grepcent public filings, reorganized for comparison

Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN) FY 2023 MD&A

Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from Coinbase Global, Inc.'s 10-K for fiscal year 2023. Filing date: 2024-02-15. Report date: 2023-12-31. Accession: 0001679788-24-000022.

This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.

Extracted from a substantive MD&A body after the formal Item 7 span was a TOC or reference stub. Confidence: high.

Company profile: COIN · All MD&A years: index · Previous year: FY 2022 · Next year: FY 2024

Executive Overview

This executive overview of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations highlights selected information and does not contain all of the information that is important to readers of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In 2023, we paired operational excellence with product innovation to deliver a strong year of execution against our product roadmap.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, our net revenue was $2.9 billion, including $1.5 billion in transaction revenue and $1.4 billion in subscription and services revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2022, our net revenue was $3.1 billion, including $2.4 billion in transaction revenue and $0.8 billion in subscription and services revenue.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, our net income was $0.1 billion and Adjusted EBITDA was $1.0 billion. For the year ended December 31, 2022, our net loss was $2.6 billion and Adjusted EBITDA was negative $0.4 billion.

Beyond the numbers, we accelerated product velocity and improved our existing product suite, while laying important foundations for future growth. We acquired key licenses, registrations and launched operations into six new markets.

In 2024 Coinbase will focus on three main priorities. First, driving revenue through improving our core trading and USDC. Second, driving utility in crypto with experiments in payments using USDC and Base. Lastly, we will continue to drive regulatory clarity for the industry. All told, Coinbase is a fundamentally stronger company today than a year ago, and we are in a strong financial position to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.

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Key Business Metrics

In addition to the measures presented in our consolidated financial statements, we use the key business metrics listed below to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, and make strategic decisions:

Year Ended December 31,% Change
20232022202120232022
MTUs (in millions)7.08.311.2(16)(26)
Trading Volume (in billions)$468$830$1,671(44)(50)
Net income (loss) (in millions)$95$(2,625)$3,624104(172)
Adjusted EBITDA(1) (in millions)$964$(371)$4,090360(109)

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(1)See the section titled “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” below for a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA and an explanation for why we consider Adjusted EBITDA to be a helpful metric for investors.

Monthly Transacting Users

We define a Monthly Transacting User (“MTU”) as a consumer who actively or passively transacts in one or more products on our platform at least once during the rolling 28-day period ending on the date of measurement. MTUs presented for the end of a quarter are the average of each month’s MTUs in each respective quarter. MTUs presented as of the end of a year represent the MTUs for the last quarter of that year. The annual average MTUs for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, were 7.4 million, 8.8 million and 8.4 million, respectively. MTUs engage in transactions that generate both transaction revenue and subscription and services revenue. Revenue-generating transactions include active transactions such as buying or selling crypto assets or passive transactions such as earning a staking reward. MTUs also engage in transactions that are non-revenue generating such as send and receive. MTUs may overstate the number of unique consumers due to differences in product architecture or user behavior.

MTUs declined for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 due to a 0.8 million decrease in staking users driven by updates to our staking service, which required users to manually opt-in to certain networks within a notice period and a 0.4 million decrease in trading users in line with lower Trading Volume. MTUs declined for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021 driven primarily by a decline of 6.9 million in users engaging in trades on our platform in line with lower Trading Volume, partially offset by a 4.0 million increase in staking users due to the addition of new staking assets in 2022.

Trading Volume

We define “Trading Volume” as the total U.S. dollar equivalent value of spot matched trades transacted between a buyer and seller through our platform during the period of measurement. Trading Volume represents the product of the quantity of assets transacted and the trade price at the time the transaction was executed. As trading activity directly impacts transaction revenue, we believe this measure is a reflection of liquidity on our order books, trading health, and the underlying growth of the cryptoeconomy.

