Joe Lonsdale, the founding partner of 8VC and co-founder of Palantir, said SpaceX is a critical company during an appearance on CNBC’s "Squawk Box".

The assessment highlights the intersection of private aerospace and public markets at a time when AI and industrial automation are reshaping global infrastructure. Lonsdale said the company is positioned in the center of what he called the biggest industrial revolution ever.

During the broadcast from New York, Lonsdale discussed several high-impact financial and regulatory topics. These included the race for AI-driven initial public offerings, and the potential for an overhaul of the Food and Drug Administration. He also addressed changes to Nasdaq rules that could influence how emerging tech companies enter the public market.

Central to the discussion was the prospect of a SpaceX IPO. While the company has remained private, market expectations suggest 2026 [1] could be the year of a "mega-IPO" for the aerospace firm. Lonsdale said such an event would be historic given the company's role in the current industrial shift.

Lonsdale's commentary connects the technical achievements of SpaceX to a broader economic transition. By linking the company's growth to a systemic industrial revolution, he framed the potential public offering not merely as a financial event, but as a marker of a new era in global production, and transport.

“SpaceX is a critical company in the middle of the biggest industrial revolution ever”

The focus on a potential SpaceX IPO in 2026 reflects a growing trend where 'deep tech' companies—those solving hard engineering problems in space or energy—are moving toward public markets. If SpaceX transitions to a public company, it would provide a valuation benchmark for the entire private space industry and likely accelerate investment in orbital infrastructure.