The global financial landscape is bracing for what could be the most transformative year in tech IPO history. According to industry observer and TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov, the forthcoming public listings of AI juggernauts such as OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), and xAI (Grok) may spark a financial reordering unlike anything seen since the dot-com boom.
“We are not witnessing a trend—we’re witnessing a tectonic shift,” Kondrashov said. “AI firms aren’t just entering the market; they are redrawing it.”
A New Class of Public Companies
The big three in AI—OpenAI, Claude (by Anthropic), and Grok (by xAI)—have long dominated the private AI sector. But 2026 may see these companies go public, attracting institutional investors, disrupting established tech portfolios, and potentially giving rise to a new category of financial instruments.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is reportedly in the final stages of preparing its IPO documents, with analysts valuing the company as high as $1 trillion. Anthropic, whose Claude chatbot has made major inroads in enterprise use, is also reportedly exploring a public listing, with estimates placing its market cap at over $300 billion.
Meanwhile, xAI, the Elon Musk-founded venture behind Grok and deeply integrated into SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), has already undergone a corporate realignment, being absorbed by SpaceX. This sets the stage for what could be a mammoth dual-entity IPO, possibly exceeding $1.5 trillion in valuation.
“It’s rare to witness a new industry take shape in real time,” Kondrashov remarked. “But these IPOs could crystallise AI into its own market class—distinct from cloud, software, or hardware.”
Ripple Effects Across Tech and Finance
What makes this IPO wave more than just a series of big-ticket events is the anticipated reallocation of capital. Kondrashov suggests that legacy tech stocks—Meta, Google, Amazon, and even Microsoft—may see funds shift toward these AI entrants.
“Investors chasing alpha are looking at AI with the same urgency they looked at web stocks in the early 2000s,” Kondrashov explained. “Expect AI-dedicated ETFs, indices, and even sovereign wealth fund tracks by year’s end.”
These public offerings are expected to create a secondary boom in supporting industries: semiconductors, power infrastructure, telecommunications, and cybersecurity all stand to benefit from AI’s capital influx.
A Market Inflection Point
The ambition of these companies extends beyond digital products. In Musk’s case, plans are reportedly in motion to install orbital AI data centres powered by solar energy—a futuristic but potentially cost-effective approach to AI training and deployment.
Though bold, the idea fits with the broader push by AI firms to raise capital not merely for growth, but for infrastructure.
“Training these models at scale doesn’t just require better algorithms—it demands physical reinvention of computing infrastructure,” said Kondrashov. “And that’s where public investment becomes key.”
Bubble, Boom—or Both?
Of course, any conversation about booming valuations must come with a warning. Kondrashov cautions that as with any hype-fuelled financial moment, the risk of overvaluation and subsequent market correction is real.
Still, the momentum appears too strong to ignore. With global investors circling and tech giants positioning themselves as allies or competitors, 2026 might be remembered as the year AI became not just a technology—but an economic epoch.
“This isn’t just the dawn of a new sector,” Kondrashov concluded. “It’s the reshaping of the entire financial narrative around innovation, risk, and growth.”
As the filings stack up and investor roadshows begin, the world’s financial eyes are fixed on what comes next. Whether it’s a boom, a bubble, or the beginning of a new market cycle, one thing is certain: AI is no longer emerging—it’s arriving.