Generally, Trading Volume on our platform is primarily influenced by the price of crypto assets, crypto asset volatility, and macroeconomic conditions. In periods of high crypto asset prices and crypto asset volatility, we have experienced correspondingly high levels of Trading Volume on our platform.

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Our Trading Volume in future periods will depend on the relative availability and adoption of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other crypto assets.

Year Ended December 31,% Change
20232022202120232022
Trading Volume (in billions):
Consumer$75$167$535(55)(69)
Institutional3936631,136(41)(42)
Total$468$830$1,671(44)(50)
Trading Volume by crypto asset:
Bitcoin34%29%24%1721
Ethereum202521(20)19
USDT(1)11nmnmnmnm
Other crypto assets354655(24)(16)
Total(2)100%100%100%
Transaction revenue by crypto asset:
Bitcoin35%29%25%2116
Ethereum172221(23)5
Other crypto assets484954(2)(9)
Total(2)100%100%100%

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(1)USDT is a stablecoin issued by Tether Operations Limited.

(2)Figures presented above may not sum precisely due to rounding.

For the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, Trading Volume declined primarily due to a reduction in Crypto Asset Volatility1 of 43%, while crypto market capitalization remained resilient during the year ended December 31, 2023. The decline in volatility was a result of overall degraded crypto market sentiment, regulatory uncertainty, bank failures, and market shock events like the temporary de-pegging of USDC in March 2023, as well as an overall reduction in liquidity. Increases in the prices of various crypto assets during the fourth quarter of 2023 also impacted crypto asset volatility, overall industry trading volume, and more specifically our Trading Volume and transaction revenues. Partially offsetting these volume declines, USDT volume was elevated, largely due to de-pegging events which drove higher activity in secondary markets such as our trading platform.

For the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, Trading Volume declined primarily due to decreased crypto market capitalization, reflecting decreased average crypto asset prices in general. The year 2022 and late 2021 saw trends of both lower crypto asset prices and a decrease of 32% in Crypto Asset Volatility for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 2021 driven by weaker macroeconomic conditions. Weakening market conditions were further exacerbated by two events in 2022. The first was the de-pegging of $LUNA which contributed to an approximately 60% crypto market capitalization decline in the second quarter of 2022 and ultimately drove the credit related bankruptcies of Three Arrows Capital, Voyager, and Celsius. The second event was the collapse of FTX in the fourth quarter of 2022, which drove additional credit related bankruptcies. These events contributed to an overall crypto market capitalization decline of 64% or approximately $1.5 trillion of value lost in 2022 which in turn

1 Crypto Asset Volatility represents our internal measure of crypto asset volatility in the market relative to prior periods. The volatility is based on intraday returns of a volume-weighted basket of all assets listed on our trading platform. These returns are used to compute the basket’s intraday volatility which is then scaled to a daily window. These daily volatility values are then averaged over the applicable time period as needed.

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impacted overall industry trading volume and more specifically our Trading Volume and transaction revenues.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, no asset other than Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT individually represented more than 10% of our Trading Volume and no asset other than Bitcoin and Ethereum individually represented more than 10% of our transaction revenue. During the year ended December 31, 2022, no asset other than Bitcoin or Ethereum individually represented more than 10% of either our Trading Volume or transaction revenue.

Components of Results of Operations

Revenue

We generate revenue from transactions, subscription and services, and other activities. The vast majority of our total revenue is generated in the United States, based on the domicile of the customers. No other country accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue during the periods presented.

Net revenue

Transaction revenue

We provide a trade matching service for users to buy, sell, or convert crypto assets through our platform. This trading activity is the primary source of our transaction revenue and core to the service we offer. Transaction revenue is generated primarily from transaction fees applied to spot trades that are executed by both consumer and institutional customers on our platform. The transaction fee earned is based on the price and quantity of the crypto asset that is bought, sold, or converted. Transaction revenue is recognized at the time the transaction is processed. Transaction revenue is directly correlated with Trading Volume, which is driven by the number of spot trade transactions processed on our platform. Institutional customers incur lower fees per transaction than consumer customers and, as a result, the impact of changes in consumer Trading Volume on transaction revenue is more pronounced than changes in institutional Trading Volume. In addition, changes in our pricing and mix between types of transactions will affect transaction revenue. See the section titled “—Key Business Metrics—Trading Volume” above for more information on our Trading Volume metric.

