The $11.2 billion in 2026 funding that killed crypto’s permissionless era
60-second summary
Regulated firms are receiving massive funding, with a total of $11.2 billion invested in the first half of 2026, marking a significant shift in the crypto landscape. Key players like BlackRock and Goldman are partnering with Persian Gulf sovereigns to support regulated entities, effectively ending crypto's permissionless era, as traditional finance seeps into the space.
Dubai-based crypto lawyer Irina Heaver and her team parsed every crypto deal in the first half of 2026. BlackRock, Goldman, and Persian Gulf sovereigns all wrote checks to regulated firms.