Coinbase data shows retail investors are buying the bitcoin dip despite sharp market losses, as CEO Brian Armstrong reinforces long-term bullishness and expands products, signaling confidence in crypto’s resilience and financial system ambitions.
Coinbase Data Shows Retail Buying Dip Despite Macro Pressure, Brian Armstrong Signals Strength
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared on social media platform X on Feb. 15 that retail traders on his crypto exchange have remained resilient during recent market volatility. As of writing, bitcoin is trading at around $68,800 on Bitstamp, consolidating after a steep correction.
“Retail users on Coinbase have been very resilient during these market conditions, according to our data,” Armstrong detailed, adding:
“They’ve been buying the dip – we’ve seen a native unit increase for retail users across BTC and ETH. They have diamond hands – vast majority of customers had native unit balances in Feb equal to or greater than their balances in December.”
Despite bitcoin’s nearly 50% decline from its late-2025 peak near $126,000 to the current $68,000 range, Armstrong has reiterated his long-term conviction. During Coinbase’s Q4 2025 earnings call on Feb. 12, he reaffirmed his $1 million bitcoin price target by 2030, describing the recent downturn as part of market cycles he has navigated since 2012.
He has also argued that crypto is “eating financial services at an incredible rate,” pointing to Coinbase’s 12 products generating more than $100 million in annualized revenue as evidence that the sector is shifting into a utility-driven phase. Under his leadership, Coinbase continues purchasing bitcoin for its corporate balance sheet and is executing a $2 billion stock buyback, even as filings show he sold more than 1.5 million shares between April and January to fund ventures such as Newlimit.
Beyond near-term price swings, Armstrong has framed crypto volatility as routine rather than a warning sign. On Feb. 7, he posted on X that recent turbulence, including an 11.16% drop in bitcoin mining difficulty, does not alter his long-term outlook and emphasized that the industry has weathered multiple cycles. He opined:
“Personally, this doesn’t change my outlook – I don’t see how you can be anything but long-term bullish on crypto.”
He also explained that Coinbase will continue building and launching products regardless of market cycles, maintaining a long-term focus on modernizing the financial system. Armstrong has tied his optimism to expanding adoption across payments, custody, and broader financial infrastructure, along with regulatory developments such as the GENIUS Act of 2025 and ongoing debate surrounding the CLARITY Act. He has called for clearer statutory boundaries between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while criticizing provisions he considers protectionist.
FAQ ⏰
- Are retail investors buying bitcoin during the recent price correction? Yes, Coinbase data shows retail users increased native unit balances in BTC and ETH while buying the dip, according to CEO Brian Armstrong.
- What is Brian Armstrong’s bitcoin price target for 2030? Armstrong reaffirmed his long-term $1 million bitcoin price target by 2030 during Coinbase’s Q4 2025 earnings call.
- Why is bitcoin facing pressure despite retail accumulation? Higher-for-longer interest rate expectations, ETF outflows, and declining are weighing on prices.
- What are bitcoin whales doing near the $60,000 level? On-chain data shows wallets holding 1,000 to 10,000 have accumulated heavily around $60,000.
Author: Kevin Helms
Source: Bitcoin
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