Subscription and services revenue

Subscription and services revenue primarily consists of:

•Stablecoin revenue: As a platform that facilitates crypto asset transactions, we derive stablecoin revenue from our arrangement with the issuer of USDC. We earn a pro rata portion of income earned on USDC reserves based on the amount of USDC held on each respective party’s platform, and from the distribution and usage of USDC after certain expenses. Income derived by us from this arrangement is dependent on various factors including the balance of USDC on our platform, the total market capitalization of USDC, and the prevailing interest rate environment.

•Blockchain rewards: We operate a proof-of-stake service that enables customers to stake eligible crypto assets and validate transactions on certain blockchain networks. This allows customers to earn rewards from the networks while maintaining ownership of their assets. We earn commission revenue from staking rewards received by customers that is calculated as a percentage of the amounts distributed.

•Interest income: We hold customer custodial funds and cash and cash equivalents at certain third-party banks which earn interest. Customers custodial funds balances vary depending on Trading Volume. As consumer Trading Volume increases, we generally see an increase in customer custodial funds on our platform. This revenue is also dependent on the prevailing interest rate environment. Additionally, we earn interest income on loans issued to our consumer and institutional customers. This interest income is dependent on total loans issued to customers

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and the prevailing interest rate environment. Interest earned on customer custodial funds and loans is included in interest income within subscription and services revenue, while interest earned on our corporate cash and cash equivalents is included in corporate interest and other income, within other revenue.

•Custodial fee revenue: We derive custodial fee revenue based on a percentage of the daily value of customer crypto assets that we hold under custody in our dedicated cold storage solution. The value of crypto assets held under custody is driven by the quantity, price, and type of crypto asset. Our custodial fee revenue is further dependent on the fee rates we charge to our customers.

•Other: Other subscription and services revenue primarily comprises revenue from: Coinbase One; Coinbase Cloud, which includes staking application, delegation, and infrastructure services; Prime Financing; and revenue from other subscription licenses.

Other revenue

Other revenue includes interest income earned on our corporate cash and cash equivalents. Interest income is calculated using the interest method and depends on the balance of cash and cash equivalents as well as the prevailing interest rate environment. Other revenue also includes the sale of crypto assets when we are the principal in the transaction, which occur primarily as a result of unanticipated system disruptions.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses consist of transaction expense, technology and development, sales and marketing, general and administrative, restructuring, crypto asset impairment, net, and other operating expense, net. Personnel-related expense in all of these categories includes employee cash and stock-based compensation expense.

Transaction expense

Transaction expense includes costs directly associated with revenues. For transaction revenues, these expenses include costs to operate our platform, process crypto asset trades, and perform wallet services. For subscription and services revenues, the primary expenses are the rewards distributed to users for staking their assets. Fixed-fee costs are expensed over the term of the contract and transaction-level costs are expensed as incurred.

Our transaction expenses as a percentage of revenue will vary depending on the composition of our revenue. For example, if interest income and stablecoin revenue increase as a percentage of net revenue, transaction expenses as a percentage of net revenue will decrease as there are no transaction expenses directly attributed to these revenues. Conversely, if blockchain rewards increase as a percentage of net revenue, transaction expenses as a percentage of net revenue will increase since the majority of blockchain rewards revenue is distributed to the customer. Additionally, transaction expenses can be impacted by the commission or fee we charge for staking our customers’ assets, as well as by transaction reversal losses.

Technology and development

Technology and development expenses comprise mainly personnel-related expenses incurred in operating, maintaining, and enhancing our platform and in developing new products and services. These costs also include website hosting and infrastructure expenses, and the amortization of internally developed and acquired developed technology. Certain costs of developing new products and services are capitalized to property and equipment, net.

