WEEKLY CRYPTO FUNDRAISING DIGEST — OCT 03, 2026
Total Tracked: $216.50M | Rounds: 12 | Top Sector: Banking

RECENT INVESTMENT ROUNDS

1. Walapay — $4.60M
• Sector: Payments | Geo: United States
• Investors: NGC Ventures, Commerce Ventures, Polygon Labs, Generative Ventures, BitRock Capital
• Summary: October 2, 2026 Cross-border payment rails and stablecoin neobank Walapay closes $4.6M seed round led by Generative Ventures with Polygon Labs, Commer...
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

2. PERPTools — $5.00M
• Sector: DeFi | Geo: Global / Undisclosed
• Investors: Sfermion, Animoca Brands, NEAR Protocol, BigBrain Holdings
• Summary: October 1, 2026 AI-native perpetual trading infrastructure protocol PERPTools secures $5M seed round backed by BigBrain Holdings, NEAR Protocol, Animo...
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

3. Jeeves — $110.00M
• Sector: Banking | Geo: United States
• Investors: Y Combinator, CoinFund, Coinbase Ventures, Wintermute, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z crypto)
• Summary: September 29, 2026 Stablecoin-native corporate banking platform Jeeves closes $110M Series C-1 led by CoinFund with a16z crypto, Coinbase Ventures, an...
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

4. Grass ($GRASS) — $13.50M
• Sector: AI | Geo: Global / Undisclosed
• Investors: Polychain Capital, Delphi Digital, Multicoin Capital
• Summary: September 29, 2026 Decentralized AI real-time web retrieval and data layer Grass announces $13.5M round at $693.9M valuation led by Multicoin Capital,...
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

5. Raven ($RAVEN) — $2.70M
• Sector: Exchange | Geo: United Kingdom
• Investors: Wintermute, Hack VC, CMCC Global, Coinbase Ventures
• Summary: September 29, 2026 Prediction market and crypto trading liquidity firm Raven secures $2.7M strategic round at $90M pre-money valuation led by Coinbase...
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

6. Shards Protocol ($SHARDS) — $2.00M
• Sector: Gaming | Geo: Global / Undisclosed
• Investors: Animoca Brands
• Summary: September 28, 2026 Onchain reputation and Web3 gaming engagement rewards layer Shards Protocol closes $2M seed round with Animoca Brands.
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

7. VerifiedX — $15.00M
• Sector: Infrastructure | Geo: United States
• Investors: Cantor Fitzgerald
• Summary: September 27, 2026 Programmable institutional Bitcoin operating platform VerifiedX initiates $15M financing round advised by Cantor Fitzgerald for com...
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

8. functionSPACE — $1.70M
• Sector: DeFi | Geo: Netherlands
• Investors: Smape Capital, Blockwall Management, Maven 11
• Summary: September 25, 2026 Onchain numerical outcome pricing and prediction primitive functionSPACE closes $1.7M pre-seed round led by Maven 11 Capital and Bl...
• Links: Website | X/Twitter

KEY MARKET TAKEAWAYS
1. Infrastructure & Payments Focus: Ongoing capital commitment to Web3 financial rails and digital dollar infrastructure.
2. Sector Allocation: Banking recorded significant capital inflow this period.
3. Global Expansion: Deployment remains active across both mature hubs and emerging growth regions.

jayatalent.com - your trusted hiring partner

Hii everyone! 💛

Big thank you to all of you who've already messaged Anna about your job search status - your info is now updated in our database, yay! 🥰

Haven't done it yet? No worries, just fill in your details here 👉 https://t.me/jayatalent/1658


And pretty please - share your birthday with us too! 🎂 Date + exact time of birth + your timezone.

We really want to remember your special day and surprise you right on time ✨ Our lovely Anna from the Founders Office will add it to the calendar. You all mean so much to our little community 🫶

Did you try the Muse AI agent already? 👀

It connects your Gmail, work apps and socials - and actually works for you: chats with recruiters on your behalf, chases your follow-ups, drafts everything. Super useful, and free.

