Coinbase Global (COIN)
If you’ve ever bought bitcoin from an exchange before, you know that there are typically transaction fees involved. And as more people rush to buy cryptocurrencies, these transaction fees quickly add up.
That’s where Coinbase found its opportunity. As the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., it earns a transaction fee every time someone buys or sells cryptocurrency on its exchange.
In Q3, Coinbase had 7.4 million retail monthly transacting users. It earned $1.1 billion in transaction revenue and $145 million in subscription and services revenue.
To be sure, Coinbase shares currently trade at around $250 a piece. But you can get a piece of the company using a popular stock trading app that allows you to buy fractions of shares with as much money as you are willing to spend.
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Learn MoreMarathon Digital Holdings (MARA)
Marathon Digital Holdings is a cryptocurrency miner.
As of Dec. 1, the company’s mining fleet has produced approximately 2,712.3 self-mined bitcoins in 2021.
And while some Bitcoin miners might be tempted to sell their coins amid this year’s crypto rally, Marathon simply hoards them — also known as holding on for dear life, or HODL, to crypto enthusiasts.
In fact, the company hasn’t sold any bitcoin since October 2020. It even purchased 4,812.66 bitcoins in January 2021 for an average price of $31,168 per coin.
As a result of continued accumulation, Marathon has approximately 7,649.1 bitcoins today, a stake worth over $360 million.
Unsurprisingly, the stock has done well over the past year. Despite the recent pullback in bitcoin, Marathon shares are still up more than 200% in 2021.
PayPal Holdings (PYPL)
Digital payments technologist PayPal hasn’t been a hot commodity lately. While the S&P 500 is up roughly 26% year to date, PayPal shares are off 19% over the same time frame.
But that could give contrarian investors something to think about. After all, the company’s core business isn’t doing too badly.
In Q3, PayPal’s total payment volume rose 26% year over year to $310 billion. It brought in $6.18 billion of net revenue, up 13% from a year ago.
The company has entered the crypto arena, too.
Users can use its PayPal and Venmo apps to buy, sell, and hold bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The company said that first time crypto users on its platforms increased by 15% in Q3.
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Get StartedExotic alternatives
At the end of the day, both stocks and cryptos are volatile.
Diversification is key. And you don’t have to stay in the public markets to get it.
If you want to invest in something without the violent swings of bitcoin, take a look at some hidden alternative assets.
Traditionally, investing in things like exotic vehicles or multi-family apartments or even litigation finance have only been options for the ultrarich.
But with the help of new platforms, these kinds of opportunities are now available to retail investors, too.
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