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26 Jan 2026, 13:11

Morning Minute: Ethereum Prepares for the Quantum Era

The Ethereum Foundation is starting to prepare one of the biggest risks facing the crypto industry: quantum computing.

26 Jan 2026, 13:11

Crypto Wallet Maker Ledger Preps $4B US IPO – Can It Win Wall Street?

Ledger is preparing for a potential U.S. initial public offering that could value the crypto wallet maker at more than $4 billion, according to reports . The Paris-based company has enlisted major Wall Street banks, including Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, and Barclays, to advise on the deal, with a potential listing later this year. The move comes as Ledger increases its presence in the U.S., where capital markets activity and institutional interest in digital asset firms are especially concentrated in New York. @Ledger eyes U.S. IPO at a $4B+ valuation: @FT Hardware #wallet maker #Ledger is preparing for a potential U.S. #IPO , reportedly working with Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, and Barclays on the deal, which could take place as early as this year pic.twitter.com/hjJQcnXxfh — Charged Ventures (@ChargedVentures) January 23, 2026 Wall Street Banks Line Up for Ledger’s IPO Push Ledger’s IPO ambitions reflect a belief that it has reached sufficient scale to withstand public-market scrutiny from Wall Street. In an earlier interview, CEO Pascal Gauthier said the company had grown to a point where a listing was realistic, adding that the U.S. stood out as the natural venue. Roughly 40% of Ledger’s business now comes from North America, a figure that has shaped both its listing strategy and operational expansion in New York. Source: Coherent Market Insights Gauthier has also said the firm is weighing a U.S. IPO alongside a potential private funding round, keeping multiple capital-raising paths open. “Money is in New York today for crypto, it’s nowhere else in the world, certainly not in Europe,” Gauthier told the Financial Times. He reiterated that view in November 2025 when the company first flagged the IPO plans , emphasizing that his increased time in New York was driven by where crypto financing is now concentrated. From Nano Wallets to Triple-Digit Millions in Revenue Founded in 2014 by Éric Larchevêque, Joël Pobeda, and Thomas France, Ledger built its reputation on hardware wallets designed to keep private keys offline. Its early success came from the Ledger Nano series, which gained traction as hacks and exchange failures highlighted the risks of custodial storage. The company has since broadened its product lineup, launching the Ledger Stax, a touchscreen device aimed at long-term holders and institutional users. It has also rolled out an iOS app for enterprise clients and recently completed a major rebranding alongside the release of the Ledger Nano Gen5. Ledger said its revenues reached triple-digit millions in 2025, marking its strongest performance to date, with further growth expected this year. Over the past decade, the firm estimates it has sold more than seven million devices globally and now safeguards around 20% of global crypto assets, including over $100 billion worth of bitcoin. Potential Ledger IPO closing market cap? – raised $3m in 2019, $380m in 2021, $109m at $1.4b in Mar 2023 – seeking $4b valuation in IPO (~3x valuation from last raise) currently the liquidity for this market on @Polymarket is limited, though interesting to see how high it goes… https://t.co/Pmv5JIR4XA pic.twitter.com/k5G6UGHf9E — cs_defier (@cs_defier) January 23, 2026 The company was last valued at $1.5 billion in 2023 after raising a $108 million extension to its Series C round, bringing total funding in that round close to $500 million. While Ledger has since said its valuation has increased, it has not disclosed an updated figure ahead of the reported IPO preparations. Fees, Data Exposure, and the Self-Custody Debate As Ledger expands beyond pure hardware, it has reframed its devices as “Ledger signers,” positioning them as tools for securing digital assets and online identities in an AI-driven environment. That shift has not been without controversy, particularly around new monetization features. Last October, Ledger revealed that its Multisig app would charge a flat $10 fee per transaction, excluding token transfers, which would instead incur a 0.05% variable fee. @Ledger ’s new Multisig app sparked backlash for adding a $10 flat fee per transaction and a 0.05% token transfer fee, on top of gas costs. #Ledger #Crypto https://t.co/b72bb5ZwXw — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) October 26, 2025 The charges are applied on top of standard blockchain gas fees, prompting backlash from users who argue that self-custody should not come with recurring platform costs. Security concerns have also resurfaced following a recent data exposure incident involving a third-party provider. On January 5, 2026, blockchain researcher ZachXBT said personal information of Ledger customers was accessed in a hack on Global-e, a payment processor used by the company. While no funds were compromised, researchers warned that the exposure heightens the risk of phishing and social engineering attacks. The post Crypto Wallet Maker Ledger Preps $4B US IPO – Can It Win Wall Street? appeared first on Cryptonews .

