Crypto’s Next Phase Is Bigger Than Bitcoin

CNBC (main)
CNBC (main)May 22, 2026

Why It Matters

By moving beyond pure crypto trading, these firms aim to secure stable, long‑term revenue streams, reshaping the financial services ecosystem and forcing investors to reassess risk exposure to the crypto cycle.

Key Takeaways

  • Crypto firms pivot to diversified services beyond volatile trading.
  • Coinbase adds derivatives, stocks, and prediction markets to become an 'everything exchange'.
  • Bullish’s $4.2 billion Equiniti acquisition creates end‑to‑end tokenization platform.
  • Circle launches Arc blockchain to evolve from stablecoin issuer to operating system.
  • Companies aim to decouple earnings from crypto cycles via fintech integration.

Summary

The video examines how crypto‑focused companies are redefining their business models as the traditional trading‑centric revenue engine proves volatile. With Bitcoin and other token prices in a slump, firms such as Coinbase, Robinhood, Bullish, Circle and MicroStrategy are positioning themselves as broader fintech players rather than pure crypto exchanges. Key data points illustrate the shift: Coinbase posted $1.4 billion in Q1 revenue but a $394 million net loss, prompting a rollout of derivatives, prediction markets, and traditional assets to become an "everything exchange." Bullish announced a $4.2 billion purchase of transfer‑agent Equiniti, creating a full‑stack tokenization platform, while Circle is building the Arc blockchain to serve as an operating system for the digital economy. MicroStrategy continues to buy and hold Bitcoin, focusing on increasing Bitcoin‑per‑share metrics to boost shareholder value. Notable remarks include Brian Armstrong’s description of Coinbase as a one‑stop shop for all financial life, and Bullish’s claim that tokenization offers "unconstrained programmable ownership" of real‑world assets. Circle’s CEO Jeremy Allaire frames Arc as the infrastructure layer that will make blockchain management as routine as website hosting. The broader implication is a race to decouple earnings from the crypto price cycle. Investors must evaluate whether these diversified fintech ventures can generate sustainable growth before the next market downturn, and how regulatory scrutiny of tokenized securities may shape the competitive landscape.

Original Description

The next phase of crypto’s public-market pitch is less about token prices and more about financial infrastructure. As trading revenue slows, companies including Coinbase, Robinhood, Circle, Bullish and Gemini are trying to show they can own the systems that issue, trade, settle and record assets. The question for investors is whether these new businesses can grow fast enough before the next crypto downturn puts the model under pressure again.
Chapters:
0:00-00:28 Introduction
00:29-1:28 The everything exchange
1:29-3:32 Tokenized Wall Street
3:33-5:24 Beyond stablecoins
5:25-6:47 Treasury companies
Produced by: Charlotte Morabito
Reporting by: Tanaya Macheel
Edited by: Tasia Jensen
Animation: Jason Reginato, Emily Park
Senior Managing Producer: Shawn Baldwin
Senior Director of Video: Lindsey Jacobson
Additional Footage: Getty Images
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Crypto’s Next Phase Is Bigger Than Bitcoin

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