The blockchain lender and cryptocurrency exchange post double-digit gains in the busiest week for new listings since 2021.
Digital asset firms capitalize on regulatory tailwinds and an institutional adoption surge.
Two
cryptocurrency-focused companies, Figure Technology and Gemini Space Station, delivered
impressive market debuts last week, highlighting how digital asset firms are
driving a sharp rebound in the U.S. initial public offering (IPO) market after
months of sluggish activity.
Crypto Companies Lead IPO
Revival as Figure and Gemini Debut Strong
Figure
Technology (NASDAQ: FIGR)
closed its first trading day Thursday with shares up 44% from its $25 offering
price, giving the blockchain-based home equity lender a market value of $7.6
billion. The New York company opened at $36 per share after raising $787.5
million in an upsized offering that priced above expectations.
At a key
moment, the stock price rose as high as $38 before closing the day at $31.11.
On Friday, the session ended with a gain at $32.50.
Today, on IPO day, we rang the bell at @Nasdaq, a milestone that marks both progress and possibility.
What began as an idea to reimagine capital markets through blockchain is becoming a reality with money moving faster, cheaper, and transparently. We’re just getting started. pic.twitter.com/gkDdWCydNl
The strong
performances cap the busiest week for U.S. IPOs since July 2021, as companies
rush to capitalize on record-high equity markets and fading concerns about
trade policy volatility that had stalled new issues earlier this year.
Both
companies benefited from improved regulatory conditions for digital assets
under the Trump administration, which has taken a more favorable stance toward
cryptocurrency businesses compared to previous oversight approaches.
"Gemini
has chosen the perfect time to capitalize on the favorable environment,
following the recent success of the Bullish IPO and regulatory shifts from a
pro-crypto administration," said Jacob Zuller, analyst at Third Bridge,
quoted by Reuters.
Mike Cagney, the Co-Founder of Figure
Figure Co-Founder
Mike Cagney, who previously built fintech lender SoFi Technologies, positioned
his company differently from pure cryptocurrency plays that have struggled as
digital asset mania cooled. "Blockchain never loses an opportunity to
shoot itself in the foot," Cagney told Reuters, emphasizing that treasury
strategies don't represent the technology's full potential.
Cagney said
10 of the top 20 mortgage companies now use Figure's technology for loan
origination. "There are 20 or more large banks already using
Provenance," added David Chao, general partner at early investor DCM
Ventures.
The
approach has helped Figure avoid the sharp stock price drops that hit companies
focused primarily on holding digital assets as investment vehicles.
Winklevoss Twins Stage
Comeback
Gemini's
successful debut represents a notable turnaround for the Winklevoss brothers,
whose company had faced regulatory
scrutiny from the SEC and CFTC in recent years. The twins now hold roughly
75 million shares worth approximately $2.78 billion based on the IPO price.
The
exchange reported a net loss
of $282.5 million in the first half of 2025, significantly higher than the
$41.4 million loss in the same period last year. However, analysts expect
trading volumes to increase as institutional adoption accelerates.
"We're
really excited to go into this next phase, improve transparency even further,
to the marketplace and to our partners," said Dan Chen, Gemini's chief
financial officer.
Two
cryptocurrency-focused companies, Figure Technology and Gemini Space Station, delivered
impressive market debuts last week, highlighting how digital asset firms are
driving a sharp rebound in the U.S. initial public offering (IPO) market after
months of sluggish activity.
Crypto Companies Lead IPO
Revival as Figure and Gemini Debut Strong
Figure
Technology (NASDAQ: FIGR)
closed its first trading day Thursday with shares up 44% from its $25 offering
price, giving the blockchain-based home equity lender a market value of $7.6
billion. The New York company opened at $36 per share after raising $787.5
million in an upsized offering that priced above expectations.
At a key
moment, the stock price rose as high as $38 before closing the day at $31.11.
On Friday, the session ended with a gain at $32.50.
Today, on IPO day, we rang the bell at @Nasdaq, a milestone that marks both progress and possibility.
What began as an idea to reimagine capital markets through blockchain is becoming a reality with money moving faster, cheaper, and transparently. We’re just getting started. pic.twitter.com/gkDdWCydNl
The strong
performances cap the busiest week for U.S. IPOs since July 2021, as companies
rush to capitalize on record-high equity markets and fading concerns about
trade policy volatility that had stalled new issues earlier this year.
Both
companies benefited from improved regulatory conditions for digital assets
under the Trump administration, which has taken a more favorable stance toward
cryptocurrency businesses compared to previous oversight approaches.
"Gemini
has chosen the perfect time to capitalize on the favorable environment,
following the recent success of the Bullish IPO and regulatory shifts from a
pro-crypto administration," said Jacob Zuller, analyst at Third Bridge,
quoted by Reuters.
Mike Cagney, the Co-Founder of Figure
Figure Co-Founder
Mike Cagney, who previously built fintech lender SoFi Technologies, positioned
his company differently from pure cryptocurrency plays that have struggled as
digital asset mania cooled. "Blockchain never loses an opportunity to
shoot itself in the foot," Cagney told Reuters, emphasizing that treasury
strategies don't represent the technology's full potential.
Cagney said
10 of the top 20 mortgage companies now use Figure's technology for loan
origination. "There are 20 or more large banks already using
Provenance," added David Chao, general partner at early investor DCM
Ventures.
The
approach has helped Figure avoid the sharp stock price drops that hit companies
focused primarily on holding digital assets as investment vehicles.
Winklevoss Twins Stage
Comeback
Gemini's
successful debut represents a notable turnaround for the Winklevoss brothers,
whose company had faced regulatory
scrutiny from the SEC and CFTC in recent years. The twins now hold roughly
75 million shares worth approximately $2.78 billion based on the IPO price.
The
exchange reported a net loss
of $282.5 million in the first half of 2025, significantly higher than the
$41.4 million loss in the same period last year. However, analysts expect
trading volumes to increase as institutional adoption accelerates.
"We're
really excited to go into this next phase, improve transparency even further,
to the marketplace and to our partners," said Dan Chen, Gemini's chief
financial officer.
Damian Chmiel is a Senior Analyst & Editor at Finance Magnates with more than 15 years of experience in the CFD and online trading industry. Active as both a trader and journalist since 2010, he focuses on broker coverage, fintech innovation, and regulatory developments across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
His work includes interviews with C-level leaders at major brokerages and fintech platforms, as well as co-authoring Finance Magnates’ quarterly industry benchmarking reports. Damian’s reporting is data-driven, market-aware, and grounded in direct industry engagement. His analysis and commentary have also been cited by external media outlets, including Investing.com, Binance, The Asset, Stockhead, and Dispatch.
Education:
MA in Finance and Accounting, Cracow University of Economics
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