SpaceX IPO sparks demand as investors chase access to Elon Musk’s space empire

SpaceX’s long-anticipated initial public offering, which could value the company at about $1.75 trillion, has triggered intense demand from retail investors eager to gain exposure to Elon Musk’s space, satellite, and AI-driven ecosystem.

The listing has quickly become one of the year’s most talked-about fear-of-missing-out trades, even though SpaceX is not yet profitable.

Reports indicate investor demand has already doubled the number of shares available, with underwriters receiving far more orders than supply ahead of pricing.

The SpaceX IPO is priced at $135 per share. The offering plans to raise $75 billion by selling over 555 million shares, giving the company an implied valuation of roughly $1.75 trillion.

At $1.75 trillion, SpaceX is targeting a valuation that would make it one of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S., surpassing the market capitalisation of Tesla.

In an unusual move for a mega IPO, SpaceX has reportedly set aside as much as 30 percent of the offering, estimated at around $22.5 billion, for retail investors, a segment typically sidelined in large institutional deals.

How Nigerian investors may gain exposure

Interest has also surged in Nigeria, where investors are exploring multiple routes to participate in the listing. Several digital investment platforms operating across Africa and global brokerage apps are expected to provide varying degrees of access.

Platforms such as Bamboo and Risevest allow Nigerian users to invest in US equities through partner brokerages, with access to IPOs once shares begin trading.

Meanwhile, Hisa (formerly Chaka) offers Naira-funded accounts and access to US markets through its SEC-licensed pan-African structure. Some users are also exploring crypto-linked exposure via exchanges like Bitget, which provide derivative tokens tracking pre-IPO sentiment.

Global brokerages, including Robinhood, Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab, SoFi, and E*Trade, are expected to participate in allocation for retail investors, though eligibility rules and allocation sizes vary widely.

How retail investors can participate

SpaceX, trading under the ticker SPCX at listing, is distributing shares through selected brokerages. Investors generally need an active brokerage account, completed identity verification, and an indication of interest submitted before pricing is finalised.

Minimum requirements differ across platforms. Some, such as Robinhood, SoFi, and E*Trade, offer entry with no minimum balance, while Fidelity has reduced its threshold for IPO participation to around $2,000. Others, like Charles Schwab, may require significantly higher account balances.

Brokerages caution investors against flipping, which is selling IPO shares shortly after listing, warning that early exits could limit access to future IPO allocations.

International access and restrictions

Investors in parts of Europe, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands, may gain access once regulatory approvals for the European prospectus are completed.

However, allocations remain limited and competitive. Those unable to secure IPO shares may still buy SpaceX stock after it begins trading on the public market, though prices are expected to be highly volatile in early sessions due to strong demand.

Valuation concerns and market risks

SpaceX’s valuation, which is estimated at roughly 110 times trailing sales, has raised concerns that expectations for future growth may already be fully priced in.

The company has acknowledged in its IPO documentation that it does not expect to be profitable in the near term. Its capital-intensive operations, including rocket launches and satellite deployments, also expose it to regulatory and execution risks.

Additional pressure could emerge as other high-profile artificial intelligence and space-related companies prepare for public listings, increasing competition for investor attention.

Despite the risks, IPOs of this scale often see strong first-day gains, as unmet demand drives early trading spikes. Some investors may also gain indirect exposure through index funds or broader tech-heavy ETFs tracking the sector.