135 SPAC IPOs year to date. $26 billion raised. 359 SPACs still outstanding and competing for targets. Mike Blankenship breaks down what those numbers mean if you are sponsoring a SPAC or sitting on the target side of the table.

Michael (Mike) Blankenship, Managing Partner at Winston Taylor and co-chair of the firm's Capital Markets practice, joins Executive Producer Joshua Wilson for a market update on where SPACs stand in August 2026. The conversation covers issuance pace, trust size and the dilution math behind target sizing, the reopening of the PIPE market, how sponsor terms shift between a first SPAC and a ninth, what has changed at the SEC since the July 2024 rules, and how targets use SPAC timelines as leverage.

What We Cover
- Issuance pace: 135 SPAC IPOs to date against 57 in 2024 and 144 last year
- Roughly $26 billion raised, with average trust size near $200 million
- Why the 80% test is a floor and dilution drives target sizing
- 44-plus announced de-SPAC deals at close to $40 billion in value
- The PIPE market reopening, and why a pre-signing PIPE validates valuation
- Sectors with real revenue: infrastructure, defense, data centers, digital assets
- First-time versus serial sponsors: warrants, rights, and cap structure alignment
- Fewer SEC comments and more no-review IPOs since the July 2024 rules
- 359 SPACs outstanding, exclusivity, and target leverage as the clock winds down

Connect with Mike Blankenship
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship

About Winston Taylor
Winston Taylor is an international law firm with a capital markets practice that works with companies and sponsors across the SPAC and public-company lifecycle. Learn more at winstontaylor.com.

Interested in joining a future episode? The SPAC Podcast connects sponsors, management teams, bankers, and capital markets counsel. Learn more at thespacpodcast.com and oneironnetwork.com.

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A One Iron Network production: Executive Producer Joshua Wilson

Disclaimer: Michael J. Blankenship is a licensed attorney and partner at Winston Taylor. Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, law firm, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/

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