Not in the United States? Easy fix: VPN on → set US in Chrome → register at https://muse.ai with your email → done, no VPN needed after that.

The mobile and desktop apps aren't available yet, so please use this version for now: https://muse.ai

Note: if your VPN glitches, you might see a "waiting list" message. Just switch to another VPN with a US location and sign up with a new email.

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Code 1: GMZUYI
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About Muse: https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/

💰 WHAT ENGINEERING PAYS (from this week's actual posts)

Kraken (Rust, Poland), OKX (Java, HK/Singapore), Gemini (Platform, US remote), Bybit (Big Data, KL) — hiring across the stack this week.

Market rates (2026):
Mid Backend / Java: $110k – $160k
Senior Rust / Solidity: $160k – $220k
Staff / Platform: $170k – $240k
Smart Contract Auditor: $150k – $220k

+ token allocations typically 0.05–0.5% early-stage.

Worth check: @jayatalentoffice
Looking for additional help with career consultation call - DM @jayatalentoffice "Call"
Open roles at Jaya Talent @jayatalent

From the CEO:

3 years of JayaTalent.com 🎉

We started in Dubai doing one thing leadership hiring for Web3, crypto, and digital assets.

Today the map is a lot bigger: institutional markets, private equity, wealth management, digital assets, ZK and Solana engineering, AI and deep tech, cybersecurity, fintech, longevity tech.


But the thing I'm proudest of isn't the map 👇

When layoffs hit this industry, we opened our network - helping job seekers land roles even when they weren't our clients. That work continues. If you're looking right now, reach out.

And we put real energy into mindfulness: 50+ events worldwide on yoga, meditation, and stress management, plus 100+ webinars on mindset and wellness 🧘 This industry chews people up. Someone should say that out loud. More about our wellness initiative here: https://www.jayatalent.com/meditation


Next year we're bringing more of this to Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Bali, and San Francisco 🌏

Personally - I've been hiring in this space for 10 years and investing in it along the way. I'm more excited about what's coming than I've ever been. The collabs Jaya Talent has lined up... stay tuned 👀


Thank you for being here ❤️

3 years of Jaya Talent 🎉 - and to celebrate, we're doing something we've never done:

$99 for one 1-on-1 career consultation, or $150 for two people - bring a friend.

Here's why: our CEO spent 10 years in hiring — 6 of them in digital assets. She's helped people land jobs at Binance, Coinbase, Tether, Animoca Brands and other tier-1 projects. She knows how to get the job.

One call with her: she goes through your background and tells you exactly what's broken and how to fix it. No generic advice.

Job hunting is miserable alone - so grab someone who's in it with you 😅

Ends October 5th at 3pm Dubai time. DM Anna @jayatalentoffice "Career" to book.

The big shift: LinkedIn replaced its old ranking system with a new AI model ("360Brew") in March 2026.

The key change - your connections now drive only ~10% of your initial distribution (down from 70% in 2024). Half your reach comes from the "interest graph," meaning LinkedIn shows your posts to strangers interested in the topic. Translation: niche authority beats network size now.

What works in 2026:
• Document carousels — top format, ~1.4x reach, 8-12 slides, make them save-worthy
• Short native video (30-90s) — completion rate is a top-3 ranking signal
• Polls — strongest reach multiplier
• Dwell time matters 2.8x more than likes; saves count ~5x a like
• Reply to every comment within 60-90 min — author replies boost distribution
• Zero hashtags outperform hashtag-stuffed posts by 5-10%
• "How I" case studies beat "How to" advice — first-party detail wins
• Newsletters bypass the feed entirely via inbox + push

What's dead:
• Engagement pods — now a terms-of-service violation, documented cases of 8,500 → 340 impressions overnight
• External links in post body — penalized ~20-60%; the "link in first comment" workaround was patched
• Hashtag stuffing, engagement bait, generic AI-sounding posts (human-crafted gets +34% reach)
• Posting more than once a day cannibalizes your own reach ~20%

Want more tips about LinkedIn? DM Anna @jayatalentoffice "LinkedIn" and she will share with your our recent PDF LinkedIn guide.

