Tempo, a payments-first Layer 1 blockchain, has successfully raised $500 million in a Series A funding round, reaching a fully diluted valuation of $5 billion. This significant investment highlights the growing interest in blockchain solutions focused on payment systems. In another major development, Kraken has acquired SMALL Exchange for $100 million. This acquisition aims to enhance Kraken's regulated crypto derivatives offerings, marking a strategic expansion in the derivatives market. Additionally, Daylight Energy and Jito have raised $75 million and $50 million, respectively, contributing to a total of $1.059 billion in crypto funding across 22 projects during the week of October 12-18, 2025.