In a recent interview, OKX Ventures founder Jeff Ren made an important statement about the criteria that make crypto startups worthy of investment. According to Ren, successful projects must combine a robust technology infrastructure with the ability to adapt to changing market needs.

Jeff Ren noted that while a solid technical foundation is important, equally important is the “ability to understand the market and pivot when needed.” This is a key quality for founders looking to raise funding from OKX Ventures.

OKX has invested over $100 million in 60 crypto startups in 2024, with a focus on the Solana, Sui, Aptos, TON, and Bitcoin ecosystems. Ren added that the company analyzes market trends and user needs through its OKX wallet to make informed investment decisions.

Ren emphasized that when evaluating investment opportunities, OKX initially considers whether its wallet infrastructure can support and "create value" together with the startup founders. In this context, the flexibility and innovation that startups can offer becomes critical to attract investors' attention.

Shi Khai Wei, founder of crypto-focused venture capital firm LongHash Ventures, reported last April that it has become more difficult to get venture funding compared to 2020-2021, when some startups have raised tens of millions of dollars with just a few team members and some lofty promises.