlike normal financial services, these are on public blockchains. They support everything an ordinary bank might, without the need for paperwork or a middle man. DeFi is global, peer-to-peer, and completely transparent, and Zerion allows you to manage your entire DeFi portfolio.
DeFi is growing rapidly, and for a good reason. It is a quick, easy way to move your assets around, and Zerion makes the process even easier. They allow you to explore everything from DeFi tokens to NFTs, all in a single place. It even includes current and historical data of those assets, among other things. Other features of Zerion include:
- Track and manage your portfolio across protocols and Etherium side chains
- Check your net worth over multiple wallets
- See metrics on your wallets
- View trending assets
- Keep tabs on your portfolio from any device
Zerion also puts privacy first, giving you the ability to manage your portfolio without giving them any private keys that would allow them to access your funds. It is one of the reasons they have over 200,000 active monthly users and have traded more than $1 billion since their founding in 2016.
Chainalysis
Blockchain technology and crypto are still relatively new. Therefore, it should be no surprise that not everyone trusts the technology. However, Chainalysis wants to improve trust in a blockchain economy. They do this by creating transparency that helps others form a common understanding of how people use cryptocurrency.
Chainalysis provides data, tools, and services that help companies and governments accept blockchain technology. A big component of this acceptance is their investigation and compliance software, which is utilized in over 60 countries to solve cybercriminal cases and increase safe cryptocurrency access. It sees use by:
- Cryptocurrency businesses to deal with compliance workloads
- Financial institutions to understand exposure and monitor customer activity
- Government agencies to understand the real-world entities behind cryptocurrency transactions
The company provides monitoring for every cryptocurrency asset out there. On top of these useful services, they have an intuitive system with real-time updates and alerts that keep everything running smoothly. There is a reason more than 500 companies already trust Chainalysis. And with the growth of crypto, that number is sure to rise.
Bitpanda
There are few cryptocurrency exchange platforms out there as exciting as Bitpanda. Founded in 2014, Bitpanda quickly became one of the most innovative EU platforms for dealing with digital assets. But it really stands out because it allows users to deal with cryptocurrency, precious metals, and stocks in one place.
Bitpanda does not stop with just allowing you to invest in whatever you want, though. The stocks sold by the company are contracts that replicate underlying stocks or ETFs. That enables users to invest in fractions of a stock, making many stocks more accessible. Of course, purchasing full shares is also an option.
The market is also open 24/7, allowing Bitpanda users to invest in stocks when the traditional stock market is closed. And all of it is backed by physical assets, so users can trust their investments are safe. It is an innovative and rapidly-growing platform that is expected to grow in 2022, further expanding its user base of over three million.
Rocket Dollar
Rocket Dollar is a company founded with a simple goal, to allow individuals to invest their retirement savings into alternative assets. The assets include real estate, cryptocurrency, and startups. While it might not be for everyone, it is a unique idea in a world where crypto is growing at a rapid pace.
The company has seen some early success, getting investors of all ages and experience levels. Clearly, people want to invest in alternative assets, diversifying their portfolios further than traditional stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Moreover, Rocket Dollar allows people to bring their own investment ideas to the table.
The Rocket Dollar IRA is versatile in the sense that the company allows you to invest freely. They will help you open, fund, and invest in anything. Therefore, with crypto surging, it can be expected that a service like the one provided by Rocket Dollar will become more and more valuable.
Anchorage
Security is always a concern when cryptocurrency is involved, and Anchorage is one of the companies intent on quelling that concern. They provide a secure platform that is a mix of safe and user-friendly, giving them an edge over many of their competitors. Some of the ways Anchorage ensures security are:
- Biometric Authentication
- Enhanced Outlier Detection
- Hardware-Enforced Logic
Anchorage also provides a wide range of services, catering to everyone, from banks and market makers to miners. Some of the services they offer to satisfy their numerous clients include:
- Digital asset custody to store and protect customer assets
- The ability to easily trade crypto independently or with their experts
- Staking to ensure good returns and no programmatic inflation
- Streamlined governance to ensure you have your say
- Financing that is easy to repay, draw on, or trade with
Perhaps the most impressive part about Anchorage’s services is how easy it all is. The company has an excellent platform with a design and features that make it easy to use. It is everything necessary for success, and with the company adding new assets every day, they have a good chance to grow further in the coming year.
Circle
Circle endeavors to provide a payment and treasury infrastructure for the internet. While it might seem like a lofty goal, the startup has created a platform to allow people to send and accept payments and payouts globally. They even accept traditional methods and those achieved through blockchain infrastructure, connecting the two worlds.
More importantly, the platform is built on USD Coin (USDC), of which Circle is the principal operator. USDC is a dollar digital currency that is growing faster than any other. The currency is regulated and fully reserved, and as of this year, there are more than 46 billion in circulation. USDC stands out for many reasons:
- Transactions using the coin surpassed $1.5 trillion over the past year
- USDC is available on many leading blockchains
- It is the standard for the protocols for many businesses and communities
- The currency can be redeemed for US dollars at a 1:1 ratio
USDC ensures that Circle will keep growing, but the solutions offered by it cannot be overlooked. Circle Yield gives people a way to receive higher yields than many banks and fixed income markets. Additionally, you can easily run your business using their APIs and services. Circle is doing well for a reason, and further growth is expected.
Ledger
When finances are concerned, there are always security concerns, but those have been magnified for cryptocurrency. What is the best way to protect your private keys when smartphones and computers are relatively easy to hack? Ledger provides the answer, utilizing hardware to secure the information needed to authorize outgoing transactions.
