Industry News
Scope Markets Lets Retail Traders Bet on Anthropic and OpenAI Before They List
Scope Markets has added pre-IPO CFDs on Anthropic and OpenAI to MetaTrader 5, with 100% margin and 24/7 quotes. Here is what traders get, what they do not, and where both IPOs actually stand.
Retail traders have been asking the same question for most of this year: is there any way to get a piece of Anthropic or OpenAI before they list? For almost everyone, the honest answer has been no. Both companies are private, their shares trade hands only in closed secondary deals, and those deals are mostly open to funds and very wealthy investors.
Scope Markets has now offered a different kind of answer. The broker has added two pre-IPO contracts for difference (CFDs), listed as ANTHROPIC.24_7 and OPENAI.24_7, on MetaTrader 5 for its retail clients.
It is worth slowing down on what that does and does not mean, because the word "pre-IPO" carries a lot of hope that this product is not designed to meet.
What Scope Markets has launched
The two CFDs follow an indicative price for each company's shares. That price comes from pre-IPO derivatives markets, not from an exchange, since neither company is listed anywhere. Clients can go long if they think the market will value the company higher, or short if they think the valuation is stretched.
A few details stand out:
| Detail | What it means |
|---|---|
| Instruments | ANTHROPIC.24_7 and OPENAI.24_7 |
| Platform | MetaTrader 5 |
| Margin | 100%, so the full position value is paid up front and there is no leverage |
| Trading hours | Quoted 24 hours a day, seven days a week |
| Ownership | None. No shares, no IPO allocation, no shareholder rights |
The 100% margin is the part worth underlining. Most CFDs are sold on leverage, and leverage is where retail accounts tend to get hurt. Here, if you want $1,000 of exposure, you put up $1,000. The full position value must be funded, so no leverage is applied. The CFDs remain high-risk, and account protections depend on the relevant entity and product terms.
The instruments sit with the broker's other round-the-clock products, which include gold, silver, Brent and WTI crude, and a handful of single-stock CFDs.
What you are actually buying
This is the bit that matters most for anyone who follows IPOs closely.
A pre-IPO CFD is a bet on a price, nothing more. You do not own a share of Anthropic or OpenAI. You will not be first in line when either company floats. You do not get a vote, a dividend, or a place in the IPO book. When you close the position, you settle the difference in cash with the broker.
And the price you are trading is not set by a stock exchange. It is an indicative figure built from private derivatives markets, which are thin, move on headlines, and can gap sharply when news breaks at odd hours. Being able to trade it on a Sunday night cuts both ways. A funding round or a filing update can move the quote while most people are asleep.
In plain terms: you can trade the market's opinion of these companies. You cannot buy into the companies themselves.
Where the two IPOs actually stand
The timing of the launch is not a coincidence.
- Anthropic filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 26 October 2026 for a proposed listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. It updated that filing with third-quarter results on 2 November.
- OpenAI confirmed a confidential IPO filing in June. In September, its chief executive said a listing in 2026 would be ill-advised.
- Neither company has set a listing date.
So one company has a public filing and the other has signalled it is in no rush. Pre-IPO prices on both will keep reacting to every filing amendment, funding round and leadership comment between now and an actual listing, if one happens.
What Scope Markets says
John Murphy, Managing Director at Scope Markets, put it this way:
"Anthropic and OpenAI are two of the most closely watched companies in the world, and every filing and funding headline moves how the market values them. Our clients can now trade those moves, long or short, at any hour."
He also pointed to education, which is the right instinct for a product like this. The broker is running two free webinars on Thursday 12 November:
- Arabic session at 20:00 Riyadh time, presented by Mohanad Yakout, Senior Market Analyst, MENA, and Ibrahim Hossny, Head of Research and Marketing, MENA.
- English session at 14:00 GMT, presented by Mohanad Yakout and Geoffrey Gichanga, Market Analyst, Scope Markets Kenya.
If you are thinking about these instruments at all, the session on how pre-IPO prices are set is probably the most useful hour you can spend before placing a trade.
Who might use this, and who should not
A product like this suits a fairly narrow group: experienced traders who already understand CFDs, who want a view on how the market will price these companies, and who are comfortable with a price that is not set on an exchange.
It is not a substitute for taking part in the IPO itself. If your goal is to apply for shares when Anthropic or OpenAI lists, a CFD will not get you there. You would need an account with a broker or bank that offers access to that specific US offering, and many US IPO access programmes are limited to US residents.
Scope Markets is the brand used by the regulated financial services companies of Rostro Group, which operates through regulated entities in six jurisdictions. As with any CFD provider, check which entity you would be onboarded with and what protections apply where you live. You can compare that and more on the Scope Markets broker profile.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Anthropic or OpenAI shares through Scope Markets?
No. The new products are CFDs that track an indicative pre-IPO price. You do not own shares, receive an IPO allocation or gain any shareholder rights.
Is leverage available on the Anthropic and OpenAI CFDs?
No. Scope Markets requires 100% margin on both instruments, so you fund the full value of each position.
When will Anthropic and OpenAI go public?
Neither company has announced a listing date. Anthropic filed with the SEC on 26 October 2026 for a proposed Nasdaq listing. OpenAI has confirmed a confidential filing but its chief executive has said a 2026 listing would be ill-advised.
Where does the CFD price come from?
From pre-IPO derivatives markets. Because the shares are not listed, there is no exchange price to follow, so the quote is indicative and can move sharply on news.
Source: company announcement from Scope Markets, as reported by LiquidityFinder. Photo by Maxim Klimashin on Unsplash. Anthropic and OpenAI logos are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for identification only. CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money. This article is for information only and is not investment advice.
IPO Bazaar is an information service. Nothing here is investment advice or an offer to buy or sell any product. CFDs are complex instruments and can lose money quickly. Check the provider's terms and your local rules before you trade.