Grayscale Reportedly Delays IPO Plans Amid Weak Crypto Market Conditions

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-05-29Last updated on 2026-05-29

Abstract

Asset management giant Grayscale has reportedly postponed its plans for an initial public offering (IPO) due to weak cryptocurrency market conditions, according to an anonymous source. The Stamford-based firm, a major global crypto asset manager and affiliate of DCG, will not resume IPO efforts until the fourth quarter at the earliest. Grayscale, which confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO in November last year, has entered an SEC-mandated quiet period and declined to comment. The delay reflects a broader cooling of investor enthusiasm for digital asset IPOs. Following a surge of interest in 2019, deteriorating market conditions, reduced trading activity, and disappointing post-listing performances from recent crypto companies have led several prominent firms to postpone their public listings, awaiting more favorable and stable market circumstances.

An individual familiar with the situation said that market circumstances had caused asset management behemoth Grayscale to postpone its intentions to go public, making it the latest cryptocurrency company to do so.

This individual spoke on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the subject, but they did say that the Stamford-based investment business has put its IPO plans on hold and would not resume them until the fourth quarter, at the earliest.

One of the biggest crypto asset managers in the world and a DCG affiliate, Grayscale is responsible for the Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC). In November of last year, the company confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. A representative from Grayscale said in an email that the company is now unable to respond because of the SEC-mandated quiet period.

Fading IPO Enthusiasm

Investors may have safe and regulated access to the cryptocurrency market with Grayscale, a top digital asset investing platform. The company removes the operational complexity of purchasing, storing, and maintaining cryptocurrency by providing institutional and individual investors with access to digital assets via a suite of investment products that include single-asset, diversified, and themed investments. Established in 2013, the company has been instrumental in connecting the dots between conventional banking and the rapidly developing digital asset ecosystem.

After a renaissance in investor interest in digital-asset businesses in 2019 thanks to successful public offerings from various companies, crypto firms went into 2026 expecting an IPO boom. But since then, investors have been less enthusiastic about further digital asset IPOs due to deteriorating market conditions, less trading activity, and disappointing post-listing performance from newly public corporations. Consequently, a number of prominent cryptocurrency companies have postponed their initial public offerings (IPOs) in anticipation of more stable market circumstances.

Highlighted Crypto News Today:

Paxos Becomes First Blockchain-Native SEC-Approved Clearing Agency

Unitree Passes the Hearing, Hangzhou Reaps the Rewards

Unitree Technology, a leading company in Hangzhou's tech scene known as one of the "Hangzhou Six Dragons," has officially passed the review for listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's STAR Market (科创板). It plans to raise 4.202 billion yuan for the research and development of intelligent robot models and robot hardware. This milestone will make Unitree the "first humanoid robotics stock." Founded in 2016 by Wang Xingxing, the company started humbly in a small office in Hangzhou's Binjiang district. Initially, the robotics sector was not viewed favorably by the market, with Unitree's products often labeled as "toys" and struggling to secure funding. At its most critical point, with only around 100,000 yuan left, Wang stopped his own salary to keep the company afloat. A crucial turning point came in 2018 when Hangzhou's state-owned capital system provided timely support. A financial platform under the city's state-owned assets completed due diligence in three days and granted a 20-million-yuan loan within a week. This "patient capital" infusion stabilized Unitree, enabling its transition from prototype development to mass production and commercial viability. Subsequently, Hangzhou Capital, through its two major 100-billion-yuan mother funds—the Hangzhou Science and Technology Innovation Fund and the Hangzhou Innovation Fund—participated in four of Unitree's financing rounds (B2, B3, C, and C+). This continuous backing helped the company grow, attract top-tier industrial investors like China Mobile, Tencent, Alibaba, and Geely, and solidify its position as a global leader in legged robotics. By 2025, Unitree achieved significant scale, with revenue reaching 16.99 billion yuan, net profit of 5.91 billion yuan, global leadership in humanoid robot shipments, and over 33,000 quadruped robots sold worldwide. Unitree's journey exemplifies Hangzhou's strategy of nurturing hard-tech startups from "seedlings" to industry leaders. Beyond Unitree, Hangzhou's capital ecosystem has supported other "Six Dragons" like Cloudwalk, BrainCo, and DeepSeek. The city has established a 500-billion-yuan "3+N" industrial fund cluster and specialized early-stage funds like the "Runmiao Fund" with a 20-year term to fill funding gaps for very early-stage projects. This robust "capital + talent" model, coupled with an influx of over 430,000 young professionals in 2025 alone, has fostered a vibrant innovation ecosystem. Hangzhou is now home to 48 unicorns and 413 potential unicorns, building comprehensive industrial chains in AI, robotics, brain-computer interfaces, and more. As Hangzhou experiences a wave of IPOs, it is solidifying its reputation as an ideal city for entrepreneurs.

marsbit1m ago

Unitree Passes the Hearing, Hangzhou Reaps the Rewards

marsbit1m ago

Mystery Trader Dumps $1.26B in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF

A mystery trader sold a massive block of 29.2 million shares of BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) for $1.26 billion via a dark pool. NYDIG's Greg Cipolaro analyzed the trade, noting the seller accepted a price $1.01 below market value, forfeiting $29.5 million for immediate execution. He speculates this indicates a large directional holder exiting a concentrated position, not a basis-trade unwind. The sale occurred amid a broader trend of outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which have seen 11 consecutive days of net withdrawals totaling over $2.9 billion since mid-May. Bitcoin's price dipped 2.8% following the block trade, but analysts noted the market absorbed the large sale relatively well. Overall market sentiment remains cautious, with a key "fear" index averaging in "fear" territory for May.

