2 Major Challenges You May Face as a Digital Asset Startup

As early-stage investors in digital assets, we’ve seen many entrepreneurs run into obstacles in the first stages of their growth journey. Here are two of the most common hurdles that, if not addressed quickly, can risk growth.

1. Product-market fit

Finding product-market fit for a digital asset product or service is especially hard — you’re not just finding product-market fit for your own startup, but for the industry.

Your biggest risk as a digital asset startup is having an audience that is too niche, which makes it harder to find a market for your product, service or use case.

The same applies if your tech is too new. Since it’s unfamiliar, potential customers may be more hesitant to test it and start using it. This can make it harder to gain audience traction.

2. A lack of user adoption

Even if you find product-market fit, your biggest hurdle will likely be low user adoption of your digital asset solution.

Many potential users remain unfamiliar with how to interact with protocols or on-chain infrastructure, and are uncomfortable with the heightened responsibility involved. Rampant scams in the broader crypto space only add more fuel to user wariness, making this a particularly challenging obstacle no matter how innovative your project may be.

While funding can give you the resources needed to attract users, you’ll want to invest this capital wisely to find your tribe. We see many founders burning through their funds by hosting splashy events to find their first followers. But buying attention isn’t a way to prove your worth or guarantee an increase in user adoption.

Funding alone may not be enough to hedge these challenges. Consider the following funding options, some of which provide additional resources and expertise to help you overcome the hurdles.

5 Common Ways to Get Funding as a Digital Asset Startup (and What to Consider)

1. Token Generation Events (TGEs)

TGEs have largely replaced ICOs as the standard for token-based fundraising. Conducted under established regulatory frameworks — MiCA in the EU, MAS guidelines in Singapore, or FINMA rules in Switzerland — they offer a more credible and compliant path to token-based capital than earlier models. Compliance requirements are significant but investor confidence is higher as a result.

2. Initial Dex Offerings (IDOs)

Regulated IDOs remain relevant, particularly for DeFi-native projects. They enforce strict requirements including KYC, AML compliance, and smart contract audits, which makes the barrier to entry higher and ensures a more serious funding environment for investors and startups alike.

3. Launchpads

These digital asset funding platforms allocate capital or tokens to startup founders who meet specific requirements. Launchpads can operate on centralised or decentralised exchanges, each with their own compliance and audit requirements. In 2026, the reputation of the launchpad matters as much as the funding terms — association with a credible platform signals quality to follow-on investors.

4. Accelerators

These programs offer digital asset startups funding in the form of grants, capital, mentoring, coaching or a mix of all, in exchange for equity, tokens, or collaborations. If you’re in pre-seed, an accelerator can provide the additional resources you need — experience and expertise via mentoring — to help you find product-market fit and increase user adoption.

5. Venture Capital

Get capital from VC firms, angel investors, or venture funds specialising in digital assets to help shape and grow your company. Investors may ask for tokens, equity, or a mix of both.

Study the requirements of each VC, accelerator, launchpad or IDO before applying. Certain criteria may limit the options available to you:

Your business model. Some digital asset VCs or accelerators may only invest in certain industries or models.
Your growth stage. Some accelerators may consider only pre-seed or seed stage startups. Make sure you apply to those that can fund your current stage.
The protocols you use. Some accelerators require you to be building on their particular chain and prove transaction volume to apply.
The VC itself. Some VCs will only invest in tokens.

Top 5 Digital Asset Startup Funding Opportunities

Here are the top 5 VCs and accelerators that offer programs, funding or both:

1. Tenity

With Tenity, you can become part of a global innovation ecosystem that promotes digital asset business development. As early-stage investors, we work closely with startups, mentors and corporate partners through accelerator and incubation programs. Our programs help kick-start digital asset startup growth by enabling collaboration between founders and corporates looking to share their know-how in exchange for innovation.

Since launch, Tenity has partnered with 65+ leading institutions, supported 1,600+ startups, and runs innovation programs in 15+ countries. You can apply whether you are in pre-revenue or ideation stage, or have a prototype or MVP. You don’t need to be incorporated when you apply.

With our digital asset programs, you’ll get:

• Access to an extensive network of corporate partners, investors, mentors and digital asset founders
• Hubs in major digital asset centres including Switzerland and Singapore
• One-to-one mentorship to help you grow your startup while seeing your business from new angles
• Investment of up to €300k for early-stage founders

2. Blockchain Founders Fund

As a VC, Blockchain Founders Fund invests in pre-seed and early-stage digital asset, blockchain, and emerging tech startups. While they don’t provide accelerators, they do offer venture building to help you grow your startup.

