Empire Why BitGo Went Public | Mike Belshe
Feb 2, 2026
Mike Belshe, CEO and co-founder of BitGo and longtime Silicon Valley technologist who led BitGo into regulated financial services and an IPO. He walks through ringing the NYSE bell and the IPO process. He explains why going public was strategic, discusses allocation choices and retail/on-chain distribution, and reframes BitGo as crypto infrastructure, covering staking, trading, settlement, and replacing bank rails.
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Ringing The Bell Was For Everyone
- Mike Belshe described ringing the NYSE bell as a moment of gratitude for employees, early supporters, and the community.
- He framed the IPO as a public recognition of long-term work rather than a personal triumph.
Go Public To Win Wall Street Trust
- Do go public to win institutional trust when you need Wall Street clients and fiduciary comfort.
- Transparency from an S-1 and public reporting can unlock partnerships with long-lived financial firms.
Public Status Carries Significant Ongoing Costs
- Being public has material ongoing costs like higher insurance, audits, and investor relations that can total tens of millions annually.
- You should expect to earn new business from public status to cover those recurring expenses.
