The post Crypto Executives Sell Big: Coinbase and MicroStrategy Lead Insider Stock Sales in 2024 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
In 2024, cryptocurrency executives were among the largest insider stock sellers, raising eyebrows in the industry. According to a report, SEC filings revealed that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong sold $636 million in stock, placing him eighth among the top sellers. MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor followed with $410.8 million, ranking 13th.
Other notable sales included Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam at $203.8 million and COO Emilie Choi at $186.4 million. Together, these sales placed Coinbase seventh overall for insider selling, surpassing major firms like Oracle and Intuit.
While crypto stocks like Coinbase and MicroStrategy jumped alongside Bitcoin’s price, these insider sales are creating a major concern in the minds of crypto traders. After Trump’s election win, Bitcoin hit its first milestone of touching $100,000 in December before retreating, and many viewed the stock sales as a sign of uncertainty in the market’s long-term stability.
For example, insider sales across the S&P 500 totaled $36.9 billion, with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos leading the pack at $13.4 billion. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Palantir’s Alexander Karp also made significant sales.
Crypto Offloading, What It Means?
Despite the overhyped market, Bitcoin is facing challenges as key players show signs of slowing down. MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin purchases are getting smaller, raising concerns about its strategy. El Salvador, once a strong supporter of Bitcoin, is scaling back its policies. BlackRock has sold a record amount of Bitcoin, and Tether hasn’t issued new tokens in over 20 days, adding to market uncertainty. These factors are causing Bitcoin’s price to stagnate, leaving the market in a cautious state.
Having said that, a Crypto influencer, Tommy Famous expressed serious concerns about industry leaders’ massive insider stock sales, calling them a troubling sign for confidence in their companies and the broader crypto market. He criticized the contradiction between promoting decentralization and financial sovereignty while cashing out on such a large scale. Tommy emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, warning that the industry risks losing trust and credibility.
Moreover, with MicroStrategy planning aggressive Bitcoin acquisitions in 2025, its stock performance could challenge Coinbase’s insider selling dominance. However, these developments underscore the need for clearer communication and trust-building in the crypto sector.
Following the news, Bitcoin in the very first week jumped 7% by closely touching the $97K zone. This breeze is quite refreshing since the fatal bloodbath happened last month and the market is waiting for a new ATH if Trump manages to bring crypto regulations on time.