How to Invest in OpenAI Stock? The Complete Guide to Indirectly Participating in the AI Revolution by 2026

“How to buy OpenAI stock?” This is a question on many investors’ minds. As a leading AI research institution, OpenAI has sparked a global AI wave with ChatGPT and the GPT series models, but its unique private company structure makes direct public investment impossible. However, this does not mean investors are completely unable to participate in the AI revolution. In 2026, OpenAI is preparing for its largest IPO in history, with a valuation expected to reach an astonishing $1 trillion. Although this moment has not yet arrived, investors still have multiple ways to gain indirect exposure to the AI market.

The Current Status and Investment Possibilities of OpenAI

OpenAI is currently still a privately held company, meaning its shares are not traded on public exchanges. This AI giant employs a unique “capped profit” structure designed to balance commercial success with the protection of its original mission. Investors cannot buy OpenAI stock directly on stock exchanges like Apple or Microsoft. The company’s private nature means that stock trading is limited to certain types of investors—typically institutional investors, qualified private investors, or company employees.

In 2026, rumors about OpenAI going public have been heating up. Reports indicate that the company is considering submitting an IPO application to securities regulators as early as the second half of 2026, with an initial fundraising scale of at least $60 billion. Although these rumors are exciting, CEO Sam Altman has denied plans for an IPO next year, stating that going public is “not a priority.” This suggests that even if an IPO is in planning, it may not happen in the short term.

Three Ways to Indirectly Invest in OpenAI

Although direct investment in OpenAI stock is not possible, savvy investors can participate in the AI revolution through three alternative approaches. Each method has its characteristics, suitable for different types of investors, but all require careful risk assessment and market understanding.

Investing through strategic partners: Microsoft is OpenAI’s main investor and strategic partner, having invested billions of dollars. Buying Microsoft stock can indirectly benefit from OpenAI’s success, representing a lower-risk but also limited-exposure strategy.

Investing in AI-themed ETFs: Several exchange-traded funds focus on AI and tech companies, such as the Global X Robotics & AI ETF or the ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF. These funds offer diversified exposure to multiple AI-related companies, reducing the risk associated with any single company.

Exploring AI-related cryptocurrencies: This is one of the most direct and potentially lucrative paths to AI investment. AI tokens represent the fusion of blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies, providing investors with a new way to participate in the AI ecosystem. These tokens can be highly volatile but also offer greater growth potential.

AI Tokens: The AI Revolution in the Cryptocurrency Market

While traditional financial markets offer ways to indirectly invest, the cryptocurrency market provides another avenue to participate in the AI revolution. AI tokens combine artificial intelligence technology with blockchain, creating a new category of digital assets. These tokens are not just speculative tools; they often power specific AI platforms or services, or are used to incentivize AI model training and data contribution. Unlike traditional stocks that are passively held until stock prices rise, many AI tokens have practical utility and governance functions.

Worldcoin (WLD) is a typical example, combining blockchain identity verification with the concept of universal basic income. AI Companions (AIC) focus on AI-driven virtual companion experiences, demonstrating how AI tokens can target specific application scenarios. The value of these tokens derives not only from market speculation but also from the actual adoption and utility of the AI ecosystems they support. This provides investors with a different way to participate compared to traditional equity investments, allowing direct support for AI innovation and potential benefits.

Gate Platform AI Token Market Overview

As one of the mainstream cryptocurrency trading platforms, Gate continuously offers users diversified digital asset trading options, including AI-related tokens. Below are the latest market performances of some representative AI tokens as of January 19, 2026, for investor reference.

Worldcoin (WLD)

According to the latest data, WLD’s current price is $0.4878, with a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $4.26 million, and a market cap of about $1.33 billion, accounting for 0.14% of the total crypto market cap.

In the short term, WLD shows significant volatility, with a 10.5% decline in the past 24 hours and a total decline of 16.9% over the past 7 days. From a medium to long-term perspective, the token has experienced a 77.29% price retracement over the past year, indicating considerable adjustment pressure.

Regarding supply structure, WLD has a circulating supply of approximately 2.73 billion tokens, representing 27.35% of the maximum supply of 10 billion tokens. Its fully diluted market cap is about $4.87 billion. The token is still in a continuous unlocking phase, and overall market sentiment remains neutral.

AI Companions (AIC)

AIC’s current price is approximately $0.1008, with a 24-hour trading volume of about $183,000, and a market cap of around $101 million. Compared to WLD, AIC has a simpler circulating structure, with 100% of tokens already in circulation and no additional supply releases expected.

In terms of price performance, AIC has faced short-term downward pressure, with a 9% decline in the past 24 hours and a 26.02% drop over the past 7 days. However, over the medium term, it recorded a slight 3.56% increase in the past 30 days, and its overall volatility over the past year has been relatively limited, with market sentiment maintained in a “bullish” range.

Overall, AI sector tokens are experiencing significant differentiation in the current market environment. High-market-cap AI projects like WLD are more susceptible to macro sentiment, token unlocking, and market liquidity changes; while mid- and small-cap projects like AIC show higher volatility elasticity driven by supply structure and short-term narratives.

Investment Risks and Precautions

AI investment opportunities are abundant but also come with significant risks. Whether through traditional financial markets or direct trading of AI tokens, investors need to carefully evaluate risks and returns.

Market volatility is a prominent feature of AI token investments. The cryptocurrency market is inherently highly volatile, and emerging AI tokens may be even more so. For example, WLD experienced a -71.96% annual decline in 2025, illustrating the high risk of this asset class.

Regulatory uncertainty is another key risk factor. The global regulatory environment for AI and cryptocurrencies is still evolving, and future regulatory changes could impact the value of AI tokens. Investors should closely monitor relevant legal developments.

Technical risks should not be overlooked either. AI projects may face technical implementation difficulties, increased competition, or fail to achieve expected adoption rates. These factors can all influence the value of related tokens.

For investors considering AI tokens, it is recommended to start with small amounts, gradually increase investments; conduct thorough research to understand project fundamentals and technical roadmaps; and diversify their portfolios to avoid over-concentration in a single asset.

Future Outlook

Although the timeline for OpenAI’s IPO remains uncertain, the AI revolution has already opened multiple doors for investor participation. Whether through indirect investment via traditional financial markets or direct involvement through the cryptocurrency market, 2026 offers abundant opportunities for those interested in AI. AI tokens, as a new asset class combining blockchain and artificial intelligence, provide a unique way for investors to participate. These tokens not only represent technological innovation but also reflect market expectations for AI’s future development. Despite their high volatility, they offer potential high returns for risk-tolerant investors.

As AI technology continues to advance and more practical applications emerge, the AI investment field is expected to expand and develop further. For investors interested in this area, continuous learning, cautious evaluation, and diversification will be key to long-term success. Regardless of the investment path chosen, understanding fundamental principles, assessing risks, and formulating clear investment strategies are crucial. The AI revolution is still in its early stages, offering a unique opportunity for patient and insightful investors to participate in shaping the future.

Open the Gate platform and search for the keyword “AI,” and you will find an AI crypto ecosystem composed of dozens of tokens. From infrastructure to specific applications, from data markets to computing power trading, each token represents a different aspect of AI and blockchain integration. You can choose to invest in tokens focused on AI model training or those providing decentralized computing resources for AI applications. Some tokens even allow you to participate directly in AI model governance decisions, truly becoming part of AI development. Unlike passive waiting for OpenAI’s IPO, trading AI tokens on Gate enables you to actively participate at the forefront of the AI revolution. Every transaction is not only an investment decision but also a vote on the future direction of technology.