Navigating the Crypto Winter: Startup Opportunities from the Perspective of VCs

Alliance, a US crypto startup accelerator, reported on June 17, 2026 that its latest early-stage application cycle saw total applications double compared to the previous quarter, its strongest cycle since its founding. Co-founder Imran Khan said founders are entering new categories including stablecoin applications, AI, agentic payments, and robotics, and set a goal of tripling application volume over the next year. The article argues this contrasts with talk of a crypto winter, but says the growth may not signal a rapid market expansion, reflecting instead a shift toward application-layer work on mature infrastructure.