ACCORDING to CryptoMonday.de, the number of new blockchain unicorns in the second quarter dropped by 50 percent from a previous high of 16 to 8. The net worth of the most valuable blockchain unicorn, KuCoin, based in Seychelles, was $10bn.
Web3 startups made up half of all new blockchain unicorns born in the second quarter. These startups are based on the new decentralised web and use protocols such as IPFS and Filecoin. They aim to solve some of the biggest problems with the current web, such as censorship, data breaches, and centralization.
‘The overall market conditions in the second quarter were not as favourable for new blockchain unicorns to be born as they were in the first quarter,’ says CryptoMonday CEO Jonathan Merry. ‘We expect the number of new unicorn births to pick up in the second half of the year as more institutional investors enter the space and as more mainstream companies adopt blockchain technology.’
Crypto market dip
Crypto experts attribute the decline in new blockchain unicorn births to the current bear market in the cryptocurrency space. Since the first quarter of 2022, the total market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies has declined by over 50 percent. This has led to a decline in funding for blockchain and cryptocurrency startups.
‘The bear market may also be due to governments’ increasing regulation of the crypto space worldwide. In the past few months, countries such as China and South Korea have cracked down on cryptocurrency exchanges and ICOs. This has led to a decline in trading activity and new investment in the space,’ says Manchester-based crypto expert Elizabeth Kerr.
‘In such a tough market, it is harder for new projects to raise money and reach the billion-dollar valuation needed to be considered a unicorn. However, there are still a few bright spots in the cryptocurrency space,’ she adds.
A prediction that is too optimistic
Despite the current market conditions, some bullish investors are still in the space. Tim Draper, a well-known venture capitalist, recently said that he believes The Bitcoin Price will reach $250,000 by 2022.
However, many people in the field believe Draper’s prediction is too optimistic. They argue that the conditions needed for such a price increase do not exist currently. Crypto enthusiasts will have to wait and see if Draper’s prediction comes true.
The future of blockchain unicorns
It is still too early to tell how the current market conditions will affect the future of blockchain unicorns. However, it is clear that the market is volatile, and the number of new unicorn births can fluctuate greatly from quarter to quarter.
Despite the current decline, there are still a few bright spots in the space. If the market conditions improve, we may see a rebound in the number of new blockchain unicorns.
Only time will tell how the current market conditions will affect the future of blockchain unicorns, but it is clear that the space is still full of potential.