South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) has recently made a significant profit of 40% from its investment in Coinbase, a prominent U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange. Despite the country’s national assembly expressing concerns, the NPS, which ranks as the world’s third-largest pension fund with assets exceeding $800 billion, decided to include a digital assets company in its U.S. stock portfolio.
Investing in the Cryptocurrency Industry
Rather than directly investing in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which are known for their market fluctuations, institutional investors like the NPS choose to gain exposure to the emerging industry through investments in companies operating in the space. Coinbase and MicroStrategy are among the favored stocks for such investors.
A Pioneering Move by NPS
The investment in Coinbase marked the first time that the NPS added a digital assets company to its U.S. stock portfolio. Despite reservations expressed by the country’s national assembly, the decision has proven to be prescient. Coinbase’s stock has been consistently trending upwards, making it one of the best-performing crypto-related stocks in the past year.
Data from Tradingview reveals that Coinbase shares have demonstrated exceptional performance. Over the past six months, the shares have soared by 62%, and for the year-to-date metrics, they have skyrocketed by a remarkable 168%. This price performance can be attributed to the positive trend observed in the overall crypto market, with popular digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana enjoying gains of more than 100% in the past year.
Aside from its impressive price performance, Coinbase has expanded its operations and achieved significant milestones. The exchange has obtained licensing in Bermuda, enabling it to launch an international exchange. Additionally, it now offers perpetual futures trading to non-U.S. retail customers. Coinbase has also secured licenses in multiple European countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Italy, further expanding its reach beyond the U.S.
An Astute Investment
The NPS’s investment in Coinbase has proven to be astute, with an average purchase price per share of $70.5. Given the recent closing price of $98.15, the fund stands to gain approximately 40% profit within just one quarter. This windfall showcases the NPS’s investment prowess and its ability to identify promising opportunities in an ever-evolving market.
South Korea’s National Pension Service has successfully secured a substantial profit from its investment in Coinbase stocks. This investment marks a significant milestone for the NPS, as it ventures further into the digital assets realm. With Coinbase’s impressive price performance and expansion, this decision has proven to be prescient and financially rewarding for the NPS.