Polymarket, Kashi steal the spotlight

Crypto investors infused fresh capital into innovative blockchain ventures this week, despite market volatility keeping traders on edge.

Polymarket and Kashi emerged as standout deals from Oct. 5-11, signaling growing institutional interest in decentralized prediction markets.

Some 20 companies secured nearly $3.2 billion in crypto funding, including those that specialize in derivatives, asset management, and even Bitcoin-backed life insurance.

Here’s a breakdown of this week’s top announcements, according to Crypto Fundraising data:

Polymarket

• Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) invested $2 billion in Polymarket, valuing the decentralized prediction-market platform at $8 billion pre-investment. It also gained exclusive global rights to distribute Polymarket’s event-driven probability data to institutional clients.
• Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan called the deal a milestone for bringing prediction markets into the financial mainstream.
• The investment follows Polymarket’s return to the U.S. market after overcoming regulatory challenges, including the acquisition of QCX to reestablish domestic operations and the addition of Donald Trump Jr. to its advisory board.

Kalshi

• Kalshi secured $300 million in fresh funding at a $5 billion valuation, doubling its worth since June.
• The platform now leads global prediction markets with over 60% share and $50 billion in annualized trading volume.
• Expansion into 140 countries positions Kalshi as a global force amid growing interest in real-world betting.

DDC Enterprise

• DDC Enterprise Ltd. secured $124 million in equity financing at $10 per Class A share, a 16% premium to its Oct. 7 closing price.
• The round was led by PAG Pegasus Fund and Mulana Investment Management, with participation from OKG Financial Services and DDC CEO Norma Chu, who personally invested $3 million.
• The capital will advance DDC’s Bitcoin treasury strategy.

Meanwhile

• Meanwhile, touted as the first regulated Bitcoin life insurer, raised $82 million in a funding round co-led by Bain Capital Crypto and Haun Ventures, with participation from Pantera Capital, Apollo, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, and Stillmark.
• The funding will expand global access to Bitcoin-denominated life insurance, annuities, savings, and insurance bonds, helping policyholders hedge against inflation and currency risk.
• Meanwhile, regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority, has seen over 200% growth in Bitcoin assets under management. Its total funding in 2025 is around $122 million. It previously raised a $40 million in a Series A co-led by Framework Ventures and Fulgur Ventures.

Amdax

• Amdax, a Dutch crypto service provider, raised €30 million ($35 million) in a funding round to launch Amsterdam Bitcoin Treasury Strategy.
• The firm aims to accumulate up to 210,000 BTC, potentially becoming the second-largest corporate Bitcoin holder after MicroStrategy

Bee Maps

• Bee Maps secured a Series A funding round led by Pantera Capital to scale its AI-powered decentralized mapping network on Hivemapper.
• Funding will boost dashcam deployment, AI model upgrades, and HONEY token rewards.
• The company introduced a new $19 monthly Bee Membership plan to replace upfront hardware costs, expanding accessibility to contributors.