In 2023, U.S. venture capital firms returned the lowest level of capital to their investors since 2011, with profits amounting to $26 billion. This figure represents a significant decline as firms drew $86 billion for new investments during the same year. The trend appears to be continuing into 2024, characterized by high levels of investment but a scarcity of acquisition deals or initial public offerings (IPOs). The venture capital sector is facing challenges, with firms reportedly 'bleeding cash' amid lackluster deal activity, particularly in the Bay Area tech market. Additionally, investment in the cryptocurrency sector has shown a decline, with total lifetime venture capital and private equity direct startup investments reaching $88 billion, half of which has occurred since January 2022. The third quarter of 2024 marked a downturn, with projections indicating that investments in 2024 could fall approximately 66% compared to the peak years of 2021 and 2022.