Report: Tiger Global Reduces Holdings in BAYC and OpenSea

51766003f08f6fa9780bba26b746dc23b765a133.jpg

Tiger Global Marks Down Stakes in NFT Marketplace

Investment management company Tiger Global has reportedly marked down its stakes in popular nonfungible token (NFT) projects like the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) collection and NFT marketplace OpenSea, with a significant reduction in their valuations.

Marked Down Stakes

According to media outlet Bloomberg, Tiger Global marked down its stakes in BAYC by 69% and in OpenSea by a staggering 94%. This move comes as a surprise to many in the industry, as both BAYC and OpenSea have been thriving in the NFT space.

Tiger Global, when reached for comments, did not give an immediate response to the reported markdowns. This decision comes following a period of active investment for the company in the crypto space.

Tiger Global’s Crypto Investments

Tiger Global, known for its aggressive investment strategy, has been actively investing in various areas of the crypto space. In 2021, the company co-led a $24 million funding round for blockchain security firm CertiK, signaling its efforts to expand its security offerings for the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector.

In 2022, Tiger Global participated in a Series B investment round for zero-knowledge applications platform Aleo, which raised $200 million. Additionally, the company also invested in the layer-2 network Polygon, showing its continued interest and commitment to the crypto market.

Coatue Management’s Mark Down

Tiger Global is not the only investment firm to mark down its NFT investments. Coatue Management, OpenSea’s co-lead investor, marked down its investment in the NFT marketplace by a significant 90%. This marked reduction implies a sharp drop in OpenSea’s on-paper valuation from $120 million to $13 million, further indicating a downward trend in the NFT market.

Future Implications

The marked down stakes by Tiger Global and other investment firms raise questions about the future of the NFT market. With the market showing signs of potentially cooling off, investors may reconsider their NFT investment strategies in light of these developments.

It remains to be seen how Tiger Global’s decision will impact the overall cryptocurrency market and whether other investment firms will follow suit in marking down their NFT investments. As the crypto market continues to evolve, such developments serve as a reminder of the volatility and unpredictability of the industry.