X open-sourced its algorithm, so we now know the actual ranking weights. A reply is worth 10x a like. A copy-link share? 40x. And bookmarks — the thing everyone told you to beg for — count for literally zero.

The key change: the algorithm studies your last 128 engaged posts, caps how many posts one creator can push into your feed per day, and punishes reports hard (one report = ~468 likes of damage). Translation: replies are the new posts.

What works in 2026:
• Reply-first — 10-15 value replies/day to niche accounts is the #1 growth lever
• Native video under 2:20 — talking-head clips can do millions of impressions with zero followers
• Reply to every comment in the first hour — author-reply chains are the strongest signal in the code
• Engineer for copy-link shares (40x) — posts people DM to friends
• Build mutual follows — mutual replies got a 40x boost in July 2026
• Links in the first reply, never the post body (280 vs 3,100 impressions in one test)
• 1-2 originals + 10-15 replies/day, spaced out

What's dead:
• Links in the post body — suppressed up to 80%
• Engagement bait — banned from monetization and ineffective
• Hashtags — zero ranking weight, use 0-1 max
• "gm" reply spam — every post spends from your daily reach budget
• Buying followers — dead weight that drags your engagement rate down
• Rage-bait/reply-farming — the payout changes killed the whole economy

Want more tips about X? DM Anna @jayatalentoffice "X" and she will share with you our recent PDF X guide.

Open Roles

1. Senior/Staff Data Engineer, Risk Control at Okx
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Apply: Apply Now

2. Java Engineer at Binance
Location: Asia
Apply: Apply Now

3. Go/Java R&D Engineer at Bybit
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Apply: Apply Now

4. Staff Security Engineer, Threat Detection & Response at Gemini
Location: New York, New York; Miami, Florida; Remote (USA)
Apply: Apply Now

5. Senior Enterprise Engineer - Salesforce Platform (EAA - STP) at Coinbase
Location: Remote - USA
Apply: Apply Now

— jayatalent.com - your trusted hiring partner

This year we paid over $17k to our most loyal Jaya Talent members - our community angels - for referring friends who are hiring talent for their projects. You've been behind so many of our placements, and we decided it was time to give it a name.


You asked for it - and we're launching it! 🚀
We are officially opening the Jaya Angels program for the most loyal members of our community 🪽


Perks & Benefits:
💰 Cash Referral Bonuses: Earn cash rewards when you introduce founders or friends looking to hire talent for their projects. Bonuses range from $400 to $12,000 per intro (full fee structure shared upon selection).

For our most active contributors, you'll also unlock:
🎟️ Free Crypto Event Tickets: Complimentary access to major Web3 and crypto conferences.
📚 Education & Skill Upgrades: We'll sponsor courses and platform subscriptions for you — from MasterClass.com to stock market, retirement, and investment strategy courses.
🧘 Wellness & Growth: Free subscriptions to mindfulness platforms and exclusive invites to private wellness events hosted by our partners.


Apply here: https://forms.gle/E3EAw6DE2vGw8YSm9

Congratulations to Karyna on landing her first job in Web3!

It’s an exciting time to join the space, especially with the rapid growth of Ethereum-based decentralized, non-custodial staking protocols.

- Market Growth: 28.89% of Ethereum’s supply is staked, with over one million validators securing the network.
- Rewards: Average staking APR is 3.13%, with liquid staking platforms offering flexibility for DeFi use.
- Decentralization: Non-custodial protocols let users retain private keys and encourage solo staking for greater network security.
- Innovation: Features like restaking and liquid staking derivatives (LSDs) are driving adoption and enhancing yields.

2/ If you’re looking for a job in Web3/crypto → follow t.me/JayaTalent right now. We post fresh roles daily.

