Research firm 10x advocates shorting Coinbase stock (COIN) while going long on Bitcoin, citing a significant valuation disconnect. COIN shares surged 84% over two monthsβfar outpacing Bitcoin’s 14% gainβdespite lacking proportional growth in trading volumes, Coinbase’s core revenue driver. This divergence suggests COIN is nearing overvaluation territory.
Markus Thielen of 10x Research notes COIN approaches a critical +30% overvaluation threshold historically preceding tactical reversals. While acknowledging Coinbase as a quality crypto play, he warns its premium creates underperformance risk relative to Bitcoin. The pair trade bets on COIN’s correction while maintaining BTC exposure.
Traders can execute this via direct positions or options strategies like selling COIN calls while buying BTC calls. This hedged approach targets profit from COIN’s potential pullback while capturing Bitcoin’s upside, leveraging the observed market dislocation.