Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the US, valued at $68 billion ahead of direct listing

Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the US, valued at $68 billion ahead of direct listing

Coinbase Global, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the US, on Wednesday revealed that the company now has a valuation of $68 billion ahead of its planned direct listing due in large part to recent private transactions, Reuters first reported.

The increased valuation signifies how much the company's value has surged alongside the huge rally in the price of bitcoin, which hit record highs in March. The company in a regulatory filing that Reuters first reported said its shares in the private market traded at an average price of $343.58 per piece in the first quarter of 2021, a massive rise from $28.83 per piece in the third quarter of 2020.

If the filing is approved by regulators, it will mark a significant milestone for the digital currency ecosystem that has sometimes struggled to earn the confidence of more conservative regulators and investors. D.A. Davidson analysts in early March said the listing is crucial since it symbolizes the convergence of cryptocurrency and traditional finance.

D.A. Davidson analysts led by Gil Luria also added that Coinbase's public debut will be the "Amazon moment for crypto," as cryptocurrency will move from "a large curiosity to becoming the future path for much of the financial system."

The San