Michael Novogratz, founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital, said the crypto industry is at a turning point as his firm went public on the Nasdaq Thursday under the ticker GLXY.
“We started off wanting to be the Goldman Sachs of crypto,” Novogratz said during a CNBC “Squawk Box” interview, recalling early days building out a broker-dealer and asset management firm. “The herd is finally here.”
Galaxy’s public debut comes with a shift in strategy. While the company remains focused on crypto, it has also moved into the AI data center business.
Novogratz described Galaxy as a “data center company plus a crypto company,” pointing to a major lease with CoreWeave at the Helios site in Texas. “That’s close to $14 billion of rent over the next 15 years,” he said.
Novogratz framed the AI expansion as more than a hedge. “These are the two most exciting growth areas—AI and crypto,” he said. “By mid-next year, we should have the first section [of the data center] really pulling a whole bunch of cash.”
Crypto and politics
On the policy front, Novogratz was candid about politics.
“The four years under Biden were really un-American when it came to crypto. It was just misery,” he said, calling the current environment “amazing for the space.”
While some Democrats criticize Trump’s ties to crypto, Novogratz praised efforts by Senators Warner and Gallego for pushing bipartisan legislation.
“We got to get this bill done, which I think happens Monday. Then there’s a market structure bill, and then crypto will go quiet in D.C.,” he said.
Looking ahead, Novogratz predicted further gains for Bitcoin (BTC).
“It looks like we’ll take out 106, 107, 108 and make the next leg to 131, 150,” he said. He added, “Crypto is a $2 trillion asset. Gold is a $22 trillion asset. One day, crypto will equal gold.”