3/ If you need a career strategy session, warm intros, CV optimization, or LinkedIn makeover → simply DM “CV” to Founders Office t.me/jayatalentoffice

Congratulations to Ane on Landing Her First Job as a Compliance Officer at a Crypto Exchange!


Crypto Regulation: Key Statistics and Trends in 2024
- Global Regulatory Adoption: By 2024, over 80% of G20 countries have implemented or proposed comprehensive regulations for cryptocurrencies, including licensing requirements for exchanges.
- AML/KYC Compliance: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) policies are now mandatory for over 90% of Tier-1 crypto exchanges globally, ensuring better user verification and security.
- Fines and Enforcement: In 2023 alone, crypto firms faced over $400 million in fines for non-compliance with regulations, highlighting the importance of adhering to legal standards.
- MiCA in Europe: The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation came into effect in the European Union in late 2023, setting a global benchmark for crypto compliance by addressing transparency, consumer protection, and market integrity.
- UAE Leadership: Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has positioned the UAE as a leader in crypto regulation by establishing clear guidelines for licensing, anti-money laundering compliance, and operational transparency.

Ane’s Role as a Compliance Officer
- Regulatory Monitoring: Keeping up-to-date with global regulatory changes to ensure the exchange remains compliant across jurisdictions.
- AML/KYC Programs: Implementing robust Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes to prevent illicit activities.
- Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating compliance risks associated with new products or services offered by the exchange.
- Audit Preparation: Ensuring that all documentation and processes are audit-ready for inspections by regulators.
- Training and Awareness: Educating employees on compliance policies to foster a culture of accountability within the organization.


2/ If you’re looking for a job in Web3/crypto → follow t.me/JayaTalent right now. We post fresh roles daily.
3/ If you need a career strategy session, warm intros, CV optimization, or LinkedIn makeover → simply DM “CV” to Founders Office t.me/jayatalentoffice

Congrats to Victor 🫡

Why Ethereum Layer 2 Solutions Are a Smart Move in 2026? Key Stats
Total Value Secured (TVS)
• $32.3B across Ethereum L2s (as of late March 2026)
Top Performers
• Arbitrum leads with ~$16.2B TVS (DeFi powerhouse)
• Base (Coinbase) strong at ~$11B TVS + massive user activity
• Optimism follows with solid Superchain traction

User Adoption
• L2s handle the vast majority of Ethereum transactions
• Base often drives 60%+ of L2 activity with millions of daily txns
• Record ecosystem-wide active addresses (hundreds of thousands daily on major L2s)

Market Impact
• 90–99% lower fees vs older mainnet levels — most L2 txns now $0.001–$0.05
• Deep liquidity, enterprise integrations, and real consumer apps thriving

Ethereum security + near-zero fees + high throughput.
Base = consumer & onboarding king. Arbitrum = deep DeFi liquidity.

L2s are where the real action is in 2026.

What L2 or use case are you targeting next?

"It was a great session" 🦄

Ishaaq came for a 1-on-1 career consultation - positioning, LinkedIn + CV roadmap, the full works. Now he's walking into Web3 roles with real confidence.

Messages like this are why we do it. 💛

Open roles → t.me/JayaTalent
Book a career consultation service → t.me/jayatalentoffice DM "CV"

Open Roles

1. Senior/Staff Engineer, Decentralize Exchange (DEX) at Okx
Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR; Singapore, Singapore
Apply: Apply Now

2. Staff Software Engineer: Perpetuals at Consensys
Location: EMEA - Remote
Apply: Apply Now

3. QA Engineer, Blockchain at Binance
Location: Asia
Apply: Apply Now

4. [GRC] Principal/Lead Crypto Capital Risk Engineer at Bybit
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Apply: Apply Now

5. Senior Market Data Engineer at Coinbase
Location: Remote - USA
Apply: Apply Now

— jayatalent.com - your trusted hiring partner

Most effective ways to find a job in web3 space now.

