Ark Invest raised its stake in Bullish, the crypto exchange operator and owner of CoinDesk, with its ARK Innovation ETF now holding over 1.2 million shares worth about US$73.9 million.

On August 19, 2025, the firm added 356,346 Bullish shares to ARKK, a purchase valued at US$21.2 million.

Ark previously allocated more than 2.5 million Bullish shares across three of its ETFs during Bullish’s market debut.

The firm also purchased 150,908 shares of Robinhood, worth about US$16.2 million at the latest closing price.

This marks the third consecutive trading day Ark has added to its Robinhood position, after spending US$14 million on August 18, 2025 and US$9 million on August 15, 2025.

🔗 Source: CoinDesk

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ ARK’s crypto investments reflect years of institutional research, not opportunistic trading

ARK’s recent $21.2 million purchase of Bullish shares builds on nearly a decade of cryptocurrency research and conviction1.

The firm published detailed analyses of Bitcoin as early as 2015, arguing it represented a new asset class with unique investment characteristics and potential as a store of value2.

By 2016, ARK was already exploring Bitcoin’s classification alongside traditional assets, examining criteria like investability, market behavior, and risk-reward profiles3.

This research foundation explains why ARK naturally gravitated toward crypto investments when institutional vehicles became available, rather than chasing a trend.

The consistency aligns with ARK’s core investment philosophy of targeting “disruptive innovation,” defined as technologically enabled products that significantly alter how the world operates4.

2️⃣ Sustained buying patterns reveal high-conviction crypto exposure strategy

ARK’s three consecutive days of Robinhood purchases, totaling $39.2 million over Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, demonstrates systematic accumulation rather than opportunistic trading1.

This pattern, combined with their immediate $21.2 million Bullish purchase following the stock’s debut, suggests ARK views current pricing as attractive for long-term positions.