Cathie Wood Buys $24.8M in Crypto Stocks Despite Slump — What’s Ark Invest’s Real Plan?

Core Viewpoint - Ark Invest has increased its investments in crypto-linked stocks despite a downturn in cryptocurrency prices and exchange stocks, indicating a bullish stance on the sector during a period of market weakness [1]. Group 1: Investment Activity - Ark Invest purchased approximately $24.8 million worth of positions in various crypto-exposed companies, including Robinhood, Circle, Block Inc., BitMine Immersion Technologies, Coinbase, and Bullish [2][3]. - The largest single purchase was 235,077 shares of Robinhood, valued at about $21.1 million, and 274,358 shares of BitMine worth roughly $6.2 million [3][4]. - Other notable purchases included $9.4 million in Circle, $6 million in Bullish, $1.9 million in Block Inc., and $1.25 million in Coinbase [4]. Group 2: Market Context - The crypto-related stocks opened the week negatively, with Robinhood and Circle down nearly 10% and 8%, respectively, while BitMine and Bullish fell more than 9% and 4% [4]. - Bitcoin has seen a significant decline, falling below $80,000 for the first time since April 2025 and down over 37% from its October peak [5]. - Trading activity across centralized crypto exchanges has sharply contracted, with spot trading volumes dropping from around $2 trillion in October to approximately $1 trillion by the end of January [5]. Group 3: Stock Performance - Exchange stocks have been heavily impacted, with Coinbase shares down more than 40% over the past six months, and Bullish down nearly 57% during the same period [6]. - Robinhood has shown relative resilience, declining about 16% but still trading below its recent highs [6]. Group 4: Historical Investment Trends - Ark Invest's recent purchases are consistent with its strategy of adding to crypto-related positions during market downturns, having previously acquired $42 million worth of such stocks in November 2025 following a 9.6% stock crash [7].