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Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing expenses primarily include personnel-related expenses, marketing programs costs, and costs related to customer acquisition. Sales and marketing costs are expensed as incurred.

General and administrative

General and administrative expenses include personnel-related expenses incurred to support our business, including executive, customer support, compliance, finance, human resources, legal, and other support operations. These expenses also include costs of professional services and software subscriptions for support services.

Crypto asset impairment, net

Crypto asset impairment, net represents gross impairments recorded on crypto assets held, net of subsequent realized gains on the sale and disposal of previously impaired crypto assets held.

Restructuring

Restructuring expenses comprise separation pay, stock-based compensation, and other personnel costs related to reductions in our headcount. For more information, see Note 3. Restructuring of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Other operating expense, net

Other operating expense, net includes fair value gains and losses related to derivatives and derivatives designated in qualifying fair value hedge accounting relationships, as well as platform-related incidents and losses. Because these components fluctuate with market conditions, other operating expense, net can vary widely between periods. From time to time we may make political contributions, which also get captured within other operating expense, net.

Interest expense

Interest expense on debt includes coupon interest expense, as well as amortization of debt discounts and debt issuance costs.

Other (income) expense, net

Other (income) expense, net includes the following items:

•net gains on the repurchase of certain of our long-term debt;

•realized foreign exchange impacts resulting from the settlement of our foreign currency assets and liabilities, and unrealized foreign exchange impacts resulting from remeasurement of transactions and monetary assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies;

•impairment recognized on certain strategic equity investments in privately held companies without readily determinable fair values and gains and losses on investments, net, which consists primarily of realized and unrealized gains and losses from fair value adjustments; and

•unrealized gains and losses from fair value adjustments on certain financial instruments.

Because the majority of these components are generally variable based on changes in market conditions, they can vary widely from period to period.

Benefit from income taxes

Benefit from income taxes includes income taxes related to foreign jurisdictions and U.S. federal and state income taxes.

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Results of Operations

The following table summarizes the historical consolidated statements of operations data (in thousands) and each component as a percentage of total revenue:

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
$%(1)$%(1)$%(1)
Revenue:
Net revenue$2,926,54094$3,148,81599$7,354,75394
Other revenue181,843645,3931484,6916
Total revenue3,108,3831003,194,2081007,839,444100
Operating expenses:
Transaction expense420,70514629,880201,267,92416
Technology and development1,324,541432,326,354731,291,56116
Sales and marketing332,31211510,08916663,6899
General and administrative1,041,308331,600,58650909,39212
Crypto asset impairment, net(34,675)(1)722,21123153,1602
Restructuring142,594540,7031
Other operating expense, net43,260174,5932477,1486
Total operating expenses3,270,0451055,904,4161854,762,87461
Operating (loss) income(161,662)(5)(2,710,208)(85)3,076,57039
Interest expense82,766388,901329,160
Other (income) expense, net(167,583)(5)265,473820,463
(Loss) income before income taxes(76,845)(2)(3,064,582)(96)3,026,94739
Benefit from income taxes(171,716)(6)(439,633)(14)(597,173)(7)
Net income (loss)$94,8713$(2,624,949)(82)$3,624,12046

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(1)Percentage of total revenue. Figures presented above may not sum precisely due to rounding.

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021

Revenue

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Transaction revenue$1,519,654$2,356,244$6,837,266$(836,590)(36)$(4,481,022)(66)
Subscription and services revenue1,406,886792,571517,487614,31578275,08453
Other revenue181,84345,393484,691136,450301(439,298)(91)
Total revenue$3,108,383$3,194,208$7,839,444$(85,825)(3)$(4,645,236)(59)

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we generated 88%, 84% and 81%, respectively, of total revenue in the United States. No other country accounted for more than 10% of total revenue during the years presented.

