Bitpanda prepares surprise IPO

Austrian cryptocurrency platform Bitpanda, backed by investor Peter Thiel, is preparing an initial public offering (IPO) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the first half of 2026.

The company is targeting a valuation between €4 billion and €5 billion and has engaged Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank as advisors. A listing as early as the first quarter is possible, although final details are subject to change.

Bitpanda offers trading in crypto, stocks, ETFs and commodities to more than 7 million users in Europe. The choice of Frankfurt is somewhat surprising, but fits with their strong presence in Germany and recent collaborations, such as with Deutsche Bank for crypto storage services.

In Austria, Bitpanda serves as the largest digital investment platform, with an 18% crypto adoption rate and focus on early-stage investors. In Germany, it leads the market thanks to crypto-friendly banks and licenses, where it offers solutions for more than 600 assets. Across Europe, Bitpanda is recognized as a top crypto-broker with 7 million users, and is performing especially strongly in regulated markets such as France, Italy and the UK due to extensive licensing and a broad offering.

(MP/©The Global Money/Illustration: Unsplash)