Galaxy Digital, founded by Mike Novogratz, made its Nasdaq debut at $23.50 per share, marking a significant week for cryptocurrency in public markets. This week also saw Coinbase join the S&P 500 and retail brokerage eToro go public, highlighting growing institutional acceptance of digital assets. Novogratz, Galaxy's CEO, emphasized that this is just the beginning of a trend of crypto companies going public. The resurgence of digital assets has been supported by regulatory moves under President Donald Trump, including the creation of a cryptocurrency working group and a federal bitcoin stockpile. eToro's Nasdaq debut valued the company at $5.64 billion, with shares surging 34%. Coinbase's inclusion in the S&P 500 starting May 19 marks the first digital asset company in the benchmark index.

May 16 (Reuters) - Galaxy Digital, founded by Mike Novogratz, made its Nasdaq debut on Friday, capping off a momentous week for cryptocurrency in public markets, with Coinbase joining the S&amp;P 500 and retail brokerage eToro also going public. Galaxy Digital  (GLXY.O) , opens new tab , a crypto investment company that also specializes in artificial intelligence data center infrastructure, had been listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, but began trading on the Nasdaq on Friday at $23.50 per share after a lengthy transition period. Shares in the company were last trading at $24.89. "I think we're at the beginning of the race, not the end of the race," said Novagratz, who is Galaxy's CEO and a prominent crypto investor, in an interview with Reuters. "Sometimes it feels like it's been such a struggle. You ring the bell and you're crossing the finish line, but it really is the starting bell." Digital assets have enjoyed a resurgence under President Donald Trump, who courted cash from the crypto industry on the campaign trail by pledging to be a " crypto president ." In his first week in office, Trump ordered c reation of a cryptocurrency working group  to propose digital asset regulations. In March, he signed an executive order to  create a federal stockpile of bitcoin . Those moves have buoyed cryptocurrency prices, including bitcoin , which is up more than 10% so far this year. Robinhood rival eToro -- which offers stocks and cryptocurrencies to retail investors -- also made its Nasdaq  debut  this week, securing a valuation of $5.64 billion after its shares surged 34% on Wednesday. Also this week, the S&amp;P announced that Coinbase  (COIN.O) , opens new tab   would be included in the S&amp;P 500 index  beginning May 19, becoming the first digital asset player to be included in the benchmark. "I think we're the beginning of what will be a trend of other (crypto) companies going public," Novogratz said.

Mike Novogratz's Galaxy Digital Listed on NASDAQ, Marking an Important Week for the Cryptocurrency Market