Startups Ask Me This Every Week: What’s Still Fundable in Crypto Right Now?

The crypto market may be past its wildest hype cycles, but one question still comes up in every serious startup, and not only, pitch: what’s actually fundable right now? In a space that’s evolving fast and fragmenting even faster, knowing where investor attention is going – and why – can be the difference between building noise and building traction.

To help cut through the noise, we sat down with Arturas Svirskis, co-founder of Cryptexus and long-time fintech and crypto advisor, whose global client list includes early-stage crypto startups, institutional players, and real-world asset tokenization platforms. With over a decade in both blockchain and traditional finance, Arturas brings a uniquely grounded perspective.

In this conversation, we dig into:

• Which crypto-native solutions are actually solving business problems
• Why compliance is now a growth unlock (not a blocker)
• What’s happening with stablecoins, RWAs, and tokenization in emerging markets
• Where the most open-minded Web3 environments are right now – and why they’re not all in the West

Let’s get into it.

The State of Crypto and FinTech Today

What stable trends are you seeing today at the intersection of FinTech and Web3? Could you share your medium-term forecast for how this relationship might evolve?

Since 2014, I’ve been involved in both blockchain and traditional FinTech areas like payments and lending. I still keep an eye on these sectors. Therefore, a few stable trends in FinTech and Web3 have become obvious to me:

• Stablecoins and on-chain payments are becoming part of the actual infrastructure. FinTech companies are integrating USDC, USDT, and regulated (or not necessarily) into wallets, remittance apps (especially diaspora payment systems), and internal payment flows (JP Morgan and other industry giants). It’s no longer about replacing banks – it’s more about improving what already exists using more efficient rails than SEPA, SWIFT, etc.
• Tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is moving forward. Nowadays, regulated players are testing how to bring assets like real estate or government bonds onto the blockchain. This creates a practical middle ground between DeFi and traditional finance, transparency, and programmability. Based on personal experience, tokenisation of loans (as a type of RWA) will make a huge impact on emerging markets, as it will open the doors widely for liquidity, which cannot be provided by local banks or financial institutions: one of my clients, AfriCred, does that.
• Regulation is also playing a big role. MiCA in Europe is pushing the market toward more clarity, and the U.S. is also offering slightly more direction when it comes to things like stablecoin frameworks and token classification. 

This shift also brings more attention to compliance tech tools like AMLBot and other KYC/AML providers that help companies meet requirements across both Web3 and traditional frameworks.

Looking at the next few years, I expect this trend to continue. Web3 infrastructure will stay behind the scenes of fintech apps, and for the end user, it will be just about good UX. It won’t necessarily feel like “crypto” usage. Crypto and blockchain will be used in the backend, but the end user will get services… just faster, cheaper, and more global.

What real-world challenges are businesses still facing when trying to use cryptocurrencies for payments, reporting, or cross-border transfers? How are these issues being handled today, and are there signs they might be resolved at a systemic level?

That’s something we’re solving every day. There are still a few practical challenges businesses face when using crypto in real operations:

• Banking friction. Even today, companies that use crypto often struggle to open or maintain bank accounts, as they’re treated as high-risk clients. This is improving slowly – especially in more crypto-friendly jurisdictions – but it’s still a headache in many regions. In some cases, just mentioning “blockchain” in your company profile is enough to get rejected by banks.
• Accounting and reporting. Most accounting tools weren’t built for crypto. Handling things like on-chain transactions, fluctuating asset prices, or gas fees in a compliant way takes time and often requires custom solutions or manual work. Even our accountant at Cryptexus struggled to properly put crypto on the balance sheet a few years ago when clients paid us in crypto. It’s not just about tools – it’s also about people. There are still very few accounting professionals who feel confident working with digital assets. The lack of clarity from regulators and local tax offices only adds to the confusion.
• Lack of global standards. One country may treat a token as a utility, another as a security, and a third might not even have rules yet. This creates uncertainty for businesses that operate internationally. Even something simple like issuing a crypto invoice becomes complicated when you’re dealing with VAT, capital gains, or AML flags, depending on where your counterparty is based.

The State of Crypto and FinTech Today

Which traditional industries are currently integrating cryptocurrencies into their existing processes most actively? In your opinion, which sectors are likely to follow next, and why?

Indeed, some industries are adopting blockchain technology faster than others, and usually for very practical reasons.

Remittances and cross-border payments are leading the way. Companies in this space are already using stablecoins like USDC or USDT to reduce fees, speed up settlements, and avoid the friction of traditional banking systems. This is especially relevant in emerging markets, such as parts of Africa or Southeast Asia, where banking infrastructure is weak or access to USD is limited. In many of these regions, crypto isn’t just a trend – it’s a tool that solves real problems.

