GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE VOLUME BY STAGE

Venture capital investment in fintechs reached $12 billion in Q1 2026, up 5% year-over-year. Of that total, $6.9 billion was allocated to late-stage and growth rounds.

The number of deals, however, fell 31%. At the same time, average round size increased from $10.4 million to $16 million, representing a 54% increase per transaction. In other words, fewer companies are raising capital, but those that do are securing significantly larger checks.

Three rounds highlighted by Crunchbase help explain this dynamic: Kalshi ($1 billion, Series F), Vestwell ($385 million, Series E), and Rain ($250 million, Series C). Together, these financings account for more than $1.6 billion. Excluding them, the quarter would have posted negative growth.

What is emerging is a market operating at two distinct speeds. At the top, companies with proven traction continue to attract larger rounds and valuations that can double within months. At the broader market level, competition for capital has become increasingly selective, while overall funding activity remains largely stagnant.

GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE VOLUME BY STAGE

By DealMaker Insights | DealMaker