Since November 21, ARK Invest has made notable moves in the cryptocurrency market. Cathie Wood, ARK Invest CEO, sold approximately $181 million in Coinbase shares and $64 million in Grayscale Bitcoin Trust shares. These sales are a significant part of ARK’s exchange-traded funds (ETFs) strategy.
The total value of these sales, which rounds up to nearly $245 million, reflects a strategic rebalancing of ARK’s holdings.
As the CEO of ARK Invest, Cathie Wood oversees a firm highly receptive to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. ARK Invest frequently releases monthly reports on Bitcoin and maintains investments in Coinbase and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust across three of its ETFs: ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF), ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW).
Wood is known for her optimistic stance on Bitcoin. In a recent video on the firm’s YouTube channel, she highlighted Bitcoin’s impressive performance this year. Bitcoin has soared 161% since January.
See Related: Cathie Wood: Bitcoin’s Performance During Financial Crisis Attractive To Institutions
ARK’s Strategy
ARK’s decision to sell its GBTC and COIN shares becomes evident considering the substantial growth in their value. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust shares, currently priced at $36.04, had begun the year at a mere $8.20. Similarly, Coinbase shares have soared from $33.60 at the start of the year to $167.86.
Bitcoin’s growth, which saw a 14% increase in the past month and a peak of over $44,000, has been driven by the anticipation of the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF, expected as early as January.
This market surge means that ARK’s remaining shares in these companies are significantly more valuable than before. For instance, Coinbase’s 52% rise in the past 30 days implies that if ARK had sold its 1.3 million COIN shares a month ago, it would have earned 30% less than the $181 million it has now.
Furthermore, ARK, along with 21Shares, is looking to expand its offerings to include a spot Bitcoin ETF. The firm, competing with entities like BlackRock, last updated its S-1 filing with the SEC and awaits a decision in January, similar to other contenders in the space. This move aligns with ARK’s ongoing strategy to capitalize on the dynamic cryptocurrency market.