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Transaction revenue

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Consumer, net$1,429,490$2,236,900$6,490,992$(807,410)(36)$(4,254,092)(66)
Institutional, net90,164119,344346,274(29,180)(24)(226,930)(66)
Total transaction revenue$1,519,654$2,356,244$6,837,266$(836,590)(36)$(4,481,022)(66)

Transaction revenue declined for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to:

•a $1.2 billion reduction in consumer transaction revenue attributed to a corresponding 55% decrease in consumer Trading Volume. This decrease was offset in part by an increase of $418.8 million attributed to changes in customer mix towards trades which have higher fees and pricing changes as we increased the spread on certain types of consumer trades in 2023, which led to an overall increase in average blended fee rate of 41%.

Transaction revenue declined for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to:

•a $4.5 billion reduction in consumer transaction revenue attributed to a corresponding 69% decrease in consumer Trading Volume. This decrease was offset in part by an increase of $222.9 million attributed to changes in customer mix towards trades which have higher fees and pricing changes as we increased the spread on certain types of consumer trades in 2022, which led to an overall increase in average blended fee rate of 11%; and

•a decrease of $144.0 million in institutional transaction revenue attributed to a decline in institutional Trading Volume of 42%, as well as a decrease of $82.9 million driven by lower fees associated with our market maker program, which led to an overall decrease in average blended fee rate of 41%.

Subscription and services revenue

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Stablecoin revenue$694,247$245,710$9,882$448,537183$235,828nm
Blockchain rewards330,885275,507223,05555,3782052,45224
Interest income173,91481,24615,95392,66811465,293409
Custodial fee revenue69,50179,847136,293(10,346)(13)(56,446)(41)
Other subscription and services revenue138,339110,261132,30428,07825(22,043)(17)
Total subscription and services revenue$1,406,886$792,571$517,487$614,31578$275,08453

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Subscription and services revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to:

•higher stablecoin revenue attributable to higher average earned interest rates on USDC reserves, which rose 325 basis points or 217.5%;

•an increase in blockchain rewards from higher staked balances for certain assets resulting primarily from increased user participation in reward generating activities;

•an increase of $229.6 million in interest income generated on customer custodial cash, reflecting higher average earned interest rates, which were up 295 basis points or 343%. This was offset in part by a $133.7 million decline due to lower average balances of customer custodial cash. These balances decreased 45% attributable to crypto market sentiment discussed in the section titled “—Key Business Metrics” above; and

•a decrease in custodial fee revenue, primarily due to a decline in average assets under custody of $3.6 billion, as price effects drove down the value of assets under custody.

There were no material changes to note within other subscription and services revenue.

Subscription and services revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to:

•higher stablecoin revenue attributable to higher average earned interest rates on USDC reserves, which rose 136 basis points or 969%;

•an increase in blockchain rewards due to the addition of new assets available for staking; and

•an increase in interest income generated on customer custodial cash attributable to higher average earned interest rates, which were up 78 basis points or 975%; offset in part by

•a decrease in custodial fee revenue, primarily due to a decrease in average assets under custody of $48.3 billion, as price effects drove down the value of assets under custody.

There were no material changes to note within other subscription and services revenue.

Other revenue

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Corporate interest and other income$181,827$44,768$2,141$137,059306$42,627nm
Crypto asset sales revenue16625482,550(609)(97)$(481,925)(100)
Total other revenue$181,843$45,393$484,691$136,450301$(439,298)(91)

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Other revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to higher corporate interest and other income, as average earned interest rates on corporate balances rose 278 basis points or 157%.

Other revenue decreased for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to higher crypto asset sales in 2021 as a result of unanticipated system disruptions.

