Coinbase Named One of Top Three Fintech Stock Picks for 2026 by Clear Street
Owen Lau of Clear Street has named Coinbase (COIN) as one of his top three fintech stock picks for 2026, alongside Nasdaq (NDAQ) and S&P Global (SPGI). Lau has assigned Coinbase a Buy rating with a 12-month price target of $415, indicating approximately 70% upside potential.
Lau highlighted Coinbase's central role in blockchain-based finance and its potential growth from stablecoin revenue, regulatory catalysts, and new product lines. The USDC stablecoin is jointly operated by Circle and Coinbase, with Circle’s USDC revenue share constituting about 50% of Circle’s overall revenue. Despite this close partnership, Coinbase currently trades at a discount relative to Circle based on earnings expectations.
Key catalysts that could drive a re-rating of Coinbase in 2026 include developments in U.S. crypto market structure legislation and a stablecoin regulatory framework. Additionally, growth levers cited include Coinbase's expansion into prediction markets, a potential 'superapp,' and AI-based financial tools.
Lau noted Coinbase’s diversification away from volatile spot trading through subscriptions, stablecoin activities, and on-chain financial services, which enhances its resilience across crypto cycles. He described 2026 as a "transition year" for crypto equities, emphasizing that investors will seek tangible adoption signals rather than mere trading volumes. Coinbase's strong balance sheet, international reach, and diversified product offerings position it well for potential outperformance.
As of December 26, 2025, COIN was down 2.2% to $234.50 amid a post-Christmas crypto selloff.