26 Jan 2026, 13:08

Morning Crypto Report: New -$18.2 Million XRP Upset Is Bigger Than You Think, '$1 Million Bitcoin' Advocate Busts 2 Biggest Myths with 10x Prediction, Dogecoin ...

This Monday, Bitcoin flirts with $87,000 as fear returns to the front seat. Amid this, one XRP figure demands closer attention, Samson Mow throws out the halving calendar, and DOGE's founder can only sigh.

26 Jan 2026, 13:05

IonQ seals $1.8 billion cash and stock deal for SkyWater, locking in domestic chip foundry

IonQ is spending $1.8 billion to buy SkyWater Technology, locking in full control of its own chip supply chain for quantum computers. According to the Wall Street Journal, executives said the deal would be announced Monday. It gives SkyWater shareholders $35 a share, split into $15 cash and $20 in IonQ stock. “This is our move to make sure we are the ‘Nvidia’ of quantum,” said Niccolo de Masi, the IonQ CEO and chairman, in an interview. “It’s not only accelerating our company, but accelerating the quantum industry for the good of our nation.” SkyWater stock had closed Friday at $31.32, putting its market cap around $1.5 billion. But IonQ, which is worth over $16 billion, is paying more than that, and it’s not a soft acquisition. It’s a full grab for tighter timelines, cheaper production, and U.S.-based chipmaking that won’t rely on anyone overseas. SkyWater doesn’t build its own branded chips. It’s a neutral foundry, meaning it manufactures for other companies, including those in defense and aerospace. Deal creates vertical integration for IonQ hardware De Masi said the takeover would let IonQ build a “vertically integrated quantum platform business,” where the company controls both the hardware and the fabrication process. He said that would speed things up and cut costs across the board. The Trump administration’s strong support for both quantum and domestic chip production played a role in the timing. “The tailwinds here are considerable,” said de Masi. SkyWater will keep its name and operate as a wholly owned subsidiary after the deal closes. It’ll still serve all of its existing customers. But it’ll now also offer IonQ’s technology to clients, and have more access to capital, according to executives. Thomas Sonderman, SkyWater’s current CEO, will stay in charge of the foundry but report directly to de Masi. The deal includes a stock collar, which means the final price in IonQ stock can shift depending on where IonQ shares land at closing. That’s to avoid massive pricing swings that could tank the deal value if IonQ stock moves too much. IonQ expands deals while U.S. ramps up tech funding Last year, IonQ bought Oxford Ionics, a U.K. startup, for over $1 billion. They also grabbed Lightsynq Technologies and Capella Space. That’s three companies in under a year, and now SkyWater makes four. The U.S. government, especially under Trump, has been pouring money into quantum computing and AI as part of a push to stay ahead of China. The Commerce Department has already started boosting funding for these sectors. IonQ’s hardware is based on trapped-ion technology, which the company claims gives it better accuracy compared to other quantum systems. The goal is to solve problems that normal computers just can’t handle; from drug discovery to national security. Big tech giants Microsoft, IBM, and Alphabet are also all working on their own quantum computers, throwing billions at the problem. IonQ already works with the Defense Department and other federal agencies. It launched a dedicated Federal division back in September to focus on government and defense contracts. IonQ first went public through a SPAC merger in 2021. Since then, the stock has climbed, thanks to investors betting big on the future of quantum computing. Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.

26 Jan 2026, 13:05

Institutional Investors Double Down Crypto Stake Amid Bear Market Fears

Crypto institutional investors are ramping up holdings amid short-term concerns, even as experts tip a new cycle.

26 Jan 2026, 13:05

Strategy sells $257m in stock, buys 2,932 bitcoin for $264m