Coinbase Hits Record High as Regulatory Wins Boost Market Confidence
Coinbase Global Inc. achieved a historic milestone on July 18, 2025, with its shares surging to an all-time high of $436 in early trading. This marked a 14% weekly gain, propelling the exchange's market capitalization beyond $100 billion. The rally was fueled by significant regulatory advancements in the U.S. cryptocurrency sector, particularly the passage of the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts by the U.S. House of Representatives. These legislative measures are expected to provide much-needed regulatory clarity for digital assets, fostering innovation and growth in the industry. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong celebrated the progress as a pivotal moment for crypto in the United States, underscoring the potential for further expansion and adoption. The market's bullish response highlights growing investor confidence in the future of digital assets and the regulatory framework supporting them.
Coinbase Shares Surge to Record High Amid Crypto Regulatory Wins
Coinbase Global Inc. reached an all-time high of $436 in early trading on July 18, marking a 14% weekly gain as the exchange crossed $100 billion in market capitalization. The rally follows the U.S. House of Representatives passing the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts—legislation poised to provide regulatory clarity for digital assets.
CEO Brian Armstrong hailed the legislative progress as a watershed moment for U.S. crypto innovation. The sentiment was echoed globally, with CoinCDC's Sumit Gupta noting the bills' potential to accelerate mainstream adoption. Meanwhile, insiders capitalized on the rally, selling $230 million in shares this week.
Strategy's $72 Billion Bitcoin Stash: Custodial Secrets Revealed
MicroStrategy's $72 billion Bitcoin treasury remains shrouded in partial secrecy, with the company refusing to disclose all custodial partners despite mounting industry pressure. Coinbase has confirmed its role as one custodian, while blockchain sleuths at Arkham allege Fidelity safeguards another 70,000 BTC portion.
The mystery deepens with SEC filings revealing MicroStrategy exclusively uses New York Department of Financial Services-regulated custodians. This narrows the field to nine qualified institutions including BitGo, Gemini, and NYDIG—establishing an institutional-grade security framework for the corporate bitcoin pioneer.
Michael Saylor's recent comments labeling transparency around custody arrangements as a "bad idea" have ignited controversy. The stance reflects corporate security concerns but clashes with crypto's culture of radical transparency, creating tension between traditional finance protocols and blockchain ethos.
Charles Schwab to Offer Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading Amid Client Demand
Charles Schwab CEO Rick Wurster announced plans to introduce Bitcoin (BTC) and ethereum (ETH) trading for its brokerage clients, responding to significant demand for consolidated asset visibility. The move, confirmed on July 18, aims to unify crypto holdings with traditional investments like equities and bonds on a single platform.
Schwab clients already hold approximately 20% of all crypto exchange-traded products in the U.S., valued at $25 billion—though this represents just 0.2% of the firm’s $10.8 trillion total client balances. Wurster emphasized the service as a custody solution rather than a speculative venture, noting households often allocate 1-2% of wealth to crypto platforms for direct coin ownership.
The rollout, expected "sometime soon," positions Schwab in direct competition with Coinbase. Wurster anticipates accelerated growth as balances migrate from specialized crypto exchanges to Schwab’s integrated dashboard.
U.S. President Donald Trump to Sign GENIUS Act into Law, Crypto Leaders in Attendance
Cryptocurrency industry leaders Brian Armstrong of Coinbase and Jeremy Allaire of Circle are set to witness a historic regulatory milestone as President Donald TRUMP signs the GENIUS Act into law. The event, scheduled for July 18, 2025, at the White House, marks a significant step forward for the stablecoin sector and broader digital asset regulation.
The GENIUS Act, alongside the CLARITY Act and Anti-CBDC Act, received bipartisan support in Congress, signaling a major win for the crypto industry. Armstrong hailed the legislation as the beginning of a financial revolution in the U.S., emphasizing its potential to drive innovation and adoption.
The GENIUS Act's passage reflects growing institutional recognition of cryptocurrencies, with stablecoins emerging as a focal point for regulatory clarity. This development could pave the way for increased mainstream acceptance and investment in digital assets.
Bitcoin Dips Below $118K, But The Crypto Bull Run Is Set To Continue
Bitcoin retreated to $117,500 during Friday's U.S. trading session, marking a 0.6% decline over 24 hours. The pullback follows earlier weekly highs above $120K and Monday's spike NEAR $124K. Despite the dip, BTC remains stable on weekly charts—flat, not falling.
Ether briefly challenged its 2025 peak around $3,700 before settling at $3,550, with analysts now eyeing $8,000 targets. XRP shattered its 2018 record, soaring to an all-time high of $3.60 before consolidating at $3.40—a 4% daily gain and 35% weekly surge. Market confidence in Ripple's token fuels predictions of $10 valuations.
Altcoins dominated momentum trades, with Dogecoin, SUI, Cardano, Avalanche, and Uniswap notching double-digit gains. This rotation into smaller caps typically signals late-cycle exuberance, but Coinbase research suggests a structural shift. "This rally stems from steady accumulation, not speculation," notes David Duong's team, distancing current dynamics from 2017's hype-driven mania.
Public Keys: Coinbase and MicroStrategy Break Records Amid Crypto Market Surge
MicroStrategy's $70 billion Bitcoin holdings are reportedly spread across nine custodians, including Coinbase, BitGo, and Fidelity, though the exact distribution remains confidential under SEC Rule 83. The company disclosed this information in a 2023 response to an SEC inquiry, following the fallout from FTX's collapse.
Coinbase and MicroStrategy reached stock record highs this week as crypto markets rallied. While MicroStrategy has since retraced some gains, Coinbase continues its upward trajectory. The surge reflects growing institutional confidence in digital assets.
Corporate crypto treasuries are expanding rapidly. Bit Origin raised $500 million for Dogecoin exposure, Sharplink grew its Ethereum holdings to $6 billion, and electric bike manufacturer Volcon plans to allocate $500 million to Bitcoin. This trend underscores the deepening integration of cryptocurrencies into corporate balance sheets.
