Buy Robinhood as Crypto ‘Monster’ Cycle Dawning, Bernstein Says

03/14/2024 20:46
Buy Robinhood as Crypto ‘Monster’ Cycle Dawning, Bernstein Says

(Bloomberg) -- The market value of digital assets is poised to nearly triple to $7.5 trillion by 2025, according to one Wall Street firm that is bullish on a cryptocurrency comeback.Most Read from BloombergPutin Says Ukraine Deal Requires Security Pledges for RussiaUS House Passes Bill That Would Force TikTok Sale or Ban ItUkraine Hits Third Russian Refinery in Escalating Drone StrikesAn $80 Billion Crash in India’s Small Caps Flashes Warning SignsEx-Wall Street Banker Takes On AOC in New York D

(Bloomberg) -- The market value of digital assets is poised to nearly triple to $7.5 trillion by 2025, according to one Wall Street firm that is bullish on a cryptocurrency comeback.

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This year and the next will bring a “monster of a crypto cycle,” according to Bernstein as the research firm initiated coverage on Robinhood Markets Inc. at outperform. Investors should ride the “crypto comeback arc,” said analyst Gautam Chhugani who sees the online brokerage’s crypto trading volume growing nine-fold over the next two years.

“Now is the best time to enter Robinhood, in our view, with an 18-24 month window, to ride the crypto comeback,” he wrote in a note Thursday, assigning a price target of $30 to the stock — the highest among analysts tracked by Bloomberg.

Robinhood shares rose 11% during the premarket session in New York after reporting positive February operating data, including increases to assets under custody and surging trade volume. So far in 2024, the stock has gained 35% through Wednesday’s trading. Wall Street is circumspect on its outlook, among analysts tracked by Bloomberg, six rate the stock a buy, 10 say hold and three recommend selling.

With crypto assets expected to grow to $7.5 trillion from $2.6 trillion today, the largest digital currency, Bitcoin, is set to become a $3 trillion asset by 2025 propelled by “the unprecendented success” of exchange-traded funds tied to the token, he added. He sees Bitcoin touching a high of $150,000 next year.

Bitcoin slid 0.6% to $72,722 as of 9:07 in New York, after reaching a record high above $73,000 on Wednesday.

“The crypto market is amidst unprecedented institutional adoption,” Chhugani said. “We expect continued success of the Bitcoin ETF and a likely launch of an Ethereum ETF within 12 months.”

When it comes to Robinhood, Chhugani said the company’s “full suite crypto offering within a regulated broker platform is in a sweet spot.” Traditional broker platforms, such as Charles Schwab Corp., “remain shy” on offering crypto, he added.

“In short, we are bullish crypto and we believe, Robinhood’s crypto business resurgence will restore its fortunes back again with investors.”

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