PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 2, 2021
$200,000,000
Crypto 1 Acquisition Corp
20,000,000 Units
Crypto 1 Acquisition Corp is a blank check company newly incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, or reorganization or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not identified any potential business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential business combination target. Although there is no restriction or limitation on what industry or geographic region our target operates in, we will not pursue any target nor consummate an initial business combination with any entity that is incorporated, organized or has its principal business operations in China, Hong Kong or Macau.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one Class A ordinary share and three-quarters of one warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, and only whole warrants are exercisable. Each warrant will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination or 12 months from the closing of this offering, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, as described in the prospectus. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.
If we are unable to consummate a business combination within 12 months from the closing of this offering, which is extendable at our sponsor’s option to up to 18 months, as described herein, we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account described below pro rata to our public shareholders by way of the redemption of their shares and will cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein.
We have granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units (over and above the 20,000,000 units referred to above).
Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 7,400,000 warrants (or 8,150,000 warrants if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full), or private placement warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant ($7,400,000 in the aggregate, or $8,150,000 if the option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each private placement warrant is exercisable to purchase one Class A ordinary share at $11.50 per share.
Our sponsor currently owns an aggregate of 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares, 750,000 of which are subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is not exercised in full. The total number of Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding after this offering and the expiration of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units will equal 20% of the total number of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding at such time. The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holders thereof, on a one-to-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described herein. Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors.
There is currently no public market for our units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants. We intend to apply to have our units listed on The Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “DAOOU” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on the Nasdaq. The Class A ordinary shares and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless B. Riley Securities, Inc. inform us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Class A ordinary shares and warrants will be traded on the Nasdaq under the symbols “DAOO” and “DAOOW,” respectively. We cannot assure you that any of our securities will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq after this offering.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 32 for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus does not constitute, and there will not be, an offering of securities to the public in the Cayman Islands.
| | | Per Unit | | | Total | |
Public offering price | | | | $ | 10.00 | | | | | $ | 200,000,000 | | |
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | | | | $ | 0.55 | | | | | $ | 11,000,000 | | |
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | | | | $ | 9.45 | | | | | $ | 189,000,000 | | |
(1)
Includes $0.35 per unit, or $7,000,000 (or $8,050,000 if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) in the aggregate payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of our initial business combination, as described in this prospectus. See “Underwriting” on page 150.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants described in this prospectus, $201,000,000, or $231,150,000 if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full ($10.05 per unit, regardless of whether or not the underwriters exercise any portion of their option to purchase additional units), will be deposited into a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about [ ], 2021.
Sole Book-Runner and Lead Manager
B. Riley Securities
The date of this prospectus is [ ], 2021.