Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) stock rose 4.15% to $204.72 as of 10:06 AM ET on Monday after the company announced a major acquisition.
Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN)
The leading U.S.-based crypto exchange announced plans to acquire Deribit, one of the world's largest crypto derivatives platforms, for about $2.9 billion. The move comes ahead of Coinbase's earnings call, which is set for later today at 5:30 PM EDT.
The $2.9 billion agreement will be settled through a combination of $700 million in cash and 11 million shares of Coinbase Class A common stock. The acquisition is expected to expand Coinbase's international footprint and provide access to the lucrative crypto derivatives market. Greg Tusar, Coinbase's vice president of institutional product, highlighted Deribit's strong presence and professional client base, which will accelerate the company's global growth strategy.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Deribit team to Coinbase,” said Tusar. “We have been impressed by their technology, regulatory licenses, and the professional client base they have built in Europe and Asia. This acquisition will allow us to expand our product offerings and footprint in key international markets.”
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, with the companies aiming for completion by year-end. Earlier this year, in March, both Coinbase and Deribit began engaging with regulators in Dubai, where Deribit holds a license, to facilitate the transfer of the permit to Coinbase upon the closing of the deal.
Earlier reports had suggested that Deribit's valuation could fall between $4 billion and $5 billion. However, the final purchase price has been set at approximately $2.9 billion. The structure of the deal, with a combination of cash and stock, and the timing, ahead of the earnings call, suggest strategic pricing on Coinbase's part as it seeks to effectively scale operations while navigating regulatory obligations.
Despite today's stock increase, Coinbase's year-to-date (YTD) return stands at a negative 17.62%, underperforming the S&P 500, which has seen a 3.78% drop over the same period. Over the past year, COIN shares have slipped 3.14%, while the broader market experienced a 9.09% gain. The stock has shown stronger performance over a three-year period, with a 97.19% return, but lags with a five-year return of -46.31%.
As the stock currently trades at $204.72 and has a 1-year target estimate of $259.00, investors will be closely watching the earnings call this evening for further guidance on growth prospects following the Deribit acquisition.
