The9 reported $32 million of net income for the second quarter of 2026, up more than 39% sequentially, with the increase driven primarily by fair-value recognition of 9BIT tokens received through the company’s cooperation agreement with the 9BIT Foundation.
The company received 475 million 9BIT tokens during the second quarter. Cumulative allocations reached 1.9 billion tokens during the first six months of 2026.
First-half net income reached $55 million, which The9 described as its highest half-year net income since its 2004 initial public offering. The result underscores the growing impact that digital-asset accounting has on the company’s reported earnings.
As of the earnings release, The9 said its cryptocurrency holdings included 347 Bitcoin and 1.9 billion 9BIT tokens, with an estimated combined market value of approximately $120 million based on quoted prices. The company cautioned that the estimate may not represent realizable value.
The9 is simultaneously developing the9bit as an AI-native production platform for interactive entertainment. Users have created more than 180,000 games with the platform’s AI-assisted tools, and the company said it has signed 41 brand partners with another 127 potential partners in its pipeline.
The quarter also satisfied the second-quarter growth condition under a long-term management incentive plan because Q2 net income of $32 million exceeded first-quarter net income of $23 million. Awards under that plan remain subject to additional performance, vesting and lock-up conditions.
KEY QUOTES:
“We delivered our highest half-year net income since our IPO. Meanwhile, we continued to build the capabilities that we believe will support The9’s long-term development.”
George Lai, Chief Executive Officer of The9
