stock investors will use it as an indirect way to get exposure to the crypto market. there are very few publicly listed companies that currently occupy that niche. actually, the only one that comes to mind is riot blockchain inc (RIOT)---the veterinary healthcare company that overnight in 2018 became a crypto mining company and stuck "blockchain" into its company name.
It seems like a logical continuation of their development, and the only thing they can do at the moment to achieve a fresh inflow of money.
apparently this isn't about raising capital. they don't plan to do an IPO. on the contrary, their shareholders have no interest in diluting their own holdings. i take it they prefer to slowly cash out at high valuations on the open market:
The company's most recent funding round in 2018 valued the firm at more than $8 billion. The company is more interested in going public through a direct listing than a traditional initial public offering, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. Direct listings allow firms to go public without raising capital in a stock sale. Shareholders are able to sell their equity without having their stakes watered down by a new issuance.