CoinGecko $500 million for sale! Traffic plummeted by 57%, AI steals data platform business

CoinGecko considers a sale at a $500 million valuation and has hired Moelis to handle the process. Monthly traffic has plummeted from 43.5 million to 18.5 million, as AI steals users. In 2025, crypto M&A hits a record high of $8.6 billion. In 2020, Binance acquired CoinMarketCap for $400 million. CoinGecko was founded by TM Lee and Bobby Ong in 2014.

Monthly Traffic Halved 57% AI Encroachment Crisis

According to two sources familiar with the matter, the well-known cryptocurrency market data and analytics company CoinGecko is considering a sale at an estimated valuation of around $500 million. The sources revealed that the company has engaged investment bank Moelis to advise on the sale. Due to the private nature of the matter, these sources requested anonymity. A third person stated that it is still too early to determine a valuation, as the process only began at the end of last year.

The reason behind CoinGecko’s consideration of a sale is the catastrophic decline in traffic. As more users turn to AI chatbots for information, media and data companies are experiencing drops in traffic. Data from Similarweb shows that CoinGecko’s monthly traffic fell to about 18.5 million in December 2025, down from 43.5 million in 2024. This represents a 57% decrease within a year, a fatal blow for a platform that relies primarily on advertising and data subscriptions for revenue.

How is AI stealing business from crypto data platforms? In the past, users had to open CoinGecko’s website, search for a token, and view data. Now, users can simply ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity: “How much is Bitcoin now?” AI provides an immediate answer, all within less than 10 seconds. This convenience significantly weakens the value of traditional data websites.

More critically, AI responses often integrate multiple data sources, not only providing prices but also analyzing trends, comparing historical data, and even offering investment advice. In contrast, CoinGecko can only provide raw data, requiring users to analyze it themselves. This user experience gap leads younger investors to visit traditional data sites less and less.

Three Main Ways AI Is Stealing Business from Crypto Data Platforms

Real-time Query Replacement: Voice or text questions to AI are faster than opening websites

Data Integration and Analysis: AI offers cross-platform data comparison and trend interpretation

Personalized Recommendations: AI can customize investment advice based on user needs

Compared to this, CoinMarketCap is one of the most visited and influential crypto market data aggregation sites, and a peer of CoinGecko. Its total monthly visits dropped from about 157 million in 2024 to 64 million in December 2025. This 59% decline mirrors CoinGecko’s situation. The entire crypto data platform industry is under attack from AI, which is not an isolated problem for CoinGecko but a sector-wide crisis.

Valuation of $500 Million vs. $400 Million for CoinMarketCap: The Logic

In April 2020, Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, completed its acquisition of CoinMarketCap. Reports indicated the deal was valued at up to $400 million, paid in equity and BNB tokens. CoinGecko’s current $500 million valuation, only 25% higher than CoinMarketCap’s 2020 valuation, appears conservative considering the massive expansion of the crypto market during this period.

Why has CoinGecko’s valuation grown so slowly? The answer lies in the deterioration of traffic and competitive landscape. When CoinMarketCap was acquired in 2020, its monthly traffic exceeded 100 million, and its market position was solid. Now, CoinGecko’s monthly traffic in 2026 is only 18.5 million and continues to decline. This fragile traffic base causes buyers to be cautious about its future cash flow, lowering valuation multiples.

Additionally, after Binance acquired CoinMarketCap, it gained strong strategic synergies. Binance directed CoinMarketCap’s traffic to its exchange and leveraged its brand influence to boost Binance’s market position. This strategic value far exceeded CoinMarketCap’s own revenue capabilities. In contrast, potential buyers of CoinGecko need to evaluate whether they can create similar synergies post-acquisition.

The company is considering a sale because, over the past year, crypto trading has accelerated, with record transaction values and volumes highlighting market consolidation trends. Companies are seeking scale, regulated infrastructure, and strategic assets. According to PitchBook data, in 2025 alone, disclosed M&A activity in the crypto sector reached about $8.6 billion, with a record 133 deals, surpassing the total of the previous four years.

$8.6 Billion M&A Wave and the Battle for Strategic Assets

Some major deals last year included the US’s largest compliant crypto exchange acquiring Deribit for $2.9 billion, along with a series of smaller strategic acquisitions in payments, data, infrastructure, and trading platforms. This surge reflects a shift from opportunistic trading to targeted integration and expansion, driven by increased regulatory transparency and institutional participation.

For potential buyers, CoinGecko’s value lies in its brand recognition and user data. Even with declining traffic, 18.5 million remains a significant number—these users are active crypto investors with high commercial value. Exchanges, wallet providers, and data analytics firms may be interested in acquiring CoinGecko because it offers immediate user acquisition and brand influence.

Possible buyers include: the largest compliant US crypto exchange (which has already acquired Deribit and shows M&A ambitions), Binance (which already owns CoinMarketCap but may seek market dominance), or Web3 companies focused on data analytics. Each will evaluate CoinGecko’s value based on different strategic considerations.

Founded by TM Lee and Bobby Ong in 2014, CoinGecko has operated for over 12 years. It has established a brand position second only to CoinMarketCap in the crypto data space. However, the founders’ decision to sell amid traffic halving and AI threats may reflect a pessimistic outlook on the industry’s future. They might believe that the golden era of data platforms has ended, and cashing out timely is the most rational choice.