Animoca Brands Plans Nasdaq Debut via Merger, Highlighting Bitcoin and Ethereum Assets

• Reverse merger structure: Currenc Group will acquire 100% of Animoca Brands’ shares, resulting in Animoca owning 95% of the new entity.

• Currenc shareholders will hold a 5% stake in the combined company, with Currenc divesting its existing operations like its digital remittance platform.

• Animoca’s portfolio includes 628 investments as of September 30, spanning gaming, infrastructure, DeFi, NFTs, and metaverse projects, with a digital asset treasury holding Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and MOCA.

Discover how Animoca Brands reverse merger with Currenc Group paves the way for Nasdaq listing, unlocking new opportunities in crypto gaming and metaverse investments. Explore the details and implications for digital assets today.

What is the Animoca Brands Reverse Merger?

Animoca Brands reverse merger involves the Hong Kong-based firm merging with Nasdaq-listed fintech Currenc Group to achieve a public listing without a traditional IPO. This strategic move, announced on Monday, allows Animoca to leverage Currenc’s existing public status while Currenc acquires full ownership of Animoca’s shares. As a result, Animoca will control 95% of the combined entity, positioning it as a leading publicly traded player in the digital assets space.

How Will This Impact Animoca Brands’ Investments in Crypto Gaming and Metaverse?

The reverse merger will provide Animoca Brands with greater access to public markets, enabling expanded investments in its core areas of crypto gaming and metaverse development. With a portfolio of 628 investments as of September 30, including high-profile projects like The Sandbox, Decentraland, Immutable, OpenSea, and The Open Network, the firm stands to benefit from increased liquidity and visibility. According to data from crypto analytics provider CoinGecko, Animoca’s digital asset treasury features prominent holdings such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and MOCA, the native token of its identity ecosystem, which recently achieved a market capitalization of $208 million.

Animoca Brands co-founder and Executive Chairman Yat Siu emphasized the significance of this step, stating that the merger will result in “the world’s first publicly-listed, diversified digital assets conglomerate.” His comments highlight the firm’s broad exposure across decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gaming infrastructure, and emerging sectors like sports, art, and fashion. Established in 2014 by Siu, Animoca has built a robust ecosystem that separates its gaming and infrastructure investments from those in the metaverse and creative industries, demonstrating a diversified approach to blockchain innovation.

This year has seen a wave of crypto firms entering public markets amid improving regulatory conditions. Examples include stablecoin issuer Circle, exchange operator Gemini, and lending platform Figure, all of which have pursued listings to capitalize on market recovery. Animoca’s move aligns with this trend, though it remains subject to approval from Australian regulators, given the firm’s prior history on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), from which it was delisted in 2020 due to compliance challenges.

Market reaction to the announcement was mixed; Currenc Group’s shares fell 19% to $3.05 on Monday but had risen 61% over the prior five trading days, per financial data from Yahoo Finance. This volatility underscores investor interest in crypto-related public offerings. Furthermore, Animoca’s portfolio includes companies like crypto exchange Kraken and Ethereum infrastructure provider Consensys, both of which are preparing for their own public debuts—Kraken has been planning its IPO for months, while Consensys recently engaged JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs for guidance, as reported by Axios.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Key Details of the Animoca Brands Reverse Merger Deal?

The deal structures Currenc Group acquiring 100% of Animoca Brands’ shares, leading to Animoca holding 95% ownership in the merged entity, with Currenc shareholders retaining 5%. The merger is slated to close in 2026 and requires Australian regulatory approval. It will incorporate Animoca’s extensive portfolio and digital assets, creating a major public digital conglomerate focused on blockchain and metaverse technologies.

Why Is Animoca Brands Choosing a Reverse Merger for Nasdaq Listing?

A reverse merger allows Animoca Brands to go public faster and with potentially lower costs than a traditional IPO, by merging with an already listed shell company like Currenc Group. This approach suits the current regulatory environment for crypto firms, providing immediate market access while Currenc divests non-core operations, such as its digital remittance platform, to streamline the focus on Animoca’s strengths in gaming and digital assets.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Public Entry: The reverse merger enables Animoca Brands to list on Nasdaq efficiently, building on its $6 billion valuation from 2022 and expanding its role in the public crypto sector.
• Portfolio Diversification: With 628 investments across gaming, DeFi, NFTs, and metaverse, plus a treasury of major cryptocurrencies, the deal positions the firm as a comprehensive digital assets leader.
• Regulatory and Market Outlook: Pending approvals, this move reflects broader crypto industry maturation, encouraging investors to monitor upcoming listings from portfolio companies like Kraken and Consensys for potential growth opportunities.

Conclusion

The Animoca Brands reverse merger with Currenc Group marks a pivotal moment for the crypto gaming and metaverse sectors, integrating a vast portfolio of blockchain investments into a publicly traded structure. As Yat Siu’s vision of a diversified digital assets conglomerate takes shape, stakeholders can anticipate enhanced innovation and market stability. Looking ahead, this development signals continued momentum in crypto public offerings—stay informed on evolving opportunities in decentralized technologies.