E-commerce and digital services are also gaining momentum. While transaction volumes aren’t massive yet, the growth is consistent. Accepting stablecoins or even Bitcoin gives merchants and platforms an alternative in countries with currency volatility or unreliable payment rails. Just recently, Shopify, Stripe, and Coinbase announced a collaboration that will allow crypto payments to be enabled for all Shopify-powered stores. That’s a big step forward. When large payment infrastructure providers start offering crypto as a standard option, it becomes much easier for traditional e-commerce businesses to explore it without needing to build anything themselves.

Gaming is another area often mentioned, although I have mixed feelings about it. The idea behind blockchain in gaming is to give players ownership of in-game assets – skins, characters, or virtual land – by turning them into NFTs or other tokenized items (we all know what was the hype around NFTs, and where most of them are now). This enables secondary markets and true asset portability across platforms. The challenge is that many projects focus too much on the crypto mechanics and not enough on the quality of the game itself.

Real estate is starting to experiment with tokenization, particularly under the broader category of RWAs. In many cases, tokenizing a property allows fractional ownership and better access to capital, especially in markets where it’s hard to raise money traditionally. It also brings more liquidity to deals that were previously accessible only to institutional investors, like large-scale developments or commercial buildings.

Finally, there’s a “quiet” but important area: supply chain and logistics. Blockchain, combined with IoT devices, can provide end-to-end traceability, verifying conditions like temperature or location during transit. This is important in sectors like pharmaceuticals, food, and luxury goods. Even major players like Maersk have explored blockchain-based solutions in collaboration with IBM. Their platform aimed to streamline documentation and improve transparency in global shipping. While Maersk eventually phased out the initiative due to industry-wide adoption challenges, the concept is still valid and evolving in other forms.

Have you come across any unexpected use cases in your work where crypto or blockchain solutions became essential to business operations?

Since I’ve been in crypto since 2014, it’s hard to surprise me, but I still come across interesting real-life use cases from time to time.

From the most recent ones. My consulting company worked with some logistics companies that were using or planning to use blockchain, not for payments, but to track cargo temperature via IoT sensors. The data gets recorded on-chain to ensure no manipulation in case of disputes. Boring case, but solves the real need.

Another one is a remittance startup in Africa using stablecoins in order to transfer currencies between neighboring countries. Local banks do that for over 5%, while they were able to do that for ~2%. Huge value for residents and businesses.

Building Crypto Infrastructure That Solves Real Problems

If you were to create a new infrastructure product today, not for investors, but to solve a real business need, what would it be and why?

I might sound boring, but I’d still go with RWA tokenization, especially focused on emerging markets like Africa and the Caribbean.

There’s massive untapped potential there. You can start with residential real estate, where access to affordable housing is a growing problem. Tokenization can help unlock capital for development and open the door to fractional ownership, even for small investors or diaspora communities who want to invest back home.

Then there’s tokenization of loans – something platforms like AfriCred are exploring – to support MSMEs that are underserved by traditional finance. These businesses need working capital, and investors are often willing to back them if there’s proper transparency, structure, and risk assessment. Blockchain can bring that framework.

Finally, commodities like gold, diamonds, and other natural resources can be tokenized for better traceability, ownership clarity, and easier access to global markets. Many of these industries still run on fragmented, paper-based systems. Blockchain infrastructure could really change that.

It’s not about building another flashy DeFi protocol. It’s about solving real problems – funding gaps, access to capital, ownership rights – in places where traditional systems have failed or are just too slow to evolve.

You work with clients all over the world – where are the most favorable conditions for Web3 development right now, and what makes those regions stand out?

From what I see, Europe is currently one of the most active regions for Web3 setup, mainly because of MiCA. Many companies are rushing to become compliant, and that creates demand for services like license application support, compliance documentation, audits, and even filling board member positions. But let’s be honest: Europe is pushing companies to act by force – if you want to serve EU customers, you have to comply.

On the other hand, I’m quite impressed by the UAE’s approach, especially Dubai. The government is positioning itself as Web3-friendly through clear regulation, incentives, and collaboration. They aren’t just tolerating the industry – they’re actively trying to attract it. Startups get support, VCs are present, and the ecosystem feels more open and business-oriented. This mindset makes a big difference.

That’s the key contrast: Europe enforces, UAE attracts.

Even though my team at Cryptexus works globally, we see the same patterns everywhere – clients need help with investment materials, licensing, and go-to-market strategies. Whether it’s the US, Singapore, or the Caribbean, the core needs don’t change that much.

