Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest Doubles Down on Robinhood with $21.3M ETF Acquisition
Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest strengthens position in Robinhood Markets as the investment firm disclosed acquiring $21.3 million worth of shares through two of its flagship exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Wednesday. The Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) added 131,049 Robinhood shares, while the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF purchased 36,440 shares. Together, Robinhood shares now represent nearly 19% of both ETFs as of yesterday.
Throughout 2025, Ark Invest has consistently expanded its footprint in the crypto sector by acquiring shares in companies like Robinhood, Bullish, Coinbase, and the Ethereum treasury firm BitMine. This strategic pivot highlights the firm’s belief in the long-term potential of crypto-related businesses.
Robinhood’s Aggressive Moves in Crypto Markets
Robinhood, the popular online brokerage and trading platform, has significantly ramped up its crypto trading operations with major acquisitions and innovations this year. In May, Robinhood acquired Toronto-based WonderFi for approximately $180 million, aiming to broaden its crypto offerings into the Canadian market. The firm also completed a $200 million acquisition of Bitstamp in June, further cementing its presence in the crypto exchange space.
Additionally, Robinhood announced plans to launch its own Layer 2 blockchain based on the Arbitrum network, signaling its deeper ambitions within the decentralized finance ecosystem. Most recently, the platform added BNB trading support, expanding users’ crypto options.
Robinhood Crypto Shows Strong Growth Despite Stock Dip
According to data from The Block, Robinhood Crypto recorded an impressive $28.3 billion trading volume in Q2 2025, marking a 24% year-over-year increase. However, despite the platform’s progress, Robinhood’s stock (HOOD) declined 3.5% on Wednesday, closing at $127.22.
Ark Invest’s continued confidence in Robinhood shares underscores a growing institutional faith in crypto-focused companies, even amid short-term market fluctuations.