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Operating expenses

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Transaction expense$420,705$629,880$1,267,924$(209,175)(33)$(638,044)(50)
Technology and development1,324,5412,326,3541,291,561(1,001,813)(43)1,034,79380
Sales and marketing332,312510,089663,689(177,777)(35)(153,600)(23)
General and administrative1,041,3081,600,586909,392(559,278)(35)691,19476
Crypto asset impairment, net(34,675)722,211153,160(756,886)(105)569,051372
Restructuring142,59440,703101,89125040,703
Other operating expense, net43,26074,593477,148(31,333)(42)(402,555)(84)
Total operating expenses$3,270,045$5,904,416$4,762,874$(2,634,371)(45)$1,141,54224

There were material trends of decreased operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 following increased operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021. In early 2023, we set a financial objective to generate positive Adjusted EBITDA in all crypto market conditions. This goal led us to materially reduce our operating expenses in 2023 as compared to 2022. We plan to be nimble and dynamically increase or decrease our expense base in accordance with overall macro market conditions and revenue opportunities to achieve our goal of positive Adjusted EBITDA. In the first quarter of 2024, we expect modest growth in technology and development and general and administrative as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. In addition, we also expect a modest decline in sales and marketing expenses compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

Transaction expense

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Blockchain rewards fees$229,851$202,480$146,769$27,37114$55,71138
Payment processing and account verification73,816194,044341,013(120,228)(62)(146,969)(43)
Transaction reversal losses51,50193,886233,832(42,385)(45)(139,946)(60)
Miner fees49,789131,714542,889(81,925)(62)(411,175)(76)
Other15,7487,7563,4217,9921034,335127
Total transaction expense$420,705$629,880$1,267,924$(209,175)(33)$(638,044)(50)

Transaction expense decreased for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to:

•an increase in blockchain rewards largely due to higher staked balances; offset by

•a decrease in payment processing and account verification expenses, mainly due to a decline in Trading Volume of 44%;

•a decrease in transaction reversal losses as a result of the lower Trading Volumes noted above, combined with our efforts to reduce reversals through optimization of our fraud monitoring processes; and

•a decrease in miner fees as a result of optimizations in onchain activity.

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Transaction expense decreased for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to:

◦an increase in blockchain rewards as a result of the addition of new assets available for staking; offset by

◦a decrease in payment processing and account verification expenses, driven primarily by a decline in Trading Volume of 50%;

◦a decrease in transaction reversal losses as a result of the lower Trading Volumes noted above, combined with our efforts to reduce reversals through optimization of our fraud monitoring processes; and

◦a decrease in miner fees driven by a decrease in blockchain transmission volume.

Technology and development expense

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Personnel-related$936,881$1,638,685$958,387$(701,804)(43)$680,29871
Website hosting and infrastructure expenses192,009439,798241,740(247,789)(56)198,05882
Amortization expense111,336121,53438,112(10,198)(8)83,422219
Other84,315126,33753,322(42,022)(33)73,015137
Total technology and development expenses$1,324,541$2,326,354$1,291,561$(1,001,813)(43)$1,034,79380

Technology and development expenses decreased for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, primarily due to:

•lower personnel-related expenses, driven by a 24% decrease in average headcount following our workforce reduction in January 2023. This decrease in headcount reduced personnel-related expenses by $454.2 million, and included the impact of stock-based compensation. Further, stock-based compensation decreased by an additional $247.6 million due to the roll-off of non-recurring multi-year stock-based compensation awards; and

•a decrease in website hosting and infrastructure expenses due to our investments in more efficient and modern infrastructure and architecture, both in our customer-facing products and internal tooling.

There were no material changes to note within amortization expense or other.

Technology and development expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to:

•higher personnel-related expenses, including a $518.9 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, reflecting an 87% increase in average headcount and the full-year impact of equity instruments issued in conjunction with business combinations that occurred throughout 2021 and early in 2022;

•a $143.0 million increase in website hosting costs as we continued to invest in our products and platform, and a $55.1 million increase in software licenses driven by the increase in average headcount; and

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•an increase in amortization expense, related to amortization of capitalized software and assembled workforce.

There were no material changes to note within other.

