Anthropic Warns Against Unauthorized Stock Sales Amid AI Investment Frenzy

In light of a surge in unauthorized stock sales of AI companies, Anthropic issued a warning this week, cautioning investors about several private and secondary investment platforms that falsely claim to offer shares of the company. These platforms include Open Doors Partners, Unicorns Exchange, Pachamama Capital, Lionheart Ventures, Hiive (new offerings), Forge Global (new offerings), Sydecar, and Upmarket. - Anthropic emphasized that any sale or transfer of its stock offered by these firms is void and will not be acknowledged. - Forge Global asserted that its inclusion in the list was erroneous, stating that they work with explicit company approval for any transactions. - Sydecar stated it acts only in an administrative capacity and does not engage in trade or solicit transactions in private company shares. - The backdrop of Anthropic's warning is a rising trend of platforms providing exposure to AI companies through secondary markets, sometimes using special purpose vehicles (SPVs) or secondary market holdings. - Anthropic, rumored to be seeking further funding at a $900 billion valuation, is highly sought after, adding complexity to the trading environment around its shares. - Some crypto entities have launched investment products offering exposure to AI companies, although not granting direct share ownership. - Anthropic maintains that its stock is subject to strict transfer restrictions, invalidating unauthorized third-party platform transactions.