OpenAI Eyes $1 Trillion Valuation with 2026 IPO Plans Amid Rising AI Competition

OpenAI is gearing up for what could be one of the largest public listings in history, with a target valuation of $1 trillion by late 2026. Reports indicate that the company is moving ahead with IPO plans to cement its status as the world’s most valuable startup, even as it faces rising competition in specialized areas such as autonomous crypto trading.

OpenAI IPO Report Surfaces, Company Says No Date Set

A Reuters report citing three anonymous sources says OpenAI aims to raise $60 billion through its public offering, with a filing expected in the second half of 2026. However, a company spokesperson said no official date has been set, adding that OpenAI’s main focus remains the safe development of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

An IPO is not our focus, so we could not possibly have set a date. We are building a durable business and advancing our mission so everyone benefits from AGI.

OpenAI spokesperson

In 2025, OpenAI’s valuation surged after a $500 billion secondary share sale on Oct. 2, making it the world’s largest startup. During that round, employees sold $6.6 billion worth of stock to major investors, pushing the company’s valuation above SpaceX’s $400 billion.

Rivals Gain Ground in Autonomous Crypto Trading

Analysts see the planned IPO as evidence of growing investor confidence in AI. If successful, it would mark a major shift in public market sentiment toward privately held tech firms.

Key takeaways from the planned offering:

• Valuation: Targeting $1 trillion—potentially the largest tech IPO ever.
• Capital raise: Expected to bring in $60 billion in new funding.
• Timeline: Filing anticipated in the second half of 2026.
• Focus: Despite investor pressure, OpenAI continues to prioritize AGI development.
• Competition: The company faces growing challenges from lower-cost AI models in niche markets.

As OpenAI’s financial ambitions expand, its flagship product, ChatGPT, recently underperformed in an autonomous crypto trading challenge. Competing models, including China’s DeepSeek and Qwen3 Max, briefly outperformed ChatGPT and Elon Musk’s Grok. 

DeepSeek was the only model to post a positive 9% return as of Oct. 22, while ChatGPT-5 recorded a 66% loss.

Observers were surprised, given that DeepSeek’s development cost totaled just $5.3 million—far below OpenAI’s $5.7 billion in R&D spending during the first half of 2025. Nansen research analyst Nicolai Sondergaard suggests that the performance gap may stem more from training data than from trading strategy or execution.

Altman Pledges Transparency in GPT-5 Overhaul

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently held a live AMA to address user concerns surrounding the GPT-5 transition. Acknowledging previous issues in performance and communication, Altman outlined a clearer roadmap for the months ahead. 

He emphasized the company’s commitment to improving transparency, refining model reliability, and expanding accessibility for a broader range of users. Altman noted that user feedback played a crucial role in shaping upcoming updates and that OpenAI is working toward more stable rollouts and timely communication during future changes.