Anthropic · OpenAI · Claude Code · Claude · Amazon · Decrypt
Anthropic and OpenAI Warn Buyers: Unauthorized AI Startup Shares May Be Worthless
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Anthropic and OpenAI both updated their stock transfer policies on Tuesday, and the message is the same: If you bought shares through an unauthorized channel, you may not own anything other than an expensive piece of paper.
Key facts
- Anthropic's annualized revenue jumped from $9 billion at end-2025 to $30 billion by April 2026 a 233% increase in a single quarter, driven largely by Claude Code—with Amazon committed to invest up
- The Anthropic token on PreStocks, a Solana-based SPV-backed platform, dropped from $1400 to $900 after Anthropic's announcement, according to Coingecko
- As last month, Anthropic's implied valuation on Forge had hit roughly $1 trillion, overtaking OpenAI's $880 billion on the same platform, a figure Forge CEO Kelly Rodriques confirmed
- Three weeks ago, Robinhood Ventures Fund the reporter announced it had purchased $75 million in OpenAI common stock, giving retail investors exposure through a NYSE-listed closed-end fund
Summary
Both Anthropic and OpenAI have declared any stock transfer without board approval void. Anthropic published a blocklist of unauthorized platforms, including Forge Global and Hiive—two of the largest regulated private-share marketplaces. The $6.6 billion OpenAI employee cash-out was a board-authorized tender offer, which both companies say is legitimate. Anthropic's updated page says any sale or transfer of its stock without board of directors approval is "void"—not voidable, not disputed, void.