OpenAI Warns Against Unauthorized Equity Sales, Flags Investment Scams
Artificial intelligence company, OpenAI, has issued a warning to investors and the general public over unauthorized sales and investment schemes involving its equity, stressing that any transfer without its written consent is void.
The company, in a blog post published on Sunday, August 24, on its official website, cautioned that all OpenAI equity is subject to strict transfer restrictions.
“OpenAI equity cannot be directly or indirectly transferred unless the seller first obtains OpenAI’s written consent. Any attempted transfer, including pledges, encumbrances, or other similar dispositions, that does not follow this requirement is void,” the company said.
The warning follows reports of third parties promoting investment opportunities purportedly tied to OpenAI shares. These schemes, the company noted, come in forms such as direct equity sales, investments in special purpose vehicles (SPVs) holding OpenAI equity, tokenized interests in OpenAI equity or SPVs, and forward contracts offering economic exposure.
OpenAI stressed that it neither endorses nor participates in such transactions, warning that they violate its transfer rules and could render the underlying equity invalid.
The company further highlighted that unauthorized transfers could breach U.S. federal and state securities laws, potentially exposing both buyers and sellers to legal liabilities, including rescission of transactions.
While acknowledging that not every investment tied to its shares is fraudulent, OpenAI cautioned that many are structured to sidestep restrictions, leaving investors with no legal or economic claim. It pledged strict enforcement of its transfer rules and urged the public to report suspicious offers by contacting [email protected].
The warning comes amid OpenAI’s surging valuation, which has drawn strong investor interest. The company recently closed a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank, raising its valuation to $300 billion — nearly double its $157 billion valuation in October 2024. This brought its total primary capital raised to almost $58 billion.
OpenAI is also in early talks to sell employee shares, a move that could push its valuation to about $500 billion, potentially making it the most valuable private startup in the world.
