http://www.ibtimes.com/google-citi-goldman-sachs-among-blockchains-biggest-investors-2603162The CB Insights report tallied a total of $390 million in 2016 and $327 million from 42 equity investments deals so far in 2017. Over the past three years, 9 of the 10 largest American banks participated in fundraising rounds for six blockchain companies, which altogether amassed $267 million. This means a huge chunk of all corporate investments in the blockchain community are going to just a few companies, such as the fintech startup R3.
The rogue bitcoin community may have invented and pioneered the concept of blockchain technology. However, the old guard of American fintech is still playing a nuanced role in the rise of this new global system.
Google’s venture capital firm Alphabet came in as the world’s second biggest corporate investor, behind the Japanese finance giant SBI Holdings. Alphabet invested in companies such as Ripple and the trading platform LedgerX, both of which work with cryptocurrency. The American banks Citi and Goldman Sachs also ranked in the top five firms, investing in startups like Digital Asset Holdings, which has reportedly raised $110 million so far under the leadership of former JPMorgan Chase executive Blythe Masters. JPMorgan Chase invested in Masters’ startup as well, while simultaneously funding development for the open source blockchain platform Quorum.
