Animoca Brands is planning a Nasdaq debut via a reverse merger with a fintech company.
Summary
- Animoca Brands plans to go public on Nasdaq through a reverse takeover of Currenc Group.
- Animoca shareholders will own 95% of the merged company.
- The deal is expected to close in 2026, pending approval by US and Australian regulators.
- The merger would create a diversified digital asset conglomerate that includes NFTs, DeFi, gaming, AI and DeSci.
Animoca Brands, a leading blockchain investment company based in Hong Kong, has announced plans to list on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange through a reverse takeover of Currenc Group Inc., a US-based fintech company. The move would mark Animoca’s return to the public markets following its delisting from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in 2020, following concerns over regulatory breaches related to its crypto transactions.
According to Bloomberg reportAnimoca co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu confirmed the news in a letter to shareholders, saying the company had signed a letter of intent with Currenc Group to facilitate the merger.
Upon completion of the deal, Animoca shareholders such as Insway Capital, 50T Funds and SoftBank are expected to control approximately 95% of the merged entity, which will operate under the name Animoca Brands.
“This merger will create the world’s first publicly traded, diversified digital asset conglomerate,” said Yat Siu in a blog post. He noted that “it provides Nasdaq investors with direct access to the trillion-dollar altcoin economy through DeFi, NFTs, gaming, AI and decentralized science (DeSci).”
Currenc Group CEO Alex Kong also responded to the news, describing the proposed transaction as a “milestone” that would unlock new value for both companies. As part of the merger, Currenc plans to spin off some of its existing businesses, mainly in the areas of remittances and traditional financial services.
The reverse takeover of Animoca Brands will take place in 2026
The transaction is expected to close in 2026, but remains subject to multiple regulatory approvals in the US and Australia, as well as audited financials from recent years. Although the company is reportedly profitable, it is yet to announce full annual profits for the current financial year.
Animoca also plans to open a new office in New York, a move driven by the growing pro-crypto attitude in the United States. According to Siu, US President Donald Trump’s support for the crypto industry played a major role in the decision.
Interestingly, the reverse takeover is happening as Animoca expands its institutional presence. The company is currently working on a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin in partnership with Standard Chartered Plc and HKT. It is also working with Provenance Blockchain Labs to develop a platform that connects real asset issuers, such as home lenders, with blockchain-based investors.
Meanwhile, the latest merger, if successful, could pave the way for broader institutional access to the Web3 infrastructure, and position Animoca Brands as a key player in bridging traditional finance with the decentralized economy.
