The largest cryptocurrency’s 200% CAGR presents a serious challenge to even the most successful crypto business strategies.
The United States’ biggest crypto exchange would have made more money by simply buying and holding Bitcoin (BTC) in 2013. Data circulating on social media reveals that despite Coinbase’s $800 million profits in Q1, the company would still be richer had it used its seed funding cash to buy BTC.Coinbase profits lose out to 2013 hodlersAhead of its initial public offering (IPO) on April 14, Coinbase reported bumper revenue this week. At $1.8 billion, Q1 outperformed the entirety of 2020.The numbers became an instant talking point as market participants weigh up the likely impact of the IPO launch. Other IPOs, including the recent Deliveroo sale, sparked sell-offs.Amid sky-high valuations and the associated buzz, however, it appears that all Coinbase had to do in order to outperform was to buy Bitcoin.Specifically, the exchange’s $30 million seed funding in 2013 would be worth up to $2 billion had it been converted to BTC at the time.By contrast, Coinbase’s lifetime profits total to date are estimated to be somewhere between $780 million and $1.3 billion.BTC/USD 1-month candle chart (Bitstamp). Source: Tradingview”Coinbase is going to list publicly in less than 10 days and reported blowout numbers today (~800m in profit on 1.8B on revenue),” developer Vijay Boyapati commented. “Sounds great, but imagine how much more they’d be worth if they had held their profits in #Bitcoin instead of dollars for the last 8 years.”As Cointelegraph reported, Bitcoin’s compound annual growth rate has …
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