Share this article

Siemens to Invest in Blockchain Startups

German engineering giant Siemens plans to invest in blockchain startups and projects through a newly created business unit backed by $1.1bn.

Updated Sep 11, 2021, 12:21 p.m. Published Jun 28, 2016, 6:04 p.m.

German engineering giant Siemens plans to invest in blockchain startups and projects through a newly created business unit backed by $1.1bn in capital.

The company announced today that it would spend the money over a five-year period, focus on areas related to artificial intelligence and next-generation propulsion systems for smaller aircraft, as well as "decentralized electronification".

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the The Protocol Newsletter today. See all newsletters

Siemens said in a statement:

"The new unit will also concern itself with so-called blockchain applications that are designed to make data transfer in industry and in energy trading, for example, simpler and more secure."

The new unit, dubbed "next47", will open offices dedicated to the effort in China, Germany and the US.

More For You

KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

16:9 Image

KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

More For You

Deus X CEO Tim Grant: We aren't replacing finance; we're integrating it

Deus X CEO Tim Grant (Deus X)

The Deus X CEO discussed his journey into digital assets, the company's infrastructure-led growth strategy, and why his Consensus Hong Kong panel promises "real talk only."

What to know:

  • Tim Grant entered crypto in 2015 after early exposure to Ripple and Coinbase, drawn by blockchain’s ability to improve traditional finance rather than replace it.
  • Deus X combines investing and operating to build regulated digital finance infrastructure across payments, prime services, and institutional DeFi.
  • Grant will be speaking at Consensus Hong Kong in February.