CoinGecko seeks a valuation close to $500 million in a sale process led by Moelis

The crypto data platform CoinGecko is in the process of being evaluated for a potential exit, aiming to reach a valuation of around $500 million, according to sources close to the business. The investment bank Moelis has been hired to coordinate the transaction, marking a strategic move in a sector experiencing rapid consolidation.

The timing of the operation coincides with a boom period in mergers and acquisitions in the cryptocurrency market. According to PitchBook data, only in 2025, 133 transactions were recorded in the segment, totaling approximately $8.6 billion – a record that surpasses the combined amount of the previous four years.

Consolidation on the Rise: The Scenario Driving CoinGecko

The sale movement of CoinGecko reflects a broader trend of strategic reorganization in the crypto sector. Companies seek to gain scale, establish themselves under clearer regulatory frameworks, and acquire complementary assets to strengthen their operations. Improved regulatory clarity and increasing participation from institutional investors have transformed the market – previously fragmented into isolated opportunities – into a targeted consolidation ecosystem.

In recent months, some of the largest players have completed notable deals: Coinbase spent $2.9 billion to acquire Deribit, while Kraken invested $1.5 billion in purchasing NinjaTrader to expand its crypto product portfolio. Simultaneously, a series of smaller acquisitions gained momentum in sectors such as payments, infrastructure, and trading platforms.

CoinMarketCap and the Valuation Precedent in Data Platforms

To contextualize the valuation sought by CoinGecko, it is relevant to observe what happened with its main direct competitor. Binance – the largest exchange by transaction volume globally – acquired CoinMarketCap in April 2020 for a reported amount of up to $400 million, paid in a combination of shares and BNB tokens.

Considering the inflation of crypto market values over the past five years, the $500 million valuation sought by CoinGecko reflects not only sector growth but also the recognition that data and analysis platforms have become essential strategic assets for the operation of the modern crypto ecosystem.

Details of the Transaction and Next Steps

Sources who confirmed the information requested anonymity, as the process is still private. A third source indicated that it is premature to make any final valuation decision, as procedures only began at the end of 2025. Both CoinGecko and Moelis declined to comment at this time.

Founded in 2014 by TM Lee and Bobby Ong, CoinGecko has established itself as one of the leading independent data tracking platforms in the crypto market. Its reputation for providing free, high-quality information has built a robust and loyal user base over the years.

The potential outcome of this sale exploration would signal the continuation of the crypto consolidation wave – a cycle that combines opportunities for aggressive growth with the structural need for professionalization and governance that the sector is experiencing in its maturation phase.