Sales and marketing expense

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Personnel-related$143,762$146,157$86,555$(2,395)(2)$59,60269
Marketing programs119,494292,770474,773(173,276)(59)(182,003)(38)
Other69,05671,162102,361(2,106)(3)(31,199)(30)
Total sales and marketing expenses$332,312$510,089$663,689$(177,777)(35)$(153,600)(23)

Sales and marketing expenses decreased for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, primarily due to:

•reduced media and brand spend as we actively lowered our investment given the decline in year-over-year revenue.

There were no material changes to note within personnel-related expenses and other.

Sales and marketing expenses decreased for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to:

•higher personnel-related expenses, including a $41.2 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, due to a 109% increase in average headcount; offset by

•a decrease in marketing programs, primarily due to a $316.5 million reduction in digital advertising spend due to lower investment in paid media, offset in part by $128.7 million higher offline and brand spend; and

•a decrease of $32.4 million in referral and promotion fees related to marketing initiatives such as sweepstakes and incentivized campaigns, included within other.

General and administrative expense

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Personnel-related (excluding customer support)$498,626$614,661$384,065$(116,035)(19)$230,59660
Customer support133,726476,351186,285(342,625)(72)290,066156
Professional services168,731150,69579,65918,0361271,03689
Other240,225358,879259,383(118,654)(33)99,49638
Total general and administrative expenses$1,041,308$1,600,586$909,392$(559,278)(35)$691,19476

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General and administrative expenses decreased for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, primarily due to:

•a decrease in personnel-related expenses (excluding customer support), driven primarily by a 17% decrease in average headcount, as a result of the workforce reduction in January 2023;

•a decrease in customer support costs, reflecting $242.7 million of reductions in costs of managed services to support compliance operations and customer experience, driven by automation and an overall reduction in capacity needs that we built in 2022, and a decrease of $99.9 million in customer support personnel-related expenses resulting from the workforce reduction discussed above; and

•a decrease in other general and administrative expenses, largely driven by $37.2 million in lower taxes, licenses, and fees, as the prior year included incremental costs related to the application of certain indirect tax rules, as well as a $50.0 million one-time cost accrual related to the settlement with NYDFS in 2022.

General and administrative expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021, primarily due to:

•an increase in personnel-related expenses excluding customer support, driven primarily by a 92% increase in average headcount;

•an increase in customer support costs, reflecting a $198.8 million increase in costs of managed services to support compliance operations and customer experience, as a result of increased capacity needs to address backlogs from 2021, and an increase of $91.3 million in customer support personnel-related expenses;

•an increase in professional services, reflecting $32.9 million in higher legal fees related to litigation, regulatory, and compliance and an increase of $30.2 million in business consulting; and

•an increase in other general and administrative expenses, largely driven by $75.1 million in higher settlement costs, which included a $50.0 million accrual related to the settlement with NYDFS, and $22.1 million in incremental software license costs to support business, security, and risk applications, partially offset by a decrease of $39.2 million in costs associated with our Direct Listing in 2021.

Crypto asset impairment, net

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Gross crypto asset impairment expense$96,783$757,257$329,152$(660,474)(87)$428,105130
Recoveries(131,458)(35,046)(175,992)(96,412)275140,946(80)
Total crypto asset impairment, net$(34,675)$722,211$153,160$(756,886)(105)$569,051372

Crypto asset impairment expense, net decreased during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, driven by gross crypto asset impairments in the prior year from the challenging crypto market conditions discussed in the section titled “—Key Business Metrics” above, which resulted in lower carrying values of crypto assets held in the current year. These impairments were offset in part by higher expense recoveries as we sold previously impaired assets at recovered prices.

Crypto asset impairment, net increased during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to

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2021, as higher impairment expense was recognized in 2022 as a result of the challenging crypto market conditions discussed in the section titled “—Key Business Metrics” above. Additionally, lower subsequent crypto asset sales and disposals of previously impaired assets led to decreased impairment recoveries recognized in 2022.

