How to Buy Coinbase Stock (COIN): A Complete Guide

How to buy Coinbase stock in 2026

Here's a step-by-step guide to adding the cryptocurrency platform to your portfolio.

1. Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
2. Search for Coinbase: Enter the ticker "COIN" into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
3. Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
4. Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
5. Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
6. Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Should you invest in Coinbase?

There are a lot of factors you should consider when researching a stock. Here are a few reasons why you might want to purchase Coinbase shares:

• You believe cryptocurrencies will play an increasingly important role in the future.
• You actively trade cryptocurrencies through Coinbase's exchange.
• You're convinced that Coinbase stock can outperform the S&P 500 over the next three to five years.
• You believe that Coinbase can grow its revenue and earnings briskly in the future.
• You're seeking a high-upside investment opportunity.
• You're comfortable with the risks, including the possibility that Coinbase stock could be volatile.
• You understand Coinbase's business model and how it makes money.
• You know the difference between crypto and stocks.
• You like to invest in founder-led companies.
• Adding Coinbase would help you build a more diversified portfolio.
• You don't need dividend income from your investment.

On the other hand, here are some factors that might lead you to opt against buying shares:

• You're not exactly sure how Coinbase makes money.
• You don't hold any cryptocurrency and don't intend to get into the space.
• You're not convinced that cryptocurrencies will become mainstream investments.
• You don't think crypto has many uses other than trading.
• You're unsure whether Coinbase will be consistently profitable.
• Your portfolio is already heavily concentrated in cryptocurrencies and other crypto stocks.
• You're seeking investments with less volatility than Coinbase stock.
• You're at or nearing retirement and need investments that generate income.

Is Coinbase profitable?

The cryptocurrency exchange has been solidly profitable over the past year. It posted $66 million of net income in the first quarter of 2025 on almost $2 billion of total revenue.

However, while Coinbase is profitable, its net income fluctuates wildly. It generated almost $1.3 billion of net income in the fourth quarter of 2024 and almost $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, its earnings in the second and third quarters of last year were $36 million and $75 million, respectively.

Market volatility can have a big impact on Coinbase's profitability. That can affect its transaction revenue, which declined 19% in the first quarter of 2025 to $1.3 billion. The company is working to offset the variability of its transaction revenue by growing its subscription and services revenue (a 9% rise to almost $700 million).

Does Coinbase pay a dividend?

Coinbase had not started making dividend payments to its shareholders as of mid-2025. The cryptocurrency exchange doesn't intend to begin paying dividends in the foreseeable future. It's retaining earnings to fund its operations and continued expansion. It also launched a $1 billion share repurchase program in late 2024.

How to invest in Coinbase through ETFs

Investors don't have to directly invest in Coinbase stock to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency platform in their portfolio. An alternative strategy is to passively invest through a fund that holds its stock. One of the most common passive investment vehicles is an exchange-traded fund (ETF).

According to ETF.com, 182 ETFs held 27.6 million shares of Coinbase as of mid-2025. One of the biggest holders was Cathie Wood's Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK -2.42%). The ETF had a more than 9% weighting to the stock, which was its second-largest holding. That makes it a solid way to gain exposure to Coinbase and other leading growth stocks.

The First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF (CRPT +0.85%) had an even higher allocation to Coinbase at 18.3% (its second-largest holding). That high allocation makes this ETF an option to consider for those seeking meaningful exposure to Coinbase and other players in the crypto sector through a passive ETF investment.

Will Coinbase stock split?

Coinbase didn't have an upcoming stock split as of mid-2025. The cryptocurrency exchange had not completed a stock split since its direct listing on the Nasdaq Exchange in 2021. It likely won't split its stock soon. Shares of Coinbase had only gained about 5% from their direct listing price by mid-2025. While shares traded at more than $260 a piece at the time, the crypto platform would need to rise well above its initial list price before splitting its stock.

The bottom line

Coinbase is a leading cryptocurrency platform. That puts it in an excellent position to capitalize on the growth it sees ahead as more people use crypto for more things. Increasing crypto usage would help grow the company's revenue, potentially enabling it to finally turn the corner on profitability and helping drive significant stock price gains in the future.

However, it could continue to be a bumpy road for Coinbase. Cryptocurrencies have proven to be very volatile, which has affected its revenue. Investors need to ensure they understand the risks before investing in Coinbase stock.

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