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Can Coinbase Become the First Trillion-Dollar Cryptocurrency Stock by 2040?
COINCoinbase(COIN) The Motley Fool·2024-12-25 12:00

Company Overview - Coinbase was founded in June 2012 with the initial purpose of facilitating Bitcoin transactions but has since expanded its services [1] - The company's market cap reached 70billionasofDecember19[1]Coinbaseshareshavesurged69770 billion as of December 19 [1] - Coinbase shares have surged 697% over the past two years, recovering from a disappointing 2022 [1] Business Model and Revenue Streams - Coinbase's brokerage and exchange segment accounted for 51% of net revenue in Q3 2023, down from 88% three years ago [3] - The company has diversified its revenue streams to include stablecoin revenue, staking rewards, and custody solutions, aiming to reduce reliance on volatile trading volume [4] - Coinbase has made strategic investments in crypto startups and technologies, with a portfolio valued at 359 million as of September 30 [5] Industry Exposure and Growth Potential - Coinbase is positioned as a bet on the growth of the entire cryptocurrency market due to its broad exposure to the industry [3] - The company benefits from rising crypto prices, which drive increased trading activity and revenue growth [7] - Coinbase's innovation efforts, such as the Base Layer-2 solution and USDC stablecoin, demonstrate its ability to expand into new areas [7] Long-Term Outlook - Coinbase's success depends on the long-term growth of the cryptocurrency industry and its ability to capture market opportunities [6] - The company has unparalleled exposure to the entire crypto asset class, which could benefit from the increasing value and number of blockchain projects [6] - However, the long-term potential of the crypto industry remains uncertain, with regulatory and technical challenges still to be addressed [9] Market Sentiment and Challenges - The cryptocurrency market is currently experiencing a resurgence in investor interest due to rising asset prices and a risk-on mentality [8] - Despite this, the majority of crypto tokens may ultimately fail to provide real-world utility or solve significant problems [8] - Coinbase's ability to reach a trillion-dollar valuation is highly uncertain, given the industry's challenges and the need for cryptocurrencies to outperform the current financial system [10]