During a sharp pullback in crypto-related names, Ark Invest ramped up its exposure to robinhood stock, turning it into a flagship holding despite weak quarterly results.
Ark Invest ramps up its Robinhood bet
Robinhood (HOOD) shares dropped about 9% on Wednesday after Q4 revenue missed analyst forecasts, extending a losing streak that has weighed on sentiment. However, Ark Invest used the downturn to accumulate nearly $50 million in stock, underscoring its conviction in the trading platform’s long-term strategy.
The asset manager bought $33.8 million worth of Robinhood during the selloff, a move that coincided with a brief Bitcoin dip below $66,000 and broad selling across crypto-linked stocks. Moreover, Ark added about $16 million in other digital-asset-related names, including exchange operator Bullish and USDC issuer Circle.
Those fresh purchases pushed Robinhood to the largest crypto-exposed position in the flagship ARK Innovation ETF, with holdings now worth roughly $248 million. That stake represents about a 4.1% weighting in the fund, placing the brokerage ahead of other high-conviction technology plays.
Q4 miss and shift beyond retail trading
Robinhood reported Q4 results that fell short of revenue expectations, primarily because cryptocurrency trading volumes dropped sharply. That said, the company has been trying to reduce its dependence on retail trading fees by leaning into new lines of business and deeper engagement with digital assets.
Despite the setback, management has highlighted a growing pipeline of initiatives aimed at diversifying revenue. Moreover, executives are emphasizing products that appeal to both institutional clients and advanced traders, even as casual trading activity remains subdued.
Robinhood Chain and blockchain ambitions
One key initiative is Robinhood Chain, a permissionless Layer 2 blockchain that recently entered testnet. The Robinhood chain testnet launch targets tokenized real-world assets and institutional financial services, signaling a shift from a pure retail trading app toward a broader infrastructure provider.
The chain is designed to support high-throughput transactions and complex financial contracts while integrating with the existing Robinhood ecosystem. However, success will depend on attracting developers, liquidity providers and institutional partners in an increasingly competitive Layer 2 landscape.
Market backdrop: ETF outflows and cautious sentiment
On the same Wednesday, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $276.3 million, dragging total assets under management down to $85.7 billion. This marked the lowest level since late 2024, highlighting how institutional interest has cooled after a strong initial phase of inflows.
Bitcoin later stabilized around $67,200, but professional buyers remained cautious and many investors stayed on the sidelines awaiting clearer macro and regulatory signals. Moreover, the ETF outflows added to pressure on listed crypto platforms, including Robinhood, as traders reassessed risk exposure.
Prediction markets emerge as a growth engine
CEO Vlad Tenev has identified prediction markets as a potential new growth pillar for the broker. He described them as a coming “supercycle” that could eventually support trillions of dollars in annual trading volume if adoption accelerates across asset classes and geographies.
Robinhood‘s prediction markets business has already shown rapid traction. Its volume more than doubled in Q4, contributing to $12 billion in contracts traded during full-year 2025. In early 2026, the company processed around $4 billion in additional contracts, suggesting rising user engagement.
The firm is building its own platform through a prediction markets joint venture with market maker Susquehanna International Group. That structure should give Robinhood greater control over contract design and listings, while potentially delivering higher margins than simply routing clients to existing exchanges.
The in-house prediction market is expected to launch later this year and will compete with established players such as Kalshi and Polymarket. However, winning share from incumbents will require a compelling user interface, regulatory clarity and attractive liquidity incentives.
Upcoming Take Flight event and product roadmap
Robinhood plans to share more details on its blockchain and prediction market initiatives at its “Take Flight” event scheduled for March 4. The presentation will likely highlight new products, platform enhancements and additional use cases built around its Layer 2 infrastructure.
Market participants will be watching for updates on how these projects can support earnings growth after the recent revenue miss. Moreover, clarity on timelines and monetization could shape how investors value the company’s expansion beyond legacy retail brokerage services.
Analyst ratings and share performance
Wall Street analysts currently maintain a Strong Buy consensus on Robinhood, based on 14 Buy ratings, three Holds and zero Sells in the past three months. The average 12-month price target stands at $135.79, implying roughly 56.9% upside from current levels if forecasts prove accurate.
Even so, shares have struggled in 2026. Following the latest drop, Robinhood has lost nearly one-third of its value year-to-date, reflecting investor concerns about slowing retail volumes and regulatory uncertainty. The recent Ark Invest robinhood purchase, however, signals that at least some institutional investors see the pullback as an opportunity rather than a lasting structural decline.
Strategic outlook
For long-term investors, the trajectory of robinhood stock will likely hinge on execution in prediction markets, blockchain infrastructure and institutional services. If those initiatives scale, they could gradually offset cyclical weakness in traditional trading.
In summary, Robinhood faces a challenging near-term backdrop but is repositioning itself as a diversified fintech and crypto infrastructure player. That said, realization of its ambitious roadmap will be crucial to justifying current analyst targets and restoring market confidence.
Source: https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2026/02/12/robinhood-stock-ark-invest/
