EasyA, a platform that helps developers build blockchain and artificial intelligence applications, reached a $1.1 billion valuation as it prepares to go public in the first half of next year, co-founder and CEO Philip Kwok told CoinDesk in an interview Tuesday.

The platform, which was founded by brothers Philip and Dominic Kwok, plans to pursue a direct public listing, which would allow its existing shareholders to sell their stock publicly without the company raising fresh capital through a traditional initial public offering (IPO).

EasyA has already submitted a draft registration to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company has completed two years of audits by the accounting firm PKF and received an independent valuation based on its financial performance and growth prospects. The valuation does not necessarily indicate what investors will pay for EasyA once its shares begin trading.

The planned listing would give public-market investors access to a business that helps blockchain networks and AI companies attract developers and build applications. It would also test investor appetite for companies that sell the infrastructure and services behind those industries, rather than for cryptocurrencies or AI models themselves.

"Given we are going public, and we're going public via a direct listing, that means that we of course need to have an independent valuation," Phil Kwok said. He explained that the $1.1 billion figure was determined by a third party using audited financial statements, operating performance, growth plans and comparisons with publicly traded companies.

3 million users, ranging from software developers to people using AI tools to create applications.

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