The company calls its product a hardware wallet, and it provides complete isolation between private keys and a computer or smartphone. Moreover, they have both a manual and Bluetooth solution to keeping your information safe. There is also Ledger Live, which further looks to keep you safe while buying, selling, or exchanging assets.
The company is already trusted by more than four million customers, securing an estimated 15% of crypto assets around the world. And Ledger has plenty of room to grow, especially after receiving almost $400 million with their Series C funding. With crypto becoming bigger and bigger, security will only become more valuable.
Coinbase
Coinbase has already become a massive company since its start in 2012. It has transformed into the leading exchange for digital currency in a short amount of time, with a user base of over 73 million people. And the company’s reach extends beyond individuals, with Coinbase offering exceptional tools for anyone and everyone.
At its core, Coinbase is a wallet and platform that makes it easy for people to perform transactions with digital currencies. But the easy-to-use platform is only one part of what the company has become. When it comes to individuals, Coinbase offers various tools, including:
- The Coinbase platform for buying, selling, and using crypto
- A self-hosted wallet for crypto assets
- Lessons to teach people about crypto
- A debit card funded by an individual’s Coinbase balance
- The ability to borrow using Bitcoin as collateral
They offer equally impressive tools for businesses, such as custody, analytics, and the ability to raise money for crypto startups through their platform. Moreover, developers have easy access to many tools through Coinbase. The company seems to be involved in everything, and its dominant performance is here to stay in 2022.
Coinme
If you remember Coinstar, you might have a notion of the kiosks around the country, which help people turn change into cash. Coinme is a company that partnered with Coinstar and MoneyGram to make it easier to find an entry point into crypto investing. And it is just as simple as turning coins into cash.
Regardless of the service chosen, Coinme works in the same way. All someone has to do is download the Coinme app on iOS or Android and create an account. Once their identity is verified, they can buy and sell Bitcoin with cash at thousands of locations in 48 states.
While Coinme is not as large as some of the companies on the list, it has tremendous potential for growth. Crypto is growing larger by the day, and it is expected to keep exploding this year. As more people get into crypto, the convenience of turning cash into crypto easily will attract many people.
Coin Metrics
Cryptocurrency’s growth makes data and analytics more important than ever. Coin Metrics is dedicated to providing crypto intelligence, making data available to anyone who needs it. The company was founded in 2017, and since then, it has made a decent name for itself by providing:
- Network Data
- Market Data
- Indexes
- Risk Management
- Insights
Their products and services provide all of the data and insights one might need to better grasp crypto. Their experts also help consult with clients to achieve results using the provided data and insights.
Coin Metrics even allows you to use their data. While the amount available is limited to normal people, they provide API keys for advanced data to their clients. In a world that is developing and changing as quickly as crypto, having access to this information is vital. Coin Metrics and startups like it are worth watching in 2022.
ZenLedger
Crypto and taxes is a complicated issue that has been the subject of debate and scrutiny by the IRS. One of the reasons it is such a big thing is that crypto’s rising popularity has come with tax evasion problems. However, not knowing what to report is an issue for many. ZenLedger is one of the companies trying to make crypto tax simple.
The company provides software that allows individuals to import transactions, aggregate them all in one place, and print out tax forms. Moreover, the software supports more than 400 exchanges. They even have tax professionals that can help solve almost any problem related to a customer’s cryptocurrency taxes.
The company also provides DeFi, staking, and NFT support on some of their plans. And with their tax-loss harvesting tool, saving money is even easier. Plus, since they are partnered with TurboTax, it is easy to upload transactions to the massive tax company. So, as more people require crypto tax help, ZenLedger will continue to thrive.
TaxBit
TaxBit is another startup that deals with crypto tax. The company, founded in 2018, has already seen substantial growth, raising a total of more than $230 million in funding over the past four years, with its latest round of funding reaching around $130 million in one go.
The growth of TaxBit is not simply in funding. The company is also responsible for supporting more than five million taxpayers. Moreover, they have achieved a high level of customer satisfaction, making them stand out as a company worth watching. But all of that stems from the software they have designed.
TaxBit’s platform automates the process of calculating and reporting crypto transactions. It allows users to link their various exchanges and wallets to the software, making it even easier since they support over 500 wallets, exchanges, DeFi protocols, and more. Then, all of the information is used to auto-generate tax forms for the user.
Additionally, TaxBit takes security seriously. While they do not have direct access to vital information, they still work to safeguard their users’ data. It is one of the reasons, aside from the effectiveness of their software, that they are so trusted by exchanges and regulatory agencies across the globe. Their valuation of $1.3 billion is expected to rise.
Fold
Fold is a unique approach to a debit card. It aims to give people a chance to earn Bitcoin back when they make a purchase. And the company accomplishes this by offering rewards in the form of a spinning wheel. The process is simple, only having three steps:
- Use the card at participating retailers or buy a prepaid gift card
- Spin the revolving wheel after the purchase
- Win the prize featured on the wheel
Other aspects are involved, like the different potential rewards based on the card you own. The max spending reward on purchases is 25% with the free card. It rises to 100% if you own their Spin+ card, which costs $150 per year. However, the other benefits are quite similar, including the spins and member pricing on Amazon gift cards.
One of the biggest draws is that the rewards can be truly immense. While the odds are low, there is a chance to win an entire Bitcoin. Plus, after $13 million in Series A funding in 2021, it is clear interest is there.
Final Thoughts
Startups are popping up everywhere in the crypto world, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. As crypto and everything around it continue to rise, there will be a greater need for services and products to match. Moreover, with investors keen on entering the space, these companies will likely see further support.
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