Crypto Takes a Hit, ARK Invest Seizes Opportunity with $10M Optimistic Investment

On November 17, ARK Invest acquired $10.2 million worth of Bullish shares for three of its ETFs,

even as its stock price reached an all-time low during a widespread downturn in the crypto market. The (ARKK) picked up 191,195 shares, while the (ARKW) and (ARKF) bought 56,660 and 29,208 shares, respectively, . Bullish (BLSH) ended Monday down 4.5% at $36.75, having shed nearly 46% of its value over the last half-year . The purchase came just ahead of Bullish’s third-quarter earnings release, .

Bullish, which counts billionaire Peter Thiel among its backers,

for the second quarter of 2025, down from $67 million the previous year, but reported a net profit of $108.3 million—a sharp turnaround from a $116.4 million loss in Q2 2024. The exchange began offering U.S. spot trading in October after obtaining a crucial New York license, in total trading volume since late 2021. Despite these milestones, Bullish’s shares have struggled along with other crypto-related stocks, .

ARK’s move to buy Bullish shares is part of a broader approach of increasing crypto holdings during market slumps. The previous week, the company

, in addition to $15.56 million in Circle and $8.86 million in BitMine. This is consistent with ARK’s pattern of investing during market dips, when the stablecoin issuer’s shares dropped below $90. These actions demonstrate the firm’s belief in the long-term prospects of the industry, despite short-term swings caused by economic uncertainty and regulatory pressures .

Experts remain split on whether the crypto downturn has bottomed out. Tom Lee from BitMEX and Matt Hougan of Bitwise

, with possibly approaching a support level amid ETF outflows and global tensions. Still, the Federal Reserve’s decision on a December rate cut—currently seen as having a 52% probability—remains a major uncertainty. If the cut is postponed or smaller than anticipated, it could add more pressure to risk assets like cryptocurrencies .

ARK’s recent buying activity highlights ongoing institutional interest in the crypto sector. Despite challenges such as falling revenues for leading miners and a bearish trend in Bitcoin prices, companies like

are still preparing for a rebound. The outcome of Bullish’s earnings and how the market responds to the Fed’s policy decisions are likely to influence investor sentiment in the coming period.