Animoca’s Goal for Public Markets Seeks to Provide Cryptocurrency Access to ‘Billions’

NEW YORK — Animoca Brands aims to serve as a bridge for institutional investors entering the expanding altcoin market, its co-founder stated.

Animoca has revealed plans to go public on Nasdaq via a reverse merger with Currenc Group, intending to create a conglomerate that will act as an altcoin index vehicle, similar to others in the market, but focusing on a diverse range of tokens.

According to Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca, institutional-grade altcoins represent a quarter of the total crypto market. The company, founded in 2011, ventured into the cryptocurrency sector in 2017.

“We’re in a unique position to facilitate this,” he remarked. “For institutions, buying Bitcoin and Ethereum seems straightforward, but when it comes to the vast selection of altcoins, figuring out how to invest can be daunting. Instead of trying to identify individual winners, you can invest in Animoca.”

Siu clarifies that when he refers to altcoins, he’s talking about “institutionally ready altcoins,” which are tokens that have established use cases.

“Other tokens might have higher volatility but also greater growth potential,” he noted. “Investors seeking exposure to this space will find it challenging to navigate altcoins without guidance.”

Animoca’s strategy is to leverage its diverse investment portfolio. The firm has invested in over 600 companies working on various token projects, including sectors such as Web3 gaming, decentralized identity, and real-world asset tokenization.

However, several steps remain before Animoca can finalize its plans. The proposed merger with Currenc requires completing documentation, determining board composition, agreeing on the merger ratio, obtaining shareholder approval, and securing regulatory clearance. The companies are targeting a debut in late 2026, with Siu estimating the entire process will take approximately nine to twelve months.

If successful, Siu believes this will “democratize access” to a broader audience in the cryptocurrency market.

“Most people in the world still lack understanding and access to cryptocurrency,” he explained. “While hundreds of millions own crypto, billions do not. Those billions can access stock markets, and we need to create a way for them to participate in the development of businesses with significant growth potential.”