Regulation, Compliance, and Institutional Shifts

Would you say the FinTech industry is currently embracing a “compliance-first” approach? More broadly, how is regulation shaping the adoption of crypto solutions in B2B and the financial sector?

Absolutely, in Europe especially, the FinTech industry is very much embracing a compliance-first mindset, and for a good reason. With the arrival of the MiCA regulation, there’s no way around it: projects must be fully compliant to operate legally and build trust with customers and partners. So yes, it’s really compliance, compliance, compliance.

This focus has created a boom for what I call the “picks and shovels” players – compliance tech companies like AMLBot and others specializing in KYC, KYB, KYT, and transaction monitoring. These tools are becoming essential building blocks for any FinTech or crypto business wanting to scale in Europe. It’s no longer optional to just ‘hope’ you’re compliant; companies need solid, integrated compliance solutions from day one.

The US, South Korea, and other regions are catching up with clearer regulatory guidance on stablecoins, securities tokens, and crypto custody. While this sometimes slows down adoption, it also paves the way for more institutional participation and broader market maturity.

So, while it might not be the most glamorous story, regulation and compliance are the backbone for real, sustainable growth in fintech and crypto adoption, especially in B2B and financial services.

Unfortunately, Blockchain and crypto lose their original concept – giving power back to people. With such regulations, crypto becomes just another digital asset which is monitored (and sometimes even controlled) by centralised institutions.

Institutional players in finance are actively experimenting with Web3 and launching crypto-based products. Do you expect any fundamental shifts in this space, and if so, what might drive them?

To be honest, I don’t expect any dramatic shifts in the short term.

Most of the core financial instruments around crypto already exist: spot trading, leverage trading, derivatives, and now ETFs since the beginning of 2024. These products are already well-developed, especially for Bitcoin and Ethereum. Nowadays, more coins like XPR, SOL, and others are being constantly mentioned as following ETF candidates.

What I do see, however, is a steady but important evolution: traditional financial institutions are starting to adopt blockchain technology not just for crypto exposure, but to tokenize their own assets – bonds, money market funds, even parts of the stock market infrastructure. The idea is to bring these instruments on-chain to benefit from faster settlement, 24/7 market access, and better transparency.

This is the real shift in my opinion – not about inventing new products, but about moving traditional financial products onto new rails. Banks and asset managers aren’t doing this for hype; they’re doing it because they see blockchain as a way to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and stay competitive.

The Future of Crypto in the Real Economy

How do you view the future of three digital asset classes – Bitcoin, altcoins, and stablecoins – in terms of their potential use in the real economy?

From my perspective, each of these asset classes – Bitcoin, altcoins, and stablecoins – has a very different trajectory when it comes to real-world usage.

In my opinion, Bitcoin has solidified its position as a kind of digital gold. It’s not really used for daily transactions anymore, and I don’t see that changing. Instead, it’s a store of value, especially in regions where local currencies are unstable. It’s slow, but it’s secure and not as volatile as altcoins.

Stablecoins are the most relevant for real economic activity today. Whether it’s remittances, cross-border B2B settlements, or even just holding value in USD terms, stablecoins are already being used at scale, especially in emerging markets. I see fintechs integrating USDC/USDT or similar assets into their apps not because it’s trendy, but because it’s cheaper, faster, and more practical than traditional banking rails. I expect stablecoins to continue growing, particularly if regulatory clarity (like the MiCA stablecoin framework or upcoming US bills) catches up.

Altcoins are a mixed bag. Most don’t have real-world usage today, and many won’t survive long term, as most of the projects don’t really need tokens, and such digital assets are issued for fundraising purposes, not for the utility inside the business.

In short:

• Bitcoin = value storage
• Stablecoins = real economy utility
• Altcoins = potential, but only if tied to something tangible

What do you think the role of cryptocurrencies and decentralized solutions will look like in the real economy in 3–5 years? Which tools or technologies might become essential parts of business infrastructure?

In the next 3–5 years, I think we’ll see crypto and (de)centralized tech playing a much more practical role in the real economy – less hype, more utility.

The stablecoin crash will last for a couple of years. Now, everyone issues stablecoins – USDC, USDT, PayPal, JP Morgan, even Trump does that. It seems that every financial giant needs its own stablecoin. On the other hand, they will likely become a key part of cross-border payments and treasury operations, especially in emerging markets. They’re fast, cheap, and don’t rely on outdated banking rails. I already see fintechs starting to integrate stablecoins quietly, not to make headlines but because it solves real issues.

Tokenization of RWAs will also continue to grow. Businesses and institutions are starting to realize that putting assets like real estate, debt, or commodities on-chain can improve liquidity, transparency, and access. It’s not about replacing traditional finance – it’s about improving what already exists.