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Crypto Bank Anchorage to Command $2B+ Valuation in New Funding Round, Sources Say

The custody firm raised an $80 million Series C in February but did not disclose its valuation at the time.

Anchorage CEO: Regulation Is 'Fundamentally Bullish' for Crypto Space
Anchorage CEO: Regulation Is 'Fundamentally Bullish' for Crypto Space

Cryptocurrency custody firm Anchorage is raising a large funding round that will value the San Francisco-based company at between $2 billion and $3 billion, according to four people familiar with the plans.

“Anchorage is about to raise at a $3 billion valuation,” said one of the people, who asked not to be named. “They’re raising a big round and it’s based on the fact that financial institutions are looking to enter this space.” Another industry insider said the valuation could land in the $2 billion to $3 billion range.

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The forthcoming raise comes as crypto firms are bringing in venture capital valuations that make tech “unicorn” status look quaint. A multibillion-dollar valuation would not be farfetched for Anchorage: Last week, London-based crypto custody firm Copper was reported to be raising $500 million at a $2.5 billion valuation.

Crypto custody, in particular, has become a hot sector, with banks and large fintechs looking to acquire firms specializing in the storage of digital assets, or at least secure a strategic stake in them.

Read more: Crypto Custody Firm Fireblocks Raises $310M at $2B Valuation

Back in February of this year, Anchorage raised an $80 million Series C led by GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund. Also participating in the round were Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Blockchain Capital, Lux and Indico. The firm’s valuation was not disclosed at the time.

Anchorage is distinguished as the first crypto-native firm to receive a federal banking charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), making it the first national “digital asset bank” in the U.S.

Anchorage declined to comment.

CORRECTION (OCT. 28, 9:57 UTC): Corrects attribution for Copper fundraising in third paragraph to a report, not confirmed by Copper.

Ian Allison

Ian Allison is a senior reporter at CoinDesk, focused on institutional and enterprise adoption of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Prior to that, he covered fintech for the International Business Times in London and Newsweek online. He won the State Street Data and Innovation journalist of the year award in 2017, and was runner up the following year. He also earned CoinDesk an honourable mention in the 2020 SABEW Best in Business awards. His November 2022 FTX scoop, which brought down the exchange and its boss Sam Bankman-Fried, won a Polk award, Loeb award and New York Press Club award. Ian graduated from the University of Edinburgh. He holds ETH.

Ian Allison