Synopsis: Animoca Brands plans to go public on Nasdaq via a reverse merger with Currenc Group, aiming to form the first listed digital assets conglomerate, offering broad institutional altcoin exposure.
Animoca Brands, a blockchain gaming and crypto investment leader, has announced plans to go public on Nasdaq. The company intends to achieve this through a reverse merger with Currenc Group, a Singapore-based fintech specialized in AI-driven cross-border payments.
This move, targeting a late 2026 debut, seeks to create the world’s first publicly-listed digital assets conglomerate, giving institutional and retail investors broad access to a diversified altcoin market.
What the Merger Means for Investors
The reverse merger structure will result in Animoca shareholders owning about 95% of the new publicly-listed entity, which will operate under Animoca’s name. This arrangement allows Animoca to bypass the lengthy traditional IPO process. As co-founder Yat Siu explained, this initiative will provide investors with a diversified vehicle, similar to MicroStrategy but for a basket of over 600 institutional-ready altcoins with real use cases.
Siu emphasized that institutional investors commonly buy established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum but face challenges accessing a substantial quarter of the market made up of altcoins. Animoca offers a solution by pooling this exposure, thus removing the guesswork in selecting individual altcoins. The company’s investments span various sectors such as Web3 gaming, decentralized identity, and real-world asset tokenization.
Animoca’s Unique Position
Founded in 2011 and entering crypto in 2017, Animoca Brands has built a formidable portfolio with over 600 investments globally. Its holdings include popular tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and its own MOCA token. Animoca also leads in blockchain gaming projects like Axie Infinity and The Sandbox.
Siu noted, “Most of the world still doesn’t have crypto or understand it fully.” The listing aims to democratize crypto access for billions who currently participate in stock markets but stay outside the crypto space. The proposed Nasdaq entity will act as an institutional gateway, offering transparency and easier exposure to the growing altcoin economy.
Timeline
The merger still requires shareholder and regulatory approvals and finalization of merger details, which can take 9 to 12 months. Currenc Group’s shares saw volatility around the announcement, reflecting market excitement and cautious optimism.
Animoca’s move comes during a time when altcoins face market volatility but represent significant growth potential. The company hopes regulators will support use-case tokens and sees this as a chance to bridge traditional finance with the Web3 ecosystem, expanding crypto’s reach.
Investor Perspective
This Nasdaq listing is a bold yet strategic step by Animoca Brands. Instead of relying on the risky approach of picking individual altcoins, this approach bundles hundreds of tokens into a manageable investment vehicle.
It could truly open crypto to mainstream investors, especially those unfamiliar with the complex and volatile altcoin space. If successful, Animoca could become a key gateway to the blockchain future, fulfilling its decade-long mission to spread crypto adoption beyond early adopters.
Animoca’s reverse merger with Currenc is more than a financial maneuver; it is a visionary plan to bring crypto into the portfolios of billions, simplifying access and fostering growth across digital assets. The crypto world will be watching closely as this timeline progresses toward a potential 2026 Nasdaq debut.
Written By Fazal Ul Vahab C H