ARK Invest on a Crypto Buying Spree, Pours $37M Into Bullish Despite Bearish Trends
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest has strengthened its position in crypto-linked equities, acquiring more than $37 million in Bullish and Robinhood shares during a sector-wide downturn.
- ARK Invest’s Bold Buys
- A Sector-Wide Sell-Off
- Market Reactions in Real Time
- Bullish IPO Breaks Ground
- Robinhood as a Retail Gateway
- Cathie Wood’s Innovation Thesis
- ARK Invest’s Broader Positioning
- ARK Invest’s Latest Moves
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions for ARK Pours $37M Into Bullish
- Why did ARK Invest buy Bullish and Robinhood during a dip?
- How much has ARK Invest allocated to Bullish in total?
- What role does DPoS play in Bullish’s strategy?
- How is Robinhood performing in crypto?
- Does ARK Invest prefer equities or direct crypto exposure?
- Glossary of Key Terms
The move underscores ARK’s conviction in blockchain infrastructure and retail-driven platforms, particularly those using Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) to scale.
ARK Invest’s Bold Buys
According to Cointelegraph, Trade filings confirmed that ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) bought 356,346 shares of Bullish valued at about $21.2 million, and 150,908 shares of Robinhood worth $16.2 million on August 19. The combined $37.4 million purchase came as both stocks declined more than six percent that day.
This move follows an earlier, much larger allocation. Just a week before, ARK had committed $172 million to Bullish during its initial public offering, spreading the investment across ARKK, the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW), and the ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF).
By layering new purchases on top of IPO exposure, ARK Invest demonstrated long-term confidence rather than hesitation in the face of volatility.
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A Sector-Wide Sell-Off
ARK’s buying spree occurred during a turbulent session for crypto equities. On August 19, Bullish fell 6.09% to $59.51, while Robinhood dropped 6.54% to $107.50. Coinbase slid 5.82%, Galaxy Digital tumbled 10%, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.46%.
Despite the pressure, ARK treated the dip as a chance to accumulate, a tactic that has defined Cathie Wood’s buy-the-dip reputation.
Market Reactions in Real Time
The trades quickly attracted attention online.
Here's every move Cathie Wood and Ark Invest made in the stock market today 8/19 pic.twitter.com/o0UxQ0ozb2
— Ark Invest Daily (@ArkkDaily) August 20, 2025
The post from a popular ARK tracker underscored how closely market watchers follow Wood’s moves, especially in crypto-exposed stocks.
Bullish IPO Breaks Ground
Bullish’s Wall Street debut earlier this month drew global attention. Backed by Peter Thiel, the company raised $1.1 billion not in dollars, but in stablecoins like USDC, setting a precedent for how blockchain-native firms can raise capital.
The stockwas priced at $37 but surged as high as $118 intraday, a 215% premium, before correcting. Even after the pullback, Bullish’s market capitalization stayed above $10 billion.
For ARK, the IPO offered a rare chance to back a major exchange operator whose infrastructure is underpinned by Delegated Proof of Stake. This model enables high throughput and energy efficiency.
In contrast with proof-of-work systems, DPoS delegates validation to elected representatives, a structure designed for both speed and decentralization.
ARK’s investment is therefore a bet not only on the company but also on the sustainability of DPoS as a consensus model for institutional-grade platforms.
Robinhood as a Retail Gateway
As per CoinMarketCap Academy, Robinhood remains central to ARK Invest’s fintech thesis. The platform processed $28 billion in crypto trading volume in Q2, up 32% year-over-year, while crypto-related revenue nearly doubled to $160 million.
ARK Invest has consistently added to Robinhood across multiple sessions, building a position that now exceeds $39 million in August alone. By reinforcing this stake, ARK is signaling its confidence in retail demand for crypto access even as volatility weighs on trading platforms.
Cathie Wood’s Innovation Thesis
Cathie Wood’s strategy has always revolved around disruption. In ARK’s “Big Ideas 2025” report, digital assets and blockchain infrastructure rank alongside robotics, AI, and genomics as top themes.
Earlier this year, Wood emphasized her conviction:
“We believe crypto is one of the most profound innovations of our time. Platforms built on scalable consensus models like DPoS are enabling financial ecosystems that are global, open, and efficient.”
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That perspective explains ARK’s dual focus: institutions through Bullish, powered by Delegated Proof of Stake, and mass adoption through Robinhood.
ARK Invest’s Broader Positioning
Beyond these purchases, ARK has been actively rebalancing its crypto exposure. It recently trimmed holdings in its ARK Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) by more than 559 BTC, worth about $64 million, while increasing exposure to crypto-linked equities.
This shift suggests a preference for companies building infrastructure and services around crypto, many of which, like Bullish, leverage DPoS over direct token exposure.
ARK Invest’s Latest Moves
| Metric | Value/Detail |
| Bullish shares added (Aug 19) | 356,346 (~$21.2M) |
| Total Bullish held (ARKK) | 1.16M shares ($73.85M) |
| Robinhood shares added (Aug 19) | 150,908 (~$16.2M) |
| Robinhood cumulative buys (Aug) | ~$39M over three sessions |
| Bullish IPO proceeds | $1.1B (raised in stablecoins) |
| Bullish peak intraday price | $118 (215% above $37 IPO price) |
| Robinhood Q2 crypto volume | $28B (+32% YoY) |
| Robinhood Q2 crypto revenue | $160M (nearly doubled YoY) |
| Sector backdrop | Both stocks down >6%; wider crypto equity pullback |
Conclusion
ARK Invest’s $37.4 million in fresh buys—$21.2 million in Bullish and $16.2 million in Robinhood reveal more than tactical opportunism. They signal conviction in the long-term role of blockchain infrastructure and retail gateways in reshaping finance.
With Bullish’s operations anchored on Delegated Proof of Stake and Robinhood’s user adoption surging, ARK is betting that these platforms will define the next phase of digital finance.
Combined with its earlier $172 million IPO allocation, ARK’s exposure to Bullish now exceeds $190 million. The strategy illustrates ARK’s willingness to lean into volatility, accumulate assets tied to DPoS-based infrastructure, and position for structural transformation in global markets.
Frequently Asked Questions for ARK Pours $37M Into Bullish
Why did ARK Invest buy Bullish and Robinhood during a dip?
Because ARK views temporary market weakness as an opportunity to build long-term positions in disruptive companies.
How much has ARK Invest allocated to Bullish in total?
More than $190 million, combining its IPO allocation and recent dip purchases.
What role does DPoS play in Bullish’s strategy?
DPoS supports high-speed, energy-efficient validation, making Bullish’s infrastructure scalable and appealing to institutions.
How is Robinhood performing in crypto?
Robinhood processed $28 billion in crypto trades in Q2, generating $160 million in crypto revenue.
Does ARK Invest prefer equities or direct crypto exposure?
ARK Invest’s recent trades show a preference for equities tied to crypto infrastructure, such as Bullish and Robinhood, over direct token holdings.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Bullish (BLSH): A crypto exchange and media company backed by Peter Thiel, operating on a DPoS model.
- Robinhood (HOOD): A retail trading platform with growing crypto trading volume and revenue.
- Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS): A consensus mechanism where token holders delegate to validators, enabling scalability and efficiency.
- Stablecoins: Cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat currencies, such as USDC, widely used in trading and fundraising.
- ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): A fund that holds a basket of assets and trades on public exchanges.
- IPO (Initial Public Offering): The first sale of stock by a private company to public investors.
