21.co, a provider of cryptocurrency investment products, announced on Tuesday that it had secured a $25 million funding round. The company’s $2 billion valuation following this round makes it the most valuable cryptocurrency “unicorn” in Switzerland. For this, the company’s first funding round in over two years, they got support from Collab+Currency, Quiet Ventures, ETFS Capital, and Valor Equity Partners.
21.co’s resilience amid a bear market
21.co’s fundraising success is further evidence that the cryptocurrency industry can weather the long-term downturn market. Continued market uncertainty has seen many investors develop cold feet towards digital assets. Recently, the industry has been trying to make a comeback, but the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance has stymied their efforts. As a result, many financiers now approach volatile investments like cryptocurrency with extreme caution. Nonetheless, venture capitalists seem enthusiastic to invest when the market is down.
The company seems to have done well enough in 2021 to cushion itself in 2022. It company says it closed 2021 with a nine-figure revenue run rate and consistent customer inflows. The company also reported a net increase of $650 million in assets since September of last year, with AUM reaching a peak of $3 billion in November of that same year.
The market value of cryptocurrencies has fallen below $1 trillion a couple of times this year as investors flee from them due to an unfavourable economic environment driven by ultra-high inflation. Nonetheless, the much-awaited Ethereum Merge has renewed hope of a possible turnaround. However, with the event less than two weeks away, the market still appears lukewarm.
21.co plans to use the funds from this round of funding to pursue quick, strategic growth through the development of innovative new products; the entry into new, high-potential markets; and the recruitment of top-tier talent. The 21Shares division of 21.co is the largest ETP issuer in the cryptocurrency market. 21Shares’ Onyx platform is used for the issuance and management of cryptocurrency ETPs, both for the company and for third parties.