TheNewsCrypto12m ago

Mystery Trader Dumps $1.26B in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF

TheNewsCrypto12m ago

Are Rising U.S. Stocks Getting More Dangerous? Goldman Sachs: Downside Protection Mechanisms Have Almost Failed

The US stock market rally is showing signs of becoming increasingly precarious as key downside protection mechanisms fail, according to Goldman Sachs. Derivatives strategist Brian Garrett notes that the S&P 500 options volatility skew has plunged to an 18-month low, indicating the market now prices an 8% probability for both a 10% drop and a 10% rise—a sign of "skew failure." Concurrently, Goldman's Panic Index hit a two-year low, reflecting minimal demand for tail-risk hedging. This complacency emerges amid a relentless market surge, with the S&P 500 setting new records frequently in 2024. Garrett highlights three major concerns: extreme concentration in the top ten stocks (40% of index weight), heavy reliance on AI-themed performance, and a price pattern eerily similar to the 1998-1999 period. Despite pervasive media pessimism, this fear is absent in options pricing. Downside hedge costs are historically low. Goldman suggests tactical trades: buying RSP outperformance options versus the SPX for a broadening rally, purchasing VIX calls for protection, and going long on Bitcoin ETF volatility. Hedge funds have been net buyers for two weeks, with sector rotation into financials and out of industrials. Notably, the global single-stock leveraged/ inverse ETF AUM has doubled to over $60 billion in two months, underscoring growing speculative activity.

marsbit27m ago

Are Rising U.S. Stocks Getting More Dangerous? Goldman Sachs: Downside Protection Mechanisms Have Almost Failed

marsbit27m ago

DAT Failure? Listed Companies Betting on HYPE Floating Profit of $12.5 Billion

Several public companies that adopted a "HYPE Treasury" strategy—holding significant reserves of the HYPE token from the Hyperliquid ecosystem—have achieved substantial paper gains, collectively exceeding $1.25 billion. This contrasts with the reported struggles of MicroStrategy's flagship BTC treasury strategy. The article profiles three such HYPE-focused treasury companies: 1. **Hyperliquid Strategies Inc. (PURR):** The largest holder, with approximately 22.3 million HYPE tokens valued at ~$1.636 billion, resulting in an unrealized gain of ~$1.22 billion. It has fully transitioned from a biotech firm to a dedicated crypto treasury, adding staking and validator operations to enhance returns. 2. **Hyperion DeFi (HYPD):** Holds around 2 million HYPE tokens (~$147 million value) with a gain of ~$49.4 million. It is deeply integrated into the Hyperliquid ecosystem, running a major validator node and building DeFi products for additional yield. 3. **Lion Group Holding (LGHL):** A smaller holder with ~194,000 HYPE tokens (~$14.14 million value), maintaining a long-term commitment to the token. The success of these HYPE treasuries is attributed not only to the token's significant price appreciation but also to active on-chain participation through staking, validation, and ecosystem integrations, creating a compounding "flywheel" effect. The article posits that while MicroStrategy's BTC strategy faces challenges, HYPE treasuries may offer a more sustainable model through deeper protocol engagement, with potential for further growth if HYPE's price rises as predicted by some analysts.

marsbit48m ago

DAT Failure? Listed Companies Betting on HYPE Floating Profit of $12.5 Billion

marsbit48m ago

DAT Failing? Listed Companies Betting on HYPE Have Floating Profits of $12.5 Billion

Facing a potential need to sell Bitcoin to pay dividends amid a $12.5B quarterly net loss, the crypto treasury strategy pioneered by Strategy appears strained. In contrast, public companies that adopted a similar strategy by betting on the HYPE token are seeing massive gains, with collective unrealized profits exceeding $1.25 billion. Three key HYPE treasury companies are highlighted: 1. **Hyperliquid Strategies Inc. (PURR):** The largest holder, with approximately 22.3 million HYPE tokens valued at ~$1.636 billion, resulting in ~$1.22 billion in unrealized gains. It has fully transitioned from a biotech firm to a native crypto treasury, focusing on staking and ecosystem participation via validator operations. 2. **Hyperion DeFi (HYPD):** Holds about 2 million HYPE tokens (~$147M value) with ~$49.4M in gains. It is deeply integrated into the Hyperliquid ecosystem, running a top validator node and building DeFi products to generate additional yield. 3. **Lion Group Holding (LGHL):** A smaller player holding ~193,775 HYPE tokens (~$14.14M value), maintaining a long-term holding strategy alongside other crypto assets. The article argues that HYPE treasuries have an advantage over Bitcoin-based ones like Strategy's. Their success stems not just from price appreciation but from active on-chain participation—staking, earning validator rewards, and engaging with ecosystem protocols—creating a compounding "flywheel" effect. With Hyperliquid dominating the on-chain perpetuals market and HYPE's tokenomics encouraging buys and burns, these treasuries are positioned to benefit further if HYPE's price rises as some predict. While the original Bitcoin treasury strategy isn't declared a failure, the current narrative highlights the outsized success of early movers into the HYPE ecosystem.

Odaily星球日报52m ago

DAT Failing? Listed Companies Betting on HYPE Have Floating Profits of $12.5 Billion

Odaily星球日报52m ago

Trading

Spot

Futures