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How to invest in pre-IPO companies with crypto through Unicorn Club

Can you invest in pre-IPO companies with crypto? Yes, through Unicorn Club. Accredited investors who are members of the club can commit to a pre-IPO club deal and pay the full amount in BTC, ETH, USDT or USDC on the ERC-20 network, or by wire. Each investment is made through an SPV that holds shares of one large private company, with a minimum of 100,000 dollars per deal, according to Unicorn Club as of 27 October 2026.

Key takeaways

What a pre-IPO club deal is

A club deal is a single investment that a small group of qualified investors makes together, alongside an organizer that finds the opportunity, negotiates the terms and runs the vehicle. In pre-IPO investing the group usually invests through an SPV that buys shares of one private company before its listing, often on the secondary market from employees or early investors.

Each member decides deal by deal: which company, and how much to commit above the minimum. The SPV holds the shares until a listing or a sale of the company, then distributes the proceeds to the members, net of its costs, according to the vehicle's documents. Unicorn Club organizes club deals in the 30 largest pre-IPO companies in the world, the companies tracked on this site, according to Unicorn Club as of 27 October 2026.

Why a crypto investor may look at large private companies

A portfolio made mostly of cryptocurrencies depends on one market. Bitcoin set a record of about 126,000 dollars in October 2025, according to CoinDesk price data, and fell to an intraday low of 79,694 dollars on 15 October 2026, after US inflation data, while more than 929 million dollars of leveraged positions were liquidated, according to Bitcoin.com News on 15 October 2026.

The largest private companies are priced on different drivers: revenue growth, funding rounds and the prospect of a listing. Anthropic announced a Series H at a valuation of 965 billion dollars on 28 May 2026; OpenAI closed a round at 852 billion dollars, as reported by CNBC on 31 March 2026; Databricks raised at 190 billion dollars, as reported by CNBC on 13 August 2026; Stripe was valued at 159 billion dollars in a tender offer, as reported by CNBC on 24 February 2026. Before an IPO, shares of companies of this size are usually reachable only through private transactions.

For an investor who already holds digital assets, a club deal paid in crypto is a way to allocate part of those holdings to established private companies without first moving the money through a bank, one company at a time. It is a diversification choice, not a guarantee: private company valuations can fall, and the timing of an exit is uncertain.

Who can take part

Club deals are private placements, so they are open only to investors who qualify under the law of their country. In the United States the SEC defines an accredited individual as someone with net worth above 1 million dollars, excluding the primary residence, or income above 200,000 dollars (300,000 dollars with a spouse or partner) in each of the last two years, according to its accredited investor page updated on 13 June 2024.

In the Unicorn Club app, investors confirm their status with a questionnaire based on the rules of their country of residence. The minimum is 100,000 dollars per deal; for United States residents it is 200,000 dollars for individuals and 1,000,000 dollars for entities, according to Unicorn Club as of 27 October 2026. These amounts follow the approach described in an SEC staff no-action letter of 12 March 2025 on verifying accredited investors in Rule 506(c) offerings, which described minimums of 200,000 dollars for individuals and 1,000,000 dollars for entities.

How to join Unicorn Club

How the crypto payment works

When you choose to pay a commitment in crypto, the app asks which asset you want to use: BTC, ETH, USDT or USDC, the two stablecoins on the Ethereum ERC-20 network. It then shows the exact amount to send, the receiving address of the company's wallet, the network and a QR code that your wallet can scan.

The amount is calculated at an exchange rate that stays valid for a limited time; if it expires before you pay, the app calculates a new amount. Send exactly the amount shown, on the network shown. The server checks the blockchain and confirms the payment automatically once it has 2 network confirmations for BTC or 12 for ETH and ERC-20 tokens, according to Unicorn Club as of 27 October 2026; the commitment is then marked as received in the app.

If you prefer, the same commitment can be paid by wire: the app shows the beneficiary, the bank details and a unique reference, and the wire is for the full amount of the commitment.

Costs and risks to check

Frequently asked questions

Which cryptocurrencies does Unicorn Club accept for investments?

BTC, ETH, USDT and USDC, with USDT and USDC on the Ethereum ERC-20 network, according to Unicorn Club as of 27 October 2026. A wire transfer is also available.

How is a crypto payment confirmed?

Automatically. The server reads the blockchain and confirms the exact amount after 2 network confirmations for BTC or 12 for ETH and ERC-20 tokens, then marks the commitment as received in the app.

What happens if the crypto price changes before I pay?

The amount in crypto is calculated at an exchange rate valid for a limited time. If it expires, the app calculates a new amount at the current rate before you send the payment.

What is the minimum investment?

100,000 dollars per deal. For United States residents the minimum is 200,000 dollars for individuals and 1,000,000 dollars for entities, according to Unicorn Club as of 27 October 2026.

Is the membership fee an investment?

No. The subscription, 99 dollars a month or 890 dollars a year, gives access to the club deals. Each investment is chosen and paid separately.

How do I prove that I am an accredited investor?

In the Unicorn Club app, with a questionnaire based on the rules of your country of residence, completed before you commit to a deal.

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