Cryptocurrency exchange Gate has introduced IPO Access, a new service that lets users subscribe to initial public offerings before a company lists publicly. The first offering available through the platform is SpaceX, the private space exploration company led by Elon Musk. Users can place a subscription Expression of Interest (EOI) using USDT, with a minimum of 100 USDT and a maximum of 500,000 USDT per person.
How IPO Access Works
The process starts when a user submits an EOI during a set period before the company goes public. Allocation weights are calculated based on the user’s average locked amount of USDT during that EOI window. After the IPO allocation, shares are deposited directly into the user’s Gate Stocks account, where they can be traded. Gate says the feature is designed to give retail investors a way to get in on offerings that were once mostly limited to big institutions or high-net-worth individuals.
Spacex as the First Offering
SpaceX hasn’t set a firm date for its public listing, but the company is widely seen as one of the most anticipated IPOs on the horizon. By offering a subscription vehicle now, Gate lets users lock in their interest early. The minimum 100 USDT threshold is low enough to attract smaller investors, while the 500,000 USDT cap keeps the program from being dominated by a single whale. Gate hasn’t disclosed how total allocation will be split among participants beyond the formula tied to locked amounts.
Integration with Gate Stocks
Gate Stocks is the exchange’s dedicated trading platform for equities. It supports over 10,000 mainstream U.S. stocks and ETFs, fractional share trading down to 0.01 shares, and covers major exchanges including NYSE, Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, NYSE American, and BATS. Once shares from an IPO Access subscription hit that account, users can sell them or hold them like any other stock. The integration means the entire process — from crypto-funded EOI to stock trading — happens inside the Gate ecosystem.
Minimum and Maximum Subscription Limits
The subscription range is deliberately broad. At the low end, 100 USDT (roughly $100) opens the door for casual participants. At the high end, 500,000 USDT lets serious backers commit real capital. Gate calculates the final allocation based on how long each user locked their USDT during the EOI period, not just the amount. That reward for time, not just size, could encourage users to commit funds early rather than rushing in at the last minute.
Availability and Pre-IPO Offerings
IPO Access is available in Gate App version 8.21.5 and above. Users who haven’t updated will need to do so before they can subscribe to the SpaceX EOI. Gate also offers a separate Pre-IPO service for earlier-stage opportunities, though the company hasn't specified whether SpaceX will also be offered through that channel. For now, IPO Access is the only way to secure a piece of the space firm via Gate.