Get access here: blockchainff.com

3. Blockchain Founders Group

Digital asset startups in pre-revenue or with an MVP can participate in accelerators at Blockchain Founders Group (BFG). Having helped grow 50+ companies to date, BFG is a VC that offers collaborative programs, uniting founders, experts and advisors to help you take an idea or MVP and make it a reality. Successful startups can receive up to €120k in support.

Get access here: blockchain-founders.io

4. Outlier Ventures

Outlier Ventures runs Base Camp, a 12-week equity-free accelerator program for early-stage digital asset startups. Their 2026 cohorts focus on DeAI, DeFi, RWA and DePIN teams, with $100k in investment and expert support across product roadmaps, token design, legal structuring, community building and fundraising.

Get access here: outlierventures.io/base-camp

5. Alliance

With Alliance, digital asset startups can access accelerator programs and receive funding with flexible terms. Their programs include mentoring and live sessions from crypto and digital asset experts. Successful graduates can become part of Alliance’s growing founder community to continue receiving support from other accelerator alumni.

Get access here: alliance.xyz

How Tenity Helps Digital Asset Ventures

As fintech and digital asset specialists, Tenity backs early-stage founders at the convergence of fintech, AI, and digital assets — where the next generation of financial infrastructure is being built. Here is how we support digital asset startups beyond just capital.

More than capital

The value we bring goes further than the initial ticket. Our hybrid model links founders directly to a specialist network of financial institutions, corporates, and industry partners — creating pathways to pilots, partnerships, and commercial traction that most early-stage investors cannot offer.

For digital asset founders, this means direct access to senior leaders across banks and financial institutions from day one, not just at the point of fundraising.

Sector expertise that matters

We combine deep sector knowledge with hands-on understanding of early-stage challenges. For digital asset startups navigating regulatory complexity, institutional sales cycles, and infrastructure decisions, this means advice that is practical and timely — not generic.

Our roots are in fintech, but we go where financial innovation happens. Digital assets, on-chain infrastructure, tokenization, and the convergence of AI and institutional finance are active areas of focus for our portfolio and our team.

A global network across two continents

Six hubs across Europe and Asia. A portfolio of 200+ companies. A network built over a decade of backing founders in Switzerland, Singapore, London, Madrid, Istanbul, and Hong Kong.

For digital asset startups targeting institutional adoption in regulated markets, access to this network is a meaningful accelerant — shortening the distance between a compelling product and the decision-makers who can deploy it at scale.

How we stay involved after investment

We stay close. From strategy and customer introductions to follow-on funding and market access, Tenity is an active partner. Portfolio companies benefit from ongoing access to the broader Tenity ecosystem, including corporate partners and investors across our global hub network.

Submit your deck: tenity.com/venture-capital

Why Work with Tenity?

Tenity operates at the new fintech frontier, with deep conviction in the role digital assets will play in reshaping financial infrastructure. Here are four reasons digital asset founders choose Tenity:

• Early-stage conviction with institutional leverage. We invest early and bring the network to turn that early conviction into commercial traction — connecting founders to banks, financial institutions, and strategic partners from day one.
• Swiss rigour, global reach. Born from the Swiss Stock Exchange, Tenity combines regulatory credibility with a global footprint across Europe and APAC — two of the most active regions for institutional digital asset adoption.
• A hybrid model that lowers risk. By uniting venture capital with corporate innovation access, we give founders direct pathways to validation, partnerships, and potential acquirers earlier than most VC-only models allow.
• A community built on a decade of fintech. 1,600+ startups supported. 65+ institutional partners. 200+ portfolio companies. The Tenity network is a durable asset for any founder building in digital assets.

How a Tenity Portfolio Company Scaled Their Business to Unicorn Status

Keyrock — a digital assets market maker and neo investment group — has enjoyed extraordinary growth. Having started with Tenity’s early support through SIX Fintech Ventures, Keyrock went on to become one of Europe’s leading digital asset firms. In March 2026, Keyrock closed a Series C at a $1.1 billion valuation, led by SC Ventures, the venture and investment arm of Standard Chartered, with continued participation from Ripple — officially reaching unicorn status.

Today Keyrock operates across 85 centralised and decentralised venues worldwide, with a 220-strong team across 37 countries, offering services across market making, asset management, OTC and options trading.

Keyrock’s journey to unicorn highlights not just the importance of early funding, but the compounding impact that corporate collaboration and the right ecosystem can have on a digital asset startup’s long-term trajectory.