Bitcoin News Today: Coinbase Bridges Wall Street and Web3 as Stablecoins Power $1.9B Quarter

Coinbase Global (COIN) has emerged as a standout performer in the cryptocurrency sector, with its third-quarter 2025 earnings and strategic acquisitions positioning CEO Brian Armstrong among Silicon Valley's most influential leaders. The exchange reported $1.9 billion in revenue for Q3, a 25% increase from the previous quarter, driven by surging trading volumes and stablecoin-related income, according to Coinbase Q3 earnings. Net income reached $433 million, a 55% year-over-year rise, with Bitcoin holdings expanding by 2,772 BTC to 14,458, per a TradingView report. The stock price climbed 4.6% to $343.78 in the 24 hours following the earnings release, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Coinbase's ability to capitalize on the evolving crypto landscape.

A key catalyst for the exchange's growth is its aggressive expansion into stablecoin infrastructure. Coinbase is in advanced talks to acquire BVNK, a London-based stablecoin platform, for approximately $2 billion. The deal, expected to close by year-end or early 2026, aligns with the company's strategy to diversify revenue streams beyond trading fees. Stablecoins accounted for 20% of Coinbase's Q3 revenue, and the acquisition is seen as a move to solidify its dominance in a sector now legitimized by the U.S. passage of the GENIUS Stablecoin Act, according to a stablecoin push report. The legislation, which mandates anti-money laundering compliance and clear collateralization rules, has spurred institutional adoption of stablecoins, with Visa and other payment giants recently piloting blockchain-based solutions.

Coinbase's foray into AI-driven financial tools further underscores its innovation edge. The exchange's AI payment standards, integrated with the x402 protocol, contributed to a 35.8% surge in Virtuals Protocol's token price within 24 hours, according to Key facts. Additionally, Virtuals Protocol's recent integration with Coinbase's Retail DEX—a decentralized exchange operating on Base, Coinbase's Layer-2 network—has amplified trading volumes, pushing the token's market cap to $1.16 billion, per the Virtuals Protocol integration. These developments highlight Coinbase's role in bridging traditional finance and decentralized technologies, a theme reinforced by its partnership with Citi.

Armstrong's leadership has been pivotal in navigating regulatory and market challenges. During the Q3 earnings call, he humorously referenced crypto buzzwords like "Bitcoin," "Ethereum," and "Web3," a move that triggered real payouts on prediction markets like Polymarket, leading to prediction market payouts. Beyond the lighthearted moment, Armstrong emphasized Coinbase's "Everything Exchange" vision, which now covers 90% of the crypto market cap in a single interface, as a Yahoo Finance report noted. The company's stock has mirrored this momentum, with analysts like JPMorgan's Kenneth Worthington upgrading COIN to "Overweight" and setting a $404 price target for December 2026.

Despite regulatory headwinds, including SEC scrutiny and the EU's MiCA implementation, Coinbase's Q3 results suggest a maturing crypto ecosystem. The exchange's ability to balance innovation with compliance—exemplified by its Deribit acquisition and expanding stablecoin offerings—positions it as a key player in shaping the future of digital finance. As Armstrong continues to push the boundaries of crypto's utility, Coinbase's trajectory reflects a broader shift toward institutional adoption and technological integration, solidifying its place at the forefront of financial innovation.