Top 5 Crypto Startups That Raised Over $50M — What We Can Learn from Them

Web3 fundraising is booming again. The most successful projects aren’t just hyped—they solve fundamental problems in infrastructure, scalability, and user experience. Let’s explore 5 standout startups that raised $50M+ and the lessons behind their success.

1. LayerZero ($120M+)

• What they do: Cross-chain messaging infrastructure
  
• Why it matters: Enables apps to communicate across different blockchains seamlessly
  
• Key lesson: Interoperability is the future—chains must talk to each other
  

2. EigenLayer ($50M+)

• What they do: Restaking protocol for Ethereum
  
• Why it matters: Increases capital efficiency of staked ETH by allowing it to secure other networks
  
• Key lesson: Reusing locked assets to do more is a winning thesis
  

3. Blast ($60M)

• What they do: Ethereum L2 with native yield built into the protocol
  
• Why it matters: Offers passive income just for holding assets on-chain
  
• Key lesson: UX and passive income are powerful growth levers
  

4. Celestia ($55M+)

• What they do: Modular blockchain for data availability
  
• Why it matters: Decouples consensus and execution, enabling scalable dApps
  
• Key lesson: Innovation in blockchain design is still early
  

5. Aptos ($350M total)

• What they do: High-performance Layer 1 built by former Meta engineers
  
• Why it matters: Fast, secure, and scalable—ideal for mass adoption
  
• Key lesson: Team pedigree + vision still moves capital
  

Conclusion

These startups succeeded because they targeted pain points in scalability, usability, and interoperability. For investors and founders alike, the blueprint is clear: solve real problems, build real tech, and create strong ecosystems.