OpenAI IPO Delayed to 2027 as Valuation Target Tops $1T

The OpenAI IPO is now expected in 2027 at the earliest, after CEO Sam Altman reportedly rejected a 2026 listing unless the company can justify a valuation of at least $1 trillion. OpenAI was valued at about $852 billion after its March 2026 funding round, requiring roughly 17% growth to reach that target. Earlier estimates placed its valuation between $730 billion and $852 billion. OpenAI has reportedly filed IPO documents confidentially with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, but CFO Sarah Friar told employees that 2027 is the company’s target. Executives have not fully ruled out an earlier offering if market conditions improve. The company is expected to pursue a traditional IPO rather than a SPAC or direct listing. Reported annualised revenue ranges from $24 billion to $40 billion, although OpenAI remains unprofitable and faces heavy infrastructure costs. Secondary-market estimates imply a valuation of about $475 billion, roughly 44% below its latest private-market price. This gap highlights concerns about profitability, revenue growth and the sustainability of the artificial intelligence boom. Anthropic is further ahead in the IPO pipeline after confidentially filing its S-1 in June 2026 and reaching a private valuation near $965 billion. Volatility in major technology listings, including a sharp post-IPO decline in SpaceX shares, may also be encouraging caution. For traders, the OpenAI IPO delay is not a direct cryptocurrency catalyst, but it may influence sentiment around AI-linked assets, technology valuations and risk appetite across speculative markets.