Bitmain’s $3 Billion IPO Application is Officially Dead but Dream Remains Alive

The IPO dreams of Bitcoin mining equipment giant Bitmain are over, at least for now, as its listing application which was filed on September 26, 2018 has reached the six-month expiration date. Without giving a specific date Bitmain, however, said in a blog post that it will reapply at a future date.

The crypto mining hardware maker had intended to raise $3 billion from the IPO at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), per the Financial Times. Bitmain did not, however, clarify whether it will still seek to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or elsewhere.

The fact that Bitmain’s listing application has expired does not come as a surprise though. In December reports emerged that the HKEX was hesitant to approve Bitmain’s IPO application. This hesitance was attributed to concerns over the sustainability of the business. HKEX was especially worried about the possibility of listing a cryptocurrency firm only for it to collapse due to the wild volatility experienced in the sector.

Earlier this year HKEX’s CEO, Charles Li Xiaojia, echoed those concerns urging consistency in the business models of cryptocurrency firms. By then Bitmain had already announced intentions to diversify into Artificial Intelligence and other technology niches.

Other crypto-related businesses that have met the same fate includes Bitmain’s Chinese rival Canaan Creative. Bitmain’s expiration of a listing application is significant though because it remains one of the best-funded Chinese blockchain startups.

Bitmain’s $3 Billion IPO Application is Officially Dead but Dream Remains Alive, CCN, Mar 26