Cathie Wood Buys $21.8 Million in Coinbase, Circle, and Bullish Shares

TLDR

• ARK Invest bought $9.4 million in Coinbase shares, $9.2 million in Circle shares, and $3.2 million in Bullish shares on January 23, 2026
• Coinbase was the largest drag on ARK ETF performance in Q4 2025 as crypto markets declined and exchange trading volumes fell 9%
• ARK projects the crypto market could reach $28 trillion by 2030, with Bitcoin potentially trading between $950,000 and $1 million
• Cathie Wood first gained Bitcoin exposure through Grayscale in 2015 when Bitcoin traded around $200
• ARK’s combined crypto holdings across its ETFs now total over $1.3 billion, with Coinbase representing the largest position at $393.1 million

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest purchased shares of three crypto companies on January 23, marking the firm’s first crypto trades of 2026. The purchases came as digital asset prices continued to slide from their late 2024 peaks.

The ARK Innovation ETF bought 38,854 shares of Coinbase Global Inc. The ARK Fintech Innovation ETF added another 3,325 shares. The combined purchases totaled $9.4 million worth of Coinbase stock.

Coinbase Global, Inc., COIN

ARK also bought 129,446 shares of Circle Internet Group across both ETFs. The position was worth approximately $9.2 million. Circle issues the USDC stablecoin.

The firm added 88,533 shares of Bullish across the same ETFs. That investment totaled about $3.2 million. Coinbase shares closed down 2.77% on January 23 at $216.95.

On the same day, ARK sold positions in other holdings. The firm sold 12,400 shares of Meta Platforms valued at roughly $8.03 million.

Recent Performance Challenges

The Q4 2025 crypto pullback hurt ARK’s ETF performance. Coinbase emerged as the largest detractor during the quarter across multiple ARK funds.

ARK’s quarterly report blamed crypto-linked equities for weakness in its flagship products. Coinbase shares fell more sharply than Bitcoin and Ether during the period.

Spot trading volumes on centralized exchanges declined 9% quarter-on-quarter. The drop followed October’s liquidation event. ARK operates the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF, ARK Fintech Innovation ETF, and ARK Innovation ETF.

Roblox was the second-largest drag on ARK ETFs during Q4. The gaming platform posted strong third-quarter bookings growth. However, shares fell after the company warned of declining operating margins in 2026.

Russia’s ban of the Roblox platform added additional pressure on the stock. Both crypto and tech holdings weighed on ARK’s quarterly returns.

Early Bitcoin Adoption

Wood first gained Bitcoin exposure in 2015 through Grayscale’s Bitcoin Investment Trust. Bitcoin traded around $200 at the time. ARK needed permission from the New York Stock Exchange to add the position.

The firm was limited to a 1% allocation in those early days. Wood faced skepticism from the investment community for the move. There were no ETFs or regulated futures markets at the time.

Wood has maintained consistent messaging about Bitcoin over the years. She emphasizes the cryptocurrency’s fixed supply of 21 million units. She describes Bitcoin as infrastructure rather than just a trade.

ARK projects the crypto market could grow to $28 trillion by 2030. The firm expects Bitcoin to account for roughly 70% of total market value. ARK models the sector growing at a 61% compound annual growth rate.

If 20.5 million Bitcoin are in circulation by 2030, ARK’s forecast implies a Bitcoin price between $950,000 and $1 million. The firm cites growing institutional participation as a key driver.

Current Holdings

ARK’s crypto-related positions now total over $1.3 billion across its ETFs. Coinbase represents the largest holding at $393.1 million or 4.76% of ARKK.

Circle Internet Group makes up $204.5 million or 2.48% of ARKK. Bullish accounts for $125.3 million or 1.52% of the fund.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies represents $196.6 million or 2.38% of ARKK. Robinhood makes up $336.2 million or 4.07% of the fund. Block accounts for $122.0 million or 1.48% of ARKK.

Bitcoin ETFs and corporate holders increased their share of total Bitcoin supply in 2025. Circle shares were little changed on January 23, slipping 0.03%. Bullish shares declined 2% during the session, closing at $35.75.

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