This was first published January 24, in our weekly newsletter Apptopia Insight. To receive insights like this weekly, sign up here.
- In December 2023, Coinbase (COIN) mobile growth bounced positive for the first time in two years (+47% YoY).
- Meanwhile, Apptopia estimated sessions for Robinhood (HOOD) grew in 4Q, up +2% QoQ and +16% YoY, an acceleration from +14% YoY in 3Q23.
- What was the commonality? The price of bitcoin rose +73% YoY.
Coinbase grows new users in 4Q23

Rising crypto prices look to be improving the outlook for Coinbase and Robinhood.
While COIN shares turned down after 3Q23 earnings because of a decrease in Consumer Trading Volume and a subsequent decline in mobile engagement, 4Q23 signaled the first positive YoY growth in Coinbase mobile activity (+3%) in two years. This reversal can be attributed to a substantial surge in new mobile users (+47% YoY) during December, fueled by the growth of bitcoin prices (+149% YoY in December). Mobile trends look strong for Coinbase from all angles, as new user growth and transacting users are growing positive.
Robinhood faced a sequential decline in transaction-based revenues in 3Q23, despite an increase in mobile sessions (+14% YoY) for the first time in two years. Their shareholder letter attributed this decline to lower crypto volumes, coinciding with flat QoQ crypto prices in 3Q. While Consensus anticipates a continued decline in transaction-based revenues, Apptopia’s analysis suggests that the sequential strengthening of bitcoin in 4Q (+73% YoY versus +31% in 3Q) may act as a catalyst, potentially steering transaction-based revenues positive for Robinhood this quarter
Robinhood Mobile sessions grow sequentially with bitcoin prices.

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Author
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Tom Grant is Vice President of Research at Apptopia. He leads Apptopia’s research efforts to uncover macro and micro trends that can inform investment decisions.
Prior to joining Apptopia, Tom spent 15 years on the buy-side, investing in stocks across global equity markets, with unique expertise in small cap emerging markets.