Discord IPO: How to buy Discord shares

While primarily used by gamers, Discord has been growing rapidly as an online social platform for communities of all types. Although Discord’s initial public offering (IPO) has been rumoured for years, the firm could be set to go public in 2025.

While Discord has yet to officially confirm its IPO plans, reporting indicates that the company is already in serious discussions with investment bankers to gauge market interest.[1]

Given recent volatility in U.S. markets, the company may be waiting to IPO until company valuations are more stable. Read on to learn everything we know about Discord’s potential IPO and how you can buy shares when the company officially lists.

Is Discord going public?

While investors have been anticipating a Discord IPO for years, the company has recently taken informal steps to go public.

Most notably, Discord hired a new CEO in April 2025 with extensive industry experience to replace the company’s co-founder.[2] While the company didn’t officially acknowledge an IPO as the reason for the change, moves like this are widely considered precursors to going public.

Recent activity shows that Discord could be primed for its next steps as a company. In 2021, Discord held acquisition talks with Microsoft, although no deal came to fruition. The firm’s then-CEO acknowledged in 2024 that Discord would ‘probably go public'.[3]

When combined with recent reports that the company is in discussion with investment bankers, Discord’s long-awaited IPO could be just around the corner.

What is the Discord IPO date?

Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact date for Discord’s potential IPO. The company hasn’t filed any registration paperwork with regulators nor officially confirmed plans to go public. However, based on the company’s recent activity, an IPO could be in the cards for late 2025 or early 2026. 

Before going public, Discord still needs to take care of a few items, including finalising terms with financiers and conducting an investor roadshow to build interest in the company’s shares. However, a nascent recovery in the IPO market (highlighted by CoreWeave’s recent listing) indicates that the time could be right for Discord to go public.

How to buy shares in Discord

Whether Discord lists on the NYSE or the Nasdaq, investors will be able to purchase shares directly on Stake following the firm’s IPO. Learn how to buy Discord shares in five easy steps once the firm officially lists.

1. Open a stock investing account

If you want to buy Discord stock, you'll need to sign up for an investing platform with access to the U.S. stock exchanges. Stake is one such investing platform, offering access to both the Nasdaq and NYSE.

2. Fund your account

Complete an application with your personal and financial details. Fund your account with a bank transfer, debit card, or even Apple/Google Pay.

3. Search for Discord

You can find Discord shares by searching for the company’s name. Once Discord is assigned a ticker, you can also type that symbol to find the company’s shares. Remember, investing in a recently IPO'd company can be risky – always ensure that your investments align with your financial goals and risk tolerance. 

4. Choose an order type and buy the asset

You’ll be able to purchase Discord shares on any trading day by placing a market order. You can also enter a limit order to delay your purchase until Discord shares reach your desired price. You may wish to look into dollar cost averaging to spread out your risk, which smooths out buying at consistent intervals.

5. Monitor your investment

Once you own a stock, you should keep an eye on its performance over time. Check your portfolio regularly to ensure that your investment continues to align with your financial goals.

How much is Discord worth?

Discord was last officially valued at US$15 billion in 2021 during the company’s most recent fundraising round. However, secondary market transactions indicate that Discord’s valuation has since fallen to roughly US$10 billion as of 2024. This decline is indicative of a broader valuation contraction in the tech sector over this period.

Since Discord’s financials are not public, it’s challenging to build a financial model to estimate what the company might be worth today. However, recent reporting indicates that the company’s annual sales were about US$600 million in 2024. Notably, Discord’s subscription-based model means that the company’s revenues are likely more stable than peers in the tech sector, which could cause a higher valuation.

What is the ticker symbol for Discord?

Since the company hasn’t officially listed for an IPO, we don’t know yet what Discord’s ticker symbol will ultimately be. However, based on currently unused symbols on U.S. exchanges, the company has several compelling options. Both $DISC and $CORD are vacant in the U.S. and could be catchy, memorable choices for the firm.

What exchange will Discord list on?

Discord hasn’t filed for an IPO, and there is currently no indication of which stock exchange the company will list on. However, the most likely destination is either the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq, as these are the two major U.S. exchanges. Since the Nasdaq is traditionally more focused on technology firms, this exchange is a more likely destination for Discord.

Discord’s history and timeline

Discord has experienced a meteoric rise to become one of the internet’s most popular messaging platforms. Explore a brief overview of key events in Discord’s history below.

May 2015: Initial launch

In 2015, an initial version of Discord was launched by co-founders Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy, who both previously worked in the video game industry and on social gaming platforms. According to Citron, the idea for Discord was motivated by his frustrations navigating real-time tactics over voice chat in games like League of Legends.

January 2016: First major funding round

After early success and adoption from gamers, Discord raised an additional US$20 million to fund the firm’s expansion. At the time, CEO Jason Citron noted that over three million people had already tried the platform. 

December 2018: Unicorn status

Late in 2018, Discord officially achieved ‘unicorn status’ when the company raised US$150 million in funding at a US$2 billion valuation. In part, this money was used to build Discord’s digital video game storefront in an effort to rival competitors like Steam.

June 2020: Pivot to general chat

In 2020, Discord announced the company’s intention to pivot away from focusing purely on gamers to build out a general-purpose chat platform for online communities. The company also raised an additional US$100 million in funding to reorient the platform toward this goal. In 2020, Discord had an estimated 140 million active monthly users.

March 2021: Microsoft acquisition discussions

In March 2021, reports indicated that Discord was in discussion with Microsoft about a potential acquisition. Despite rumours of a $10 billion valuation, no deal was ultimately completed. Later in 2021, Discord secured a further US$500 million in funding, valuing the company at US$15 billion. 

August 2023: Layoffs and restructuring

In August 2023, Discord decided to cut 4% of the company’s staff, citing restructuring efforts. Just a few months later, in January 2024, the company reduced its headcount by an additional 17%. No further reductions have been reported since then, indicating the company’s headcount has likely stabilised for the time being.

April 2025: Citron steps down

Co-founder and CEO Jason Citron officially stepped down from the company, handing the reins to longtime gaming industry executive Humam Sakhnini. This move was widely seen as a potential step toward Discord’s eventual IPO, with market rumours indicating a tentative listing in late 2025 or early 2026.

Will an IPO affect Discord users?

If Discord pursues an IPO, Discord users are unlikely to see any immediate impact from the event. Looking toward the future, an IPO could allow Discord to more easily access capital to fund platform improvements. Public companies can raise money by issuing additional stock, they don’t need to negotiate bespoke fundraising rounds through private deals.

Who owns Discord?

Discord is currently a private company, and it’s challenging to get specific details on the firm’s ownership structure. However, co-founders Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy likely retain significant ownership.

In addition, venture capital firms that have invested in Discord through private fundraising rounds own a substantial portion of the company, including firms like Greylock Partners and Spark Capital. Many of Discord’s employees also likely own shares in the company.

Discord IPO details

We’ll update this article as more information emerges.

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Article sources

[1] Discord in Early Talks With Bankers for Potential I.P.O. - The New York Times

[2] Discord names new CEO ahead of potential IPO as co-founder steps down | CNBC

[3] Discord to Offer Rewards for Gamers as CEO Considers IPO | Bloomberg