Two of crypto's biggest public companies reported mixed Q2 results this week. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) posted an operating loss of over $8.23 billion, driven by an $8.32 billion unrealized loss on its Bitcoin holdings. Coinbase, meanwhile, saw revenue fall 19% year-over-year as trading volumes slumped 24% to just above $145 billion. Both firms are navigating a market that's been quiet on the spot trading front, even as they push into new revenue streams.
Strategy's $8.23B loss and Bitcoin accumulation
Strategy's Q2 loss is eye-popping, but the company didn't stop buying. It added 846 BTC during the quarter, bringing its total hoard to over 226,000 coins. Total revenue came in at $122 million, up 6.9% from $114.5 million a year ago. Gross profit hit $81.6 million, a 69% margin — slightly better than the $78.7 million in Q2 2025.
The company also trimmed its convertible debt to just under $7 billion and boosted its U.S. dollar holdings. Bitcoin per share rose 5%, and dollar per share increased 12%. CEO Phong Le said the company's objective is for STRC to trade at $99–$100; if it stays below $100, they'll buy back shares. Executive chairman Michael Saylor said they're still evolving the business model and working to establish Digital Credit as a new asset class.
Coinbase's revenue decline and USDC milestone
Coinbase's Q2 wasn't all bad news. Subscription and services fees — now nearly half of net revenue — slipped just 5%. But consumer transactional revenue dropped 20% from Q1, mirroring the broader 24% decline in crypto spot trading volume. EBITDA came in at $208 million, though the exchange recorded over $300 million in losses after adjustments.
One bright spot: the average amount of USDC held across Coinbase products hit a record $20 billion, accounting for more than 30% of all USDC in circulation. That's a sign that users are parking stablecoins on the platform, even if they aren't trading as much. Another area of growth: Coinbase's prediction market sector more than doubled quarter-over-quarter.
For Strategy, the focus remains on its Bitcoin-centric balance sheet and the share repurchase plan. If STRC stays below $100, buybacks could start soon. For Coinbase, the challenge is to keep subscription revenue growing while trading volumes remain soft. The record USDC balance suggests the exchange is becoming a home for idle capital — a trend that could pay off if trading activity picks back up.
Both companies report next quarter in November. Investors will be watching whether trading volumes recover and whether Strategy's Bitcoin bet continues to weigh on earnings.
