The Ripple Swell conference in Dubai concluded without the highly anticipated announcement of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) by Ripple, leaving the crypto community and investors speculating about the fintech company's next moves. In response to this uncertainty, prominent crypto influencer Eri has shared her perspective, emphasizing the need for a nuanced and context-aware approach.
Eri highlights the importance of comparing Ripple's potential IPO to similar companies in the fintech sector. She cites the example of Ripple partner Nium Global, which recently postponed its U.S. IPO, potentially to the second quarter of 2025. Eri underlines Nium Global's recent launch of Global FX, a liquidity hub offering a solution for locking and holding foreign exchange rates for up to 24 hours.
In her analysis, Eri also references Ripple's partner Tranglo and its parent company, Seamless Group, which experienced a delay in their public listing with INFINT Acquisition Corp. This delay resulted in a significant 23% loss of cash in the trust, as announced in August 2023.
Eri goes on to compare Ripple's situation to that of Nubank, a fintech bank backed by Warren Buffett. Despite Nubank's size and revenue, its share price dropped by 23% from its all-time high following its IPO. Eri uses this example to underscore the current market sentiment towards IPOs.
Eri concludes her insights by highlighting the essential components for evaluating a company's valuation and share price analysis, including factors such as Cash Balance, Debt, Value of Investment Portfolio, Total Shares Outstanding (fully diluted), and Value of Any On-Hand Assets.
In addition to Eri's perspective, Yassin Mobarak, founder of Dizer Capital, raises concerns about Ripple's IPO prospects in the context of the ongoing SEC dispute. Mobarak's conversation with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse reveals that an IPO is unlikely while the company remains entangled in litigation with the SEC. Garlinghouse hints at the possibility of considering an IPO outside the United States but does not provide a definite timeline.
The combined insights from experts and the prevailing market conditions emphasize the complexity surrounding Ripple's IPO prospects. It suggests that immediate expectations for an IPO may be premature, with multiple factors requiring careful consideration.