The “Space Winter” of 2022 is officially over.
According to new data from Seraphim Space, the global space sector is poised for further acceleration in 2026 after smashing records last year. The drivers have shifted from experimental R&D to hard geopolitical reality: Defense, Sovereign Constellations, and AI integration.
📈 THE RECORD NUMBERS (2025):
- Total Private Investment: $12.4 billion (+48% YoY).
- Q4 Momentum: Closed the year with a massive $3.8 billion quarter.
- US Dominance: The US captured $7.3 billion (60% of global funding), largely driven by the Pentagon’s Golden Dome initiative.
- China: Remains a strong #2 with ~$2 billion invested to accelerate domestic launch capabilities.
🛰️ THE “SPACEX CATALYST”: The market is buzzing about the potential for a SpaceX IPO.
- Lucas Bishop (Seraphim Space) notes: “A potential SpaceX IPO could act as a powerful catalyst, further validating SpaceTech as a mainstream asset class and opening a clearer path to IPOs for a growing cohort of late-stage SpaceTech companies.”
🛡️ THE POLICY TAILWIND: This isn’t just organic growth; it’s policy-driven.
- President Trump’s December Executive Order designated space as a “core national security and economic priority,” effectively guaranteeing long-term government contracts for dual-use technologies.
💡 ANALYST TAKEAWAY: SpaceTech outperformed the broader VC market in 2025 for one reason: National Security. Unlike SaaS or Consumer Tech, space infrastructure is now viewed as critical state apparatus. With the IPO window potentially cracking open via SpaceX, 2026 looks like the year early investors finally see liquidity, turning “paper marks” into realized returns.
👇 DeepTech Investors: If SpaceX goes public, does it suck the air out of the room for other launch startups, or lift the entire sector?