Welcome to History of Crypto, a Cointelegraph series that brings readers back to the most significant events in the crypto space. Powered by Phemex, the timeline allows crypto community members to explore and look back at the important events that shaped the industry into what it is today. This article explores the pivotal period from 2013 to 2015 in the cryptocurrency world — a time of significant advancements and notable challenges. During this period, the increasing mainstream adoption of Bitcoin BTC $69,315 marked a critical shift toward recognizing digital currencies. However, this era also witnessed the dramatic fall of Mt. Gox, underscoring the risks and volatility in the burgeoning crypto market.

Bloomberg reported a $50 million nonfungible token (NFT)-aimed raise in the works at Hivemind Capital and a $69 million round for the blockchain Berachain. Compare that to the $5.75 billion across 58 funds crypto-focused VCs raised last year — below 2022’s record year of $37.7 billion across 262 funds, Galaxy Digital reported in January.

The crypto market has been on a run so far this year, with Bitcoin twice nailing new all-time highs in March, which has seen VC funding perk up. Blockchain game publisher Immutable launched a $100 million fund for blockchain games last week, and last month VC firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) put $100 million toward Ethereum restaking protocol EigenLayer.

Plaintiffs seek damages arising from Binance’s alleged violation of Section 12(a)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act), 15 U.S.C. § 77l(a)(1), which they claim occurred when Binance unlawfully promoted, offered, and sold billions of dollars’ worth of crypto-assets called “tokens,” which were not registered as securities.

An increasing number of businesses are already embracing digital currencies as a valid payment option. Recent data from a Binance survey underscores this shift, as over a third of those surveyed reported using crypto for purchases on a weekly basis, with more than half of these transactions happening online. Online transactions emerge as a robust pathway for embedding digital currencies into daily routines. They offer a seamless bridge between the digital and physical realms, making cryptocurrencies more accessible and practical for everyday use.