- Updated: February 3, 2026
- 3 min read
YC Enables Stablecoin Funding for Startups in Latest Batch
In Brief Posted: 11:54 AM PST · February 3, 2026 Image Credits:Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch Dominic-Madori Davis YC startups can now receive investment in stablecoin All startups accepted into YC will soon have the option to receive their seed checks via stablecoins, crypto YC partner Nemil Dalal told The Block. YC’s famous “standard deal” is that it invests $500,000 into startups accepted into its program in exchange for 7% of their companies.Now that deal is hitting the blockchain (Base, Solana, and Ethereum, to be exact), starting with the upcoming spring batch. Dalal said that stablecoin transfers are often more effective, specifically for founders working in emerging markets. But also, YC is putting its money where its mouth is, so to speak. Last fall, YC partnered with Base and Coinbase Ventures to encourage founders to build more blockchain-related companies.Interest in blockchain tech is on the rise again in Silicon Valley as the U.S. has taken steps toward more formal, crypto-friendly regulation of the industry. Topics Crypto, Fintech, In Brief, Startups, Startups, Venture, venture, Y Combinator, yc October 13-15 San Francisco, CA Tickets are live at the lowest rates of the year. Save up to $680 on your pass now.Meet investors. Discover your next portfolio company.Hear from 250+ tech leaders, dive into 200+ sessions, and explore 300+ startups building what’s next. Don’t miss these one-time savings. REGISTER NOW Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.Related TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 2026 plans: What’s next for Startup Battlefield 200 Isabelle Johannessen 2 hours ago Security Homeland Security is trying to force tech companies to hand over data about Trump critics Zack Whittaker 3 hours ago Transportation Skyryse lands another $300M to make flying, even helicopters, simple and safe Kirsten Korosec 3 hours ago Latest in Venture In Brief YC startups can now receive investment in stablecoin Dominic-Madori Davis 1 hour ago Venture How Tether became crypto’s most profitable company — and what it’s building next Maggie Nye 2 hours ago TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 2026 plans: What’s next for Startup Battlefield 200 Isabelle Johannessen 2 hours ago
Andrii Bidochko
CTO UBOS
Andrii Bidochko is an AI entrepreneur and researcher focused on AI agents, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems. He writes about the technologies shaping the future of machine intelligence, from frontier models and agent architectures to real-world AI applications.