Coinbase is one of the most well-known names in the cryptocurrency industry, and its recent IPO has made headlines around the world. As a publicly traded company, many people are curious about who owns Coinbase stock and how they have benefited from the company’s success. In this article, we will take a closer look at the ownership structure of Coinbase and some of the key shareholders.
The Founders
As with many startups, the founders of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, own a significant portion of the company’s stock. According to the company’s SEC filings, as of May 2021, Armstrong owned approximately 21.8 million shares of Class A common stock, while Ehrsam owned approximately 6.6 million shares.
Armstrong and Ehrsam both served as executives at Coinbase for several years before stepping down from their day-to-day roles. However, they both remain involved with the company as board members.
Institutional Investors
In addition to the founders, several institutional investors also own large stakes in Coinbase. One of the biggest shareholders is venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which led Coinbase’s $25 million funding round in 2013. According to a regulatory filing, Andreessen Horowitz owned 14.3 million shares of Class A common stock as of May 2021.
Another major investor in Coinbase is Tiger Global Management, a New York-based hedge fund. According to regulatory filings, Tiger Global owned 9.5 million shares of Class A common stock as of May 2021.
Other institutions that own significant stakes in Coinbase include Paradigm, Greylock Partners, and Ribbit Capital.
Employee Stock Options
Like many tech companies, Coinbase offers stock options to its employees as part of their compensation package. The company’s SEC filings show that as of December 31, 2020, there were approximately 1,700 employees and consultants who held vested stock options.
The exact number of shares owned by employees is not publicly disclosed, but it is likely that many current and former Coinbase employees have benefitted financially from the company’s success.
Retail Investors
Since going public in April 2021, Coinbase stock has been available for purchase on several major stock exchanges, including the Nasdaq. This means that retail investors have had the opportunity to buy and sell shares of Coinbase just like any other publicly traded company.
It is difficult to estimate exactly how many retail investors own Coinbase stock, as this information is not publicly available. However, it is likely that a significant portion of the company’s shareholder base consists of individual investors who have purchased shares through their brokerage accounts.
Conclusion
Coinbase is one of the most well-known and widely used cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, and its recent IPO has made it a household name. As a publicly traded company, the ownership structure of Coinbase is relatively transparent, with the founders, institutional investors, and employees all holding significant stakes.
While the exact number of retail investors who own Coinbase stock is unknown, it is clear that there is significant demand for the cryptocurrency industry among individual investors. As cryptocurrencies continue to gain mainstream acceptance, it is likely that more and more people will look to invest in companies like Coinbase that are at the forefront of this emerging industry.
