SpaceX eyes $1.5 trillion IPO in 2026: Igniting unicorn stampede where OpenAI and Stripe race to cash out before the rocket hype crashes back to earth

SpaceX is reportedly preparing for a 2026 initial public offering (IPO) with the assistance of four major Wall Street banks, a move that could provide a significant boost to the market. The company recently completed a tender offer at a valuation of $800 billion, and demand on the secondary market is extremely high. If SpaceX goes public at its rumored valuation of $1.5 trillion, it could trigger a wave of IPOs from other late-stage unicorns, including OpenAI, Stripe, and Databricks. This potential IPO cascade would be a significant development in the tech industry, as these companies have been privately held for an extended period. The involvement of major banks and the high valuation indicate a strong market appetite for tech stocks, and the IPO could have far-reaching implications for the industry as a whole. SpaceX's planned IPO is expected to be closely watched by investors and industry observers in the coming years.