Finance1 min read

Coinbase returns to profit as crypto investment gains offset trading weakness

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Wilmington, Delaware-based firm posted a third-quarter profit of $718.7 million, or $2.51 per share, successfully breaking its losing streak. Reduced operating costs, which dropped roughly 17 per cent to $1.15 billion, provided critical relief as primary transaction income fell 43 per cent year-over-year to $590.2 million. Emerging segments helped absorb the blow, with prediction markets generating over $200 million in revenue during the period. Even as token prices recovered late in the quarter, company shares fell 3.3 per cent in after-hours trading.

Key points

  • Non-trading segments are expanding rapidly, with subscriptions and services providing rou…: Non-trading segments are expanding rapidly, with subscriptions and services providing roughly 49 per cent of total net revenue.
  • Combined trading from derivatives and prediction markets now represents approximately a q…: Combined trading from derivatives and prediction markets now represents approximately a quarter of the company's total transaction revenue.
  • Market enthusiasm remained subdued despite the positive quarterly profit, leading to an i…: Market enthusiasm remained subdued despite the positive quarterly profit, leading to an immediate 3.3 per cent decline in after-hours share prices.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Oct 29 : Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global returned to profitability on Thursday after three consecutive quarters of losses, helped by lower operating expenses and investment gains on crypto assets that cushioned weaker trading activity.

The results underscore the company's continued exposure to swings in crypto asset prices, with gains in the value of its investment portfolio helping boost earnings even as challenging market conditions weighed on trading volumes and transaction revenue, its largest source of income.

Transaction revenue dropped 43 per cent to $590.2 million in the third quarter, from $1.05 billion a year earlier. Shares of the crypto exchange were down 3.3 per cent in trading after the bell.

The company said macro headwinds have begun to shift and crypto prices rebounded in September.

REVENUE DIVERSIFICATION GAINS TRACTION

Prediction markets emerged as another area of growth for Coinbase during the reported quarter, with revenue exceeding $200 million.

Chief Financial Officer Alesia Haas said prediction markets and derivatives together accounted for about 25 per cent of its total transaction revenue, while subscription and services revenue made up roughly 49 per…

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