Discord Might Have an IPO

Business

08 January 2026 17:20

Discord, the go-to chat platform for gamers and communities alike, has taken a major step toward going public. On January 6, 2026, Bloomberg reported that the company has confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States.This isn't a full announcement yet—confidential filings let companies kick off the SEC review process quietly, without spilling financial details right away.

Sources say Discord has been working with heavyweight banks Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase since at least March 2025. While nothing's set in stone (they could still pull back), insiders point to a potential debut as early as March 2026 if market conditions hold.

A Discord spokesperson kept it neutral, telling Bloomberg that the company's focus is "delivering the best possible experience for users and building a strong, sustainable business."

From Gaming Roots to Massive Community Hub

Discord launched in 2015, born from the ashes of Hammer & Chisel's failed MOBA Fates Forever. Founders Jason Citron and Stan Vishnevskiy wanted better voice chat for gamers tired of clunky options like Skype or TeamSpeak.Fast-forward a decade, and it's exploded.

The platform now boasts over 200 million monthly active users (as of late 2025 figures cited in reports), with users logging billions of hours in voice chats and servers monthly. While it started for gamers—90% of users still play games—it's evolved into a broader hangout for friends, study groups, creators, and even work teams.Key milestones:2020: Raised $100M at $7B valuation.

2021: Turned down Microsoft's rumored $10-12B acquisition offer; raised $500M in a round led by Dragoneer, hitting $15B valuation. 2025: New CEO Humam Sakhnini (ex-Activision Blizzard) takes over from Citron, signaling IPO prep.

Revenue comes mostly from Nitro subscriptions (premium features like better streaming, custom emojis) and in-app purchases, with emerging ads via Quests (rewards for playing sponsored games).

What the IPO Could Mean

The U.S. tech IPO market bounced back in 2025, raising $15.6 billion—more than double 2024's haul—despite some late volatility. If Discord lists, it joins a wave of venture-backed companies cashing in on renewed investor appetite.But expectations are tempered. That $15B private valuation from 2021? PitchBook analyst Eric Bellomo told Bloomberg it's "certainly lofty." “It won’t catch that in the public markets.”Secondary trades have hinted at $7-8B lately, with some estimates for a post-IPO market cap around $5-7B. Public scrutiny on growth, profitability, and issues like moderation/child safety (Discord faced lawsuits in 2025 alongside Roblox) will be intense.

More:Splitgate 2 Devs Snaps Back

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Discord Might Have an IPO

Business

08 January 2026 17:20

Tags: Discord

Discord, the go-to chat platform for gamers and communities alike, has taken a major step toward going public. On January 6, 2026, Bloomberg reported that the company has confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States.This isn't a full announcement yet—confidential filings let companies kick off the SEC review process quietly, without spilling financial details right away.

Sources say Discord has been working with heavyweight banks Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase since at least March 2025. While nothing's set in stone (they could still pull back), insiders point to a potential debut as early as March 2026 if market conditions hold.

A Discord spokesperson kept it neutral, telling Bloomberg that the company's focus is "delivering the best possible experience for users and building a strong, sustainable business."

From Gaming Roots to Massive Community Hub

Discord launched in 2015, born from the ashes of Hammer & Chisel's failed MOBA Fates Forever. Founders Jason Citron and Stan Vishnevskiy wanted better voice chat for gamers tired of clunky options like Skype or TeamSpeak.Fast-forward a decade, and it's exploded.

The platform now boasts over 200 million monthly active users (as of late 2025 figures cited in reports), with users logging billions of hours in voice chats and servers monthly. While it started for gamers—90% of users still play games—it's evolved into a broader hangout for friends, study groups, creators, and even work teams.Key milestones:2020: Raised $100M at $7B valuation.

2021: Turned down Microsoft's rumored $10-12B acquisition offer; raised $500M in a round led by Dragoneer, hitting $15B valuation. 2025: New CEO Humam Sakhnini (ex-Activision Blizzard) takes over from Citron, signaling IPO prep.

Revenue comes mostly from Nitro subscriptions (premium features like better streaming, custom emojis) and in-app purchases, with emerging ads via Quests (rewards for playing sponsored games).

What the IPO Could Mean

The U.S. tech IPO market bounced back in 2025, raising $15.6 billion—more than double 2024's haul—despite some late volatility. If Discord lists, it joins a wave of venture-backed companies cashing in on renewed investor appetite.But expectations are tempered. That $15B private valuation from 2021? PitchBook analyst Eric Bellomo told Bloomberg it's "certainly lofty." “It won’t catch that in the public markets.”Secondary trades have hinted at $7-8B lately, with some estimates for a post-IPO market cap around $5-7B. Public scrutiny on growth, profitability, and issues like moderation/child safety (Discord faced lawsuits in 2025 alongside Roblox) will be intense.

More:Splitgate 2 Devs Snaps Back

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