Oct 30, 2026
Anthropic, the parent company to Claude artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, has filed to go public in what’s been described as the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in history. Reports estimate the deal could raise up to US$100 billion, beating SpaceX for the record it set last June.
And the timing here is everything — Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s own CEO, has spent much of 2026 warning that powerful AI could put human life at serious risk. Now, he’s asking investors to buy in.
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Anthropic shares will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “ANT,” possibly as early as November 2026, analysts say. Here’s what interested Canadian investors need to know before they buy shares.
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How big is the Anthropic IPO?
It’s huge. Compared to the record US$86 billion SpaceX raised when it went public earlier this year, Anthropic could surpass that by about US$14 billion. Some analysts report its target valuation as high as US$2 trillion — which would make it one of the world’s most valuable companies on its first day.
Anthropic’s growth is the main reason for the hype. In the first half of 2026, the company earned US$16.3 billion in revenue, an increase from US$1.2 billion in 2025.
Interestingly, it’s also losing money. Anthropic reported a US$80.7 billion net loss for the same six-month period. Most of that — US$72.4 billion — was a one-time charge connected to financing deals. Despite that, the company still spends heavily on computer chips and data centres that support its AI functions.
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Which risks does Anthropic flag?
Any company that files to go public must list all potential dangers. Anthropic’s list is almost 100 pages long.
These risks include losing key staff members, running into regulatory issues, and a decrease in computing power. The filing also flags tensions with the current leadership, microchip shortages, and slowing growth. It even plainly states the risk that AI could lead to human extinction.
Analysts at investment advisory firm Lightshed outlined the possible negative outcomes in a note before Anthropic filed for the IPO. They stated that Anthropic could either become the most valuable company in the world. Or it could go bankrupt.
Why is the CEO warning about his own AI while selling shares?
Amodei has been up front about his concerns. Last January, he published a long essay where he wrote that “we are considerably closer to real danger in 2026 than we were in 2023.” In September, he called for the industry to ease the pace of AI development, while simultaneously touting AI as a great way to improve people’s lives.
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Anthropic’s investor pitch presents both ideas at the same time. The filing promotes AI as transformational to the global economy, while its co-founders ask investors to look beyond the deal as purely transactional.
For those interested in investing, that tension matters. When a company openly identifies a danger with its own product, stricter regulation could come into effect, as well as more lawsuits and public pressure than you might find in a typical tech stock.
Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) representatives did not immediately respond to Money.ca’s request for comment.
What can you do?
- Know where to buy it. Investors won’t find Anthropic on the TSX. You’ll need to find a Canadian brokerage offering U.S. stock trading, such as Wealthsimple, Qtrade, Scotia iTRADE, or CIBC Investor’s Edge.
- Check for IPO price access. In May of this year, Wealthsimple launched IPO Access, a platform where clients request shares of a specific IPO at its offering price, with no minimum and no fee. The company hasn’t yet confirmed if Anthropic will be one of those offered, and requests for a particular IPO are never guaranteed.
- Watch the exchange on currency. The shares you buy will be in U.S. dollars, and your returns can quickly dwindle if you convert at your broker’s rate. Compare fees, or consider holding U.S. cash in a registered account that allows it.
- Consider taking an indirect route. Since you can’t yet buy shares directly, you can gain exposure by buying stocks or funds that already own a piece of it. Google holds roughly 14% of Anthropic, and Amazon has invested billions. You can find both companies in many broad U.S. and global ETFs.
- Don’t chase it all on the first day. New listings often take wild swings. If you want to buy in, set a budget — no more than you can afford to lose — and keep it only as a small portion of your portfolio.
Anthropic’s IPO may be the largest in history, but it comes with substantial risks — some that its own CEO is openly warning the public about. Interested Canadian investors can buy in through a U.S.-supported brokerage, but a small, planned position is worth more than a rushed bet on launch day.
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Melanie is an editor and fact checker who is passionate about proofreading and editing personal finance content. She specializes in breaking down complex topics into easily digestible details to help people make wise financial decisions.
