OKX Australia launches Pre-IPO Perpetual Futures, starting with OpenAI and Anthropic
OKX Australia has announced the launch of Pre-IPO Perpetual Futures, giving eligible wholesale clients a new way to gain exposure to some of the world’s most closely watched private companies before they potentially go public.
Launching with markets for OpenAI and Anthropic, Pre-IPO Perps allow eligible wholesale clients to take long or short positions on the implied valuations of private companies, with up to 10x leverage and trading available around the clock.
The launch expands the range of global markets available to Australian wholesale clients through OKX Australia and comes amid growing investor interest in the next generation of technology and AI companies.
“OpenAI and Anthropic are two of the most closely watched private companies in the world. Historically, even where there is a great deal of interest, there have been limited ways for investors to express a view on valuations before an IPO. Traditional methods were available exclusively to a small segment of high-net-worth investors” said Shane Chandra, CEO of OKX Australia.
“Pre-IPO Perps change that. Eligible wholesale clients can take a long position if they believe a company is undervalued, or go short if they think expectations have moved too far.
“It can also function as a powerful tool for investors who have a fixed allocation, who would like to hedge or increase exposure. Since our product trades around the clock, investors always have options to manage their exposure,” Mr Chandra said.
Pre-IPO Perps are derivative contracts that provide price exposure to a private company’s implied valuation. They do not represent shares or ownership in the underlying company, and their market price does not constitute an official company valuation.
Following an eligible company’s public listing, its Pre-IPO Perp can transition into a standard futures contract, providing continuity for traders as the company moves from private to public markets.
“Pre-IPO Perps give participants access to a live market where they can express what they think a company is worth before it lists,” Mr Chandra said. “That gives sophisticated investors a new way to trade some of the biggest themes shaping global markets.”
OKX Australia plans to introduce additional Pre-IPO Perp markets over time.
Bringing more global markets to Australian investors
The launch reflects OKX Australia’s broader strategy to expand the range of sophisticated trading products available to eligible Australian clients through its locally operated platform.
“Australia now has strong regulatory clarity around digital assets, creating an environment where global platforms can bring new products to market within a well-established financial regulatory regime,” Mr Chandra said.
“Our focus is on combining OKX’s global technology, liquidity and product capabilities with a strong local regulatory foundation. Pre-IPO Perps are another example of how we can give sophisticated Australian investors access to markets and products that historically have been difficult to reach.”
The launch follows the expansion of OKX Australia’s local product offering this year, including OKX Pay and OKX Card.
