Navigating the New Era of U.S. Listings in 2026

Why High Standards Drive Long-Term Valuation

For many Chinese enterprises, the path to a U.S. IPO has felt like a moving target over the past few years. While the window for Nasdaq and NYSE listings remains open as we move into 2026, the rules of engagement have fundamentally changed.

The message from both Chinese and U.S. regulators is increasingly clear. Access to the U.S. capital markets is a privilege reserved for high quality, transparent, and well capitalized companies. By listing in 2026, a company is not simply going public. It is joining a select group of global issuers expected to meet higher standards of governance, disclosure, and post listing durability.

This article outlines what has changed and what companies must do to succeed in this new regulatory environment.

The CSRC’s Quality Filter Is Real

Looking back at 2025, we saw a clear quality filter in action. While the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) resumed overseas listing clearances late last year, approvals have proceeded at a measured pace. In 2025, only 14 mainland firms seeking U.S. listings received filing notices, down sharply from the 56 in 2024. This also reflects an eight-month pause that only broke in December when firms such as Longdian Huaxin received the green light.

As of January 9, 2026, the CSRC disclosed that 53 mainland Chinese companies remain in the pipeline for Nasdaq listings. The takeaway is not that overseas listings are closed, but that the bar has risen materially. Scale, operating maturity, and the involvement of blue-chip intermediaries are increasingly functioning as unofficial prerequisites for clearance.

Companies preparing for a 2026 listing should expect longer preparation timelines and greater scrutiny at earlier stages of the process. Regulators are signaling a preference for issuers that can demonstrate stability and consistency well before filing.

Companies should be acutely focused on the CSRC’s key supplemental review areas. These include compliance of equity structure and corporate history, business compliance and foreign investment access, financial and tax compliance, and the consistency and accuracy of information disclosure. Preparation in these areas is no longer optional. It is decisive.

Nasdaq Tightens Listing Standards and Adds Special Requirements for China-Based Companies

In the U.S., regulatory scrutiny has intensified in parallel. Since September 2025, Nasdaq has implemented a series of measures aimed at improving market quality and reducing post listing volatility among small capitalization issuers.

The most significant development occurred on December 19, 2025, with the approval of Rule IM-5101-3. This grants Nasdaq broad discretionary authority to deny a listing even if a company technically meets all quantitative financial requirements. If Nasdaq identifies concerns related to potential market manipulation, shareholder structure, governance practices, or the quality of advisors, auditors, or underwriters, it may decline the listing based on qualitative risk factors alone.

In practical terms, meeting numerical thresholds is no longer sufficient. Governance credibility, ownership transparency, and advisory quality have become central to listing eligibility.

In addition, effective January 17, 2026, the minimum public float requirement under the net income standard for IPOs on Nasdaq increased from $5 million to $15 million, significantly raising the bar for smaller issuers.

For companies based in Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, the bar could be even higher. Nasdaq’s latest proposal, currently in the final stages of SEC review and highly likely to be approved, would mandate a minimum $25 million IPO offering size. By requiring this larger pool of capital, the exchange is ensuring that new entrants have enough liquidity to survive the early-stage volatility that has plagued small-cap listings in the past.

While ringing the opening bell remains a milestone worth celebrating, the pressure does not end after the first day of trading. Nasdaq has also proposed changes to its delisting framework for very low market value companies.

Under the proposed rules, issuers whose market value of listed securities falls below $5 million for a sustained period may not receive the extended compliance cure periods that historically applied. In such cases, Nasdaq may proceed more directly to suspension and delisting determinations, subject to applicable review processes.

The practical implication is clear. The era of long grace periods for chronically underperforming micro-cap issuers is coming to an end. Post listing performance and liquidity now matter more than ever.

NYSE American Also Raising the Bar

Some companies assume that these challenges can be avoided by listing on an alternative exchange such as NYSE American. That assumption is increasingly outdated.

NYSE American has proposed its own investor protection measures, including raising the minimum share price requirement to $4 and excluding restricted or locked up shares from certain liquidity calculations. For companies transferring from other markets, a ninety-day trading stability test is becoming the norm, reinforcing the expectation that valuations must be sustained rather than momentary.

The broader signal is convergence. U.S. exchanges are aligning around higher quality thresholds and greater emphasis on post listing durability.

The Winning Strategy: Growth, Compliance, and Credible Partners

In this environment, successful listings are defined by three pillars:

1. Prioritize Real Growth and Compliance: The old ‘list now, fix later’ mindset no longer works. Today’s regulators expect companies to demonstrate a sustainable business model and strong compliance foundations before they even file. If your internal controls wouldn’t stand up to a professional audit or a CSRC data review today, then realistically, you’re not yet ready for a U.S. listing.
2. Choose the Right Partners: Your choice of advisors is a signal of your quality. A successful listing, and more importantly, a healthy post-listing life, depends on a highly experienced team of professional law firms, auditors, and underwriters. You need partners who don’t just help you cross the finish line, but who help you build a reputable presence in the U.S. market.
3. Invest in Long-Term Investor Relations: Many treat the IPO as a destination, but it is actually the starting line. A reputable investor relations firm helps you articulate a compelling equity story, build trust with institutional investors, and stay compliant with increasingly strict post-listing requirements through consistent, proactive communication.

Final Thought: Building a Global Public Company

Going public marks the beginning of a long journey. In 2026, the U.S. capital markets remain the most liquid and prestigious in the world, but they now demand excellence before, during, and long after a listing.

Companies that focus on fundamental growth, regulatory readiness, and high-quality partnerships are best positioned to build durable value and a lasting global presence in the public markets. For companies assessing U.S. listing readiness, regulatory preparation, or post IPO capital markets strategy, an informed and realistic evaluation has never been more important.

If you’re considering a U.S. listing or navigating regulatory readiness, IPO planning, or post-IPO capital markets strategy, we’d love to connect. Learn more and get in touch with our team at https://llyc.global/en/capability/financial-communications-and-corporate-operations/.