Following recent U.S. trade policy announcements, ARK Invest has made a notable shift in its crypto investment strategy—reducing its exposure to Bitcoin ETFs while doubling down on Coinbase stock. Trading records show that the firm, led by Cathie Wood, purchased $26.6 million worth of Coinbase (COIN) shares in the days after President Trump revealed new tariffs on April 2.
The purchases were spread across two separate days: $13.3 million in COIN shares acquired on April 4, followed by another $13.2 million on April 7. This move underscores ARK’s continued confidence in Coinbase as a central infrastructure player in the digital asset space.
At the same time, ARK decreased its position in the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB), offloading approximately $12 million worth of shares on April 7. The ETF—one of several spot Bitcoin products launched in the U.S. earlier in 2024—has been part of ARK’s broader exposure to Bitcoin through regulated instruments.
ARK Continues Gradual ARKB Sell-Off Despite Holding Strong Exposure
ARK Invest’s recent $12 million sale of its ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) from the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) marked one of the firm’s largest single-day reductions in ARKB to date. The move extends a broader trend of gradual repositioning, following $8 million worth of ARKB sold in early March, $8.6 million in February, and smaller offloads totaling $3.5 million in January.
Despite these periodic reductions, ARK has not exited its ARKB position. As of April 8, ARKW still held approximately $142 million in ARKB, which remains the fund’s largest individual holding by market value—accounting for around 11% of its total weight. This suggests that while the firm is tactically reducing exposure, it continues to maintain a substantial indirect stake in Bitcoin through regulated ETF products.
Bitcoin ETFs See Sustained Outflows as Tariff News Rattles Markets
The latest adjustments by ARK Invest occurred against the backdrop of heightened volatility in the broader crypto market. Bitcoin briefly dropped 11%, hitting a low of $74,700 following the U.S. government’s announcement of new trade tariffs—a development that triggered a wave of selloffs across digital asset investment products.
Data from SoSoValue shows that global Bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs) experienced $207 million in net outflows last week. The trend continued into the current week, with an additional $109 million in outflows recorded on April 7 alone—bringing the total to $273 million over the last three trading sessions.
Despite the sector-wide retreat, ARK Invest remains one of the few issuers of spot Bitcoin ETFs to report net positive inflows in 2025. As of April 4, ARK’s year-to-date inflows stood at $146 million, according to CoinShares. Other asset managers holding net positive flows include BlackRock’s iShares with $3.2 billion and ProShares with $398 million, reflecting a selective investor appetite amid ongoing market uncertainty.
These developments underscore how sensitive crypto markets remain to macroeconomic triggers—particularly global policy shifts like tariffs. The sustained outflows suggest that while long-term institutional interest in Bitcoin ETFs is intact, short-term positioning is being actively adjusted in response to external shocks.
Quick Facts
- ARK Invest purchased approximately $26.6 million in Coinbase shares and sold around $12 million of its ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF holdings in early April.
- The portfolio adjustments followed the U.S. government’s announcement of new trade tariffs on April 2, which impacted cryptocurrency markets.
- Despite selling some Bitcoin ETF shares, ARK Invest maintains a significant position with $142 million in ARKB holdings, representing 11% of its Next Generation Internet ETF.
