Cathie Wood dumps Tesla, bets big on a crypto stock for 2026

Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN) inched up on Dec. 22^nd following news that famed investor Cathie Wood has loaded up on the crypto stock that’s been gasping for gains in recent months.

Last week, the founder and chief executive of Ark Invest spent over $26 million to load up on more than 106,500 COIN shares.

More importantly, she trimmed her exposure to Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) to invest in Coinbase, which is significant given her exceptionally bullish view on the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer.

Wood has repeatedly forecast a rally to $2,600 in the EV stock by the end of this decade.

So, her decision to sell TSLA shares to invest in Coinbase stock signals her conviction in its long-term upside as a core beneficiary of mainstream crypto adoption and infrastructure growth.

At the time of writing, the crypto company is down some 40% versus its year-to-date high.

Should you invest in Coinbase stock too?

Retail investors should consider following Wood in her footsteps, especially since Coinbase Global is acquiring “The Clearing Company” for an undisclosed amount to grow its presence in prediction markets.

For investors, the announcement is meaningful given that its competitor, Robinhood’s recent push into prediction markets, has been immensely successful.

“Predictions markets are the fastest-growing business we’ve ever had,” said Steve Quirk, its chief brokerage officer, in a recent interview.

If Coinbase’s venture into prediction markets gains similar traction, it’s reasonable to assume that the related top-line growth will push COIN stock much higher in 2026.

COIN shares aren’t expensive to own

The Clearing Company agreement is in line with COIN’s broader commitment to evolving into an “everything exchange,” which may justify a higher multiple on the crypto stock.

Why? Diversifying revenue beyond cryptocurrencies could somewhat insulate Coinbase from the inherent volatility of that market.

At the time of writing, the Nasdaq-listed firm is going for about 10x sales, which isn’t inexpensive for a business that sits right at the heart of fast-growing verticals like cryptocurrencies and fintech at large.

Sure, the moving averages (MAs) indicate continued bearish momentum ahead – but Wood’s move may trigger a ripple effect among global investors, helping Coinbase shares override that technical setup.

Crypto stock seeing doubling from here in 2026

Citi’s senior analyst Peter Christiansen also believes the “everything exchange” will push Coinbase stock meaningfully higher in 2026.

Christiansen maintains a “buy” rating on the fintech giant with a $505 price objective, indicating a potential upside of more than 100% from here.

According to him, the firm’s recent push into stock trading, AI-powered tools, prediction markets, and stablecoin infrastructure (USDC) will meaningfully grow its total addressable market (TAM).

Moreover, utilities like the x402 payments system and crypto lending help shift COIN from being purely dependent on trading fees to becoming a primary financial “operating system”.

In short, the company’s expansion into traditional finance (TradFi) through tokenization and on/off ramps deepens its competitive advantage and will likely unlock further upside in its stock next year, he concluded.