SpaceX sets a new world record on Nasdaq

Elon Musk's space company SpaceX has completed a stock market listing that will go down in history. The company raised $75 billion through its listing on Nasdaq, shattering Saudi Aramco's previous record of $25.6 billion set in 2019, according to data cited by Yahoo Finance and processed market research.

To put the numbers in perspective: Alibaba's iconic listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014 raised $21.7 billion, while Facebook – now Meta – raised $16 billion at its market debut in 2012. SpaceX surpasses all of them by a wide margin.

$75B
SpaceX IPO 2026
$25.6B
Saudi Aramco IPO 2019
SpaceX raises $75 billion – the largest IPO in history - Bilde 1

Market timing is controversial

The listing comes in a market marked by significant risk aversion. The Fear & Greed Index currently stands at 13 out of 100 – a level that historically indicates extreme fear among investors. Bitcoin is trading around $63,500, well below previous peak levels.

The fact that SpaceX has chosen to go public in such a climate is remarkable. Critics will point out that low market sentiment typically pushes valuations down and makes it harder to sell shares at the desired price. Nevertheless, the amount raised suggests that institutional demand has been solid.

$75 billion – nearly three times more than any company has ever raised in an IPO
SpaceX raises $75 billion – the largest IPO in history - Bilde 2

How does an IPO differ from a crypto raise?

The contrast with the crypto sector's capital-raising records is stark. The largest Initial Coin Offering (ICO) ever conducted was carried out by EOS in 2018, raising just over $4.1 billion – roughly five percent of the SpaceX listing. Telegram raised $1.7 billion for its TON project the same year, but the project was subsequently shut down by US authorities.

There are, however, fundamental differences between the two models. An IPO gives investors an actual ownership stake in the company, voting rights, and a claim on future earnings. An ICO typically provides access to digital tokens with limited or no ownership rights. The IPO process also involves thorough auditing, detailed prospectuses, and approval from regulators such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Institutional capital moves toward space

The listing will likely redirect significant institutional capital. Analyst sources note that major growth and venture funds already have exposure to both AI and the space sector, and that the SpaceX listing could serve as an anchor point for broader sector rallies within technology and space.

The Norwegian market has limited direct exposure to SpaceX, but Norwegian funds with global mandates – particularly those tracking technology and growth indices on Nasdaq – will feel the impact of the listing on index composition going forward.

Verification disclaimer

It should be noted that the source material for this article is based on Yahoo Finance and associated market research. Detailed terms of the listing, the final issue price, and the shareholder structure have not been fully verified from primary sources such as SpaceX, SEC filings, or Nasdaq at the time of publication. Readers should follow official stock exchange announcements for complete details.