Effective January 1, 2024 we adopted Accounting Standard Update 2023-08, Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets (“ASU 2023-08”) which will change how we value crypto assets held, as we will be required to recognize such assets at fair value with changes recognized in net income each reporting period.

Restructuring expense

Restructuring expense was $142.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and was driven by separation pay, stock-based compensation expense relating to the acceleration of the vesting of outstanding equity awards in accordance with the terms of such awards, and other personnel costs related to the workforce reduction in January 2023.

Restructuring expense was $40.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and was driven by separation pay and other personnel costs related to the workforce reduction in June 2022 and the subsequent release of accruals of certain costs related thereto that were not utilized.

There was no restructuring expense for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Other operating expense, net

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Platform-related incidents and losses$15,717$80,916$61,732$(65,199)(81)$19,18431
Gains on derivatives(17,127)(12,625)(21,329)(4,502)368,704(41)
Customer accommodation transaction costs16529435,971(513)(97)(435,442)(100)
Other44,6545,77377438,8816734,999646
Total other operating expense, net$43,260$74,593$477,148$(31,333)(42)$(402,555)(84)

Changes in other operating expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily reflect:

•lower platform-related incidents and losses as a result of implementing stronger monitoring processes and controls to mitigate incidents on our platform; and

•an increase of $33.0 million related to political contributions included within other.

There were no material changes to note within gains on derivatives and customer accommodation transaction costs.

Changes in other operating expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily reflect:

•lower customer accommodation transactions costs, as 2021 included incremental crypto assets sold as a result of unanticipated system disruptions.

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There were no material changes to note within platform-related incidents and losses, gains on derivatives, and other.

Interest expense

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Interest expense$82,766$88,901$29,160$(6,135)(7)$59,741205

There were no material changes in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022. The increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021 was primarily due to a full-year impact of interest expense recognized on our 2026 Convertible Notes that were issued in May 2021 and our Senior Notes that were issued in September 2021.

Other (income) expense, net

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Foreign exchange losses, net$10,609$161,749$40,989$(151,140)(93)$120,760295
(Gains) losses on strategic investments(24,368)101,219(19,602)(125,587)(124)120,821(616)
Gain on extinguishment of long-term debt(117,383)(117,383)100
Other(36,441)2,505(924)(38,946)nm3,429(371)
Total other (income) expense, net$(167,583)$265,473$20,463$(433,056)(163)$245,010nm

__________________

nm - not meaningful

Other (income) expense, net changed for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, primarily due to:

•a decrease in net foreign exchange losses due to improvement in foreign exchange risk management;

•net gains on strategic investments driven by a gain of $49.9 million resulting from an equity investment transaction with Circle US Holdings, Inc. in 2023 and a decrease in the amount of impairment expense recognized on certain strategic equity investments;

•a gain on the repurchase of certain of our 2026 Convertible Notes and Senior Notes during 2023. See Note 14. Indebtedness of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information; and

•a decrease in other driven by the inclusion of a $26.9 million unrealized gain in 2023 related to fair value adjustments on certain financial instruments.

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Other (income) expense, net changed for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021, primarily due to:

•an increase in net foreign exchange losses due to the timing of Euro denominated intercompany settlements and an 11% and 10% depreciation of the average exchange rates for the Euro and the British Pound, respectively, against the U.S. dollar in 2022, and realized losses on foreign exchange forward derivative contracts of $59.1 million; and

•an increase in the amount of impairment expense recognized on certain strategic equity investments.

There were no material changes to note within other.

Benefit from income taxes

Year Ended December 31,Change
20232022
202320222021$%$%
(in thousands)(in thousands)(in thousands)
Benefit from income taxes$(171,716)$(439,633)$(597,173)$267,917(61)$157,540(26)

The benefit from income taxes decreased for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to lower tax benefits from a reduction of pretax loss, partially offset by a reduction in the valuation allowance recorded on impairment charges and additional tax benefits for stock-based compensation