How Did Peter Thiel-Backed Crypto Exchange Bullish's IPO Go?

Financial Sector Performance - The financial sector has performed well in 2025, with an 8.55% year-to-date gain, ranking fifth among the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, driven by President Trump's deregulatory policies and anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts [1] Cryptocurrency Market Growth - The Trump administration has positively impacted the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin increasing by 20.10%, XRP by 44.05%, and Ethereum by 48.33% since Inauguration Day [2] Investment Vehicles in Crypto - Traditional equities market now offers crypto-themed investment vehicles, including spot ETFs like the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF and publicly traded exchanges like Coinbase [3] Bullish IPO Details - Bullish, backed by Peter Thiel, had its IPO on August 6, debuting at $37 and reaching an intraday high of $118, closing with an 88.81% gain [4] Speculative Investment Opportunities - Speculative investors are encouraged to consider Bullish for crypto exposure in their equity portfolios [5] Peter Thiel's Influence - Peter Thiel's involvement with Bullish is significant due to his successful track record with other tech companies and his previous attempts to take Bullish public [6][9] Bullish's Market Position - Bullish has differentiated itself from competitors like Coinbase and Kraken by focusing on institutional clients, offering a tailored platform with derivatives, margin trading, and enhanced security [12] Trading Volume and Financial Performance - Since its launch, Bullish has achieved over $1.25 trillion in trading volume, with an average daily volume of $2.6 billion, and reported adjusted EBITDA of $52 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 [10][13]