Coinbase, the leading US-based crypto exchange, has experienced a significant boost in its market share due to the introduction of multiple spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January. This surge in the market share has led analysts at Goldman Sachs to upgrade their rating on Coinbase shares from selling to neutral, with an adjusted price target of $282. The bank analysts emphasized that the surge in crypto prices and COIN daily volumes reaching levels not seen since 2021 have driven a 48% increase in revenue estimates. This upgrade indicates the changing landscape of the crypto market and its impact on Coinbase’s performance.
It is interesting to note that JPMorgan analysts had previously downgraded Coinbase’s stock from Neutral to Underweight due to pressures in the crypto market and potential revenue shifts away from Coinbase post the launch of new ETFs. Despite this, Coinbase’s stock has seen substantial growth in the past month, trading at around $244 during pre-market trading today, reflecting a remarkable 105% increase over the past month. According to Yahoo Finance data, Coinbase’s market dominance has also surged from 47% to 60% in the last three months following the approval of Bitcoin ETFs in January, as reported by blockchain analytics firm Kaiko.
The platform’s growth can be attributed to heightened user engagement, leading to notable rankings for its app. Currently, Coinbase is the 13th most popular US finance application, as reported by Sensor Tower. However, amidst this ascent, the platform has faced technical challenges, with users encountering zero balances in their accounts. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has attributed this glitch to the significant spike in traffic caused by BTC’s rise to new record highs. Apart from technical setbacks, Coinbase is also grappling with regulatory hurdles, notably with the US Securities and Exchange Commission over the past year.
Overall, while Coinbase’s market dominance and stock ratings have experienced significant fluctuations due to external factors such as ETF introductions and regulatory challenges, its performance in the crypto market remains noteworthy. It will be interesting to see how the platform navigates through these challenges while continuing to capitalize on its growth opportunities.