To read full report DM "JAYA" t.me/jayatalentoffice

💰 SALARY BENCHMARK: Web3 Engineers (2026)

Junior Solidity (0–2 yrs): $80k – $130k
Mid Solidity / Rust (2–4 yrs): $130k – $180k
Senior Solidity / Rust (4+ yrs): $160k – $220k
Smart Contract Auditor: $150k – $220k
ZK / Cryptography Engineer: $170k – $250k

+ token allocations typically 0.05–0.5% at early stage.

👀 Are you underpaid? If so, DM your CV to @jayatalentoffice — we’ll keep you posted about new roles 💛
#web3salaries

"The session went really well, I enjoyed it" 🦄

Anton is a full-stack blockchain engineer who came for a 1-on-1 career consultation with one big question: how do I move fully into Web3 - and where should I focus?

Zhanna gave him the kind of tips you don't get from a course. Tokenization of securities is about to explode - Ondo Finance is already tokenizing treasuries, and tokenized securities plus 24/7 stock markets are coming next. Her advice: go deep on securities (even Series 65 exam material), because devs who understand the industry - not just the code - will be paid way ahead of the pack +30% on a top.

She also shared some Naval Ravikant-style mindset tools: how to stay focused and clear-headed in this market. Because AI can write code now - the real edge is a stable mind, not chasing dopamine and changing direction every 5 minutes. btw, Zhanna is also certified yoga teacher and has being meditating for the past 6 years.

Smart devs don't just learn to code. They learn the industry. That's how you escape competition for the long term - and get paid well 💛

Open roles → t.me/JayaTalent
Book a career consultation → t.me/jayatalentoffice, DM "CV"

🎉 JayaTalent.com is turning 3! 🎉 and this message is sent to most loyal members of our community ❤️

We wanted to share something special - three years ago, Jaya Talent was just an idea and a laptop. Today it's thousands of you, hundreds of placements, and a community we're so proud of 💛

Thank you for trusting us with your careers, your CVs, and your 2am "should I take this offer??" panics 😄

To celebrate, we've got gifts:
🎁 Our Career Report with salary ranges + guide. Save report here.
🎁 grab a 1-on-1 career call with our CEO Zhanna for just $75, or bring a friend and get 2 calls for $100 ($50 each!) (normally $500 each!)

Where there's a strong fit, she'll personally intro you to her network — outside of our clients, her own connections too 🤝

What’s included:
• 30-min 1:1 call with Zhanna
• Salary strategy & negotiation
• Career & role positioning
• Personal brand + LinkedIn strategy
• Role-specific CV templates
• LinkedIn SEO optimization
• Personalized career strategy + role fit
• Call recording, transcript & notes


⚠️ only 7 spots left out of 20, and this offer disappears in 12 hours.

🎁Want in? Just reply GIFT to Anna @jayatalentoffice


🏆Our talent landed jobs at:
Animoca Brands • Solana • OKX • Binance • SUI • Avalanche • Binance • Coinbase

💬Feedback from our latest career consultations:
Max: https://t.me/jayatalent/1445
Ishaaq: https://t.me/jayatalent/1674
Anton: https://t.me/jayatalent/1684
Nisha: https://t.me/jayatalent/1472
Gideon & Nishant: https://t.me/jayatalent/1251




About Zhanna:
Zhanna is the founder of JayaTalent.com, with 10 years of experience hiring leadership and middle-level teams across the globe.

She's spent the last 6 years recruiting for crypto, based between Dubai and Bali for the past 5. Her agency holds 375,000 pre-vetted candidates with a 98% first-year retention rate, and her talent landed jobs at Coinbase, Binance, Animoca Brands, Robinhood, Circle, OKX, Polygon, Tether and 500+ more companies.

An international speaker at crypto events - Animoca Brands, GITEX Dubai, Expo Dubai she's mentored 2,600 recruiters in blockchain recruitment over the last 5 years, runs the biggest private communities of Web3 headhunters on Telegram.