Peter Thiel-Backed Bitpanda Weighs Frankfurt IPO in H1 2026: Report

Bitpanda is lining up for a Frankfurt stock market debut in the first half of 2026, putting one of Europe’s biggest retail crypto platforms on a path from bull market beneficiary to public market test.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the Vienna-based company could seek a valuation of €4B to €5B ($4.6B – $5.8B), and it has tapped Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank to help arrange the offering. Some see a first-quarter listing as a live option.

Bitpanda didn’t return Cryptonews’ request for comment by press time.

Bitpanda, a cryptocurrency trading platform backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, is gearing up for a Frankfurt initial public offering as soon as the first half of this year, sources say https://t.co/nmS6yVJKVY

— Bloomberg (@business) January 13, 2026

Bitpanda Targets Deeper Liquidity As It Maps Listing Options

The timing matters for crypto traders because listings tend to follow liquidity. A successful float would hand Bitpanda a stronger balance sheet for product expansion, licensing and custody infrastructure, right as Europe pushes firms to meet tougher compliance expectations under the EU’s MiCA regime.

Bitpanda already crossed one venue off the list. Chief executive Eric Demuth last year ruled out the UK, pointing to weak liquidity on the London Stock Exchange and a broader drift of issuers toward deeper pools of capital.

Demuth said Bitpanda would consider Frankfurt or New York for a future listing, leaning toward markets that can support sustained trading volumes and bigger institutional participation around crypto linked names.

Crypto Firms Queue Up As IPO Market Shows Signs Of Life

Frankfurt also connects neatly with Bitpanda’s work in Germany’s banking system. Deutsche Bank has said it plans to launch a crypto custody service in 2026 and the bank has enlisted Bitpanda’s technology unit, with Taurus providing digital asset infrastructure.

Regulation is doing its part to pull activity onshore. MiCA has already pushed firms to formalize licensing plans across the bloc ahead of the June 30, 2026 transition deadline, a backdrop that rewards platforms that can scale compliance alongside growth.

Public markets have also started reopening for crypto. Circle priced its IPO in June 2025 for NYSE trading under CRCL, Bullish closed its IPO in Aug. 2025 for NYSE trading under BLSH, and Gemini said it closed its IPO in Sept. 2025.

The 2026 calendar is getting crowded. Kraken said it confidentially submitted a draft S-1 for a proposed IPO, and BitGo has already flagged a targeted valuation for its US listing effort, keeping investor attention on who can turn crypto revenue into public market durability.