Core Viewpoint - Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has sold $545.7 million worth of stock over nine months, indicating a significant liquidation of his holdings without any purchases during this period [1]. Group 1: Armstrong's Selling Activity - Armstrong liquidated over 1.5 million shares between April 2025 and January 2026, with the largest single-day sale occurring on June 25, 2025, when he sold 336,265 shares at $355.37 each [2]. - The most recent sale on January 5 involved 40,000 shares sold at $254.92, netting approximately $101.6 million [2]. Group 2: Armstrong's Net Worth and Other Investors - Armstrong's net worth has dropped over $10 billion from a peak of $17.7 billion in July 2025, with his remaining fortune of $7.5 billion tied to a 14% stake in Coinbase [3]. - Other significant investors, such as Cathie Wood's Ark Invest, have also been selling Coinbase shares, liquidating $17.4 million on February 5 while investing $17.8 million into a competing digital asset exchange [3]. Group 3: Analyst Ratings and Market Sentiment - Goldman Sachs upgraded Coinbase (COIN) to a "buy" rating on January 5, setting a price target of $303, citing non-trading revenue growth as a buffer against market cycles [4]. - Conversely, JPMorgan reduced its price target by 27%, attributing this to lower trading volumes, softness in crypto prices, and decelerating stablecoin growth [4]. Group 4: Price Movement and Technical Analysis - COIN closed 6% down after breaking critical support at the $230-$240 level, which had previously held multiple times [7]. - The current technical indicators suggest bearish momentum, with a Supertrend at $189.46 and a Parabolic SAR at $168.59 confirming downside pressure [9]. - For recovery, COIN needs to reclaim the $168-$170 range and work towards the $190 Supertrend level, with significant resistance at $230-$240 [10].
What Does Coinbase's CEO Know That You Don't?—$545M Sold, 88 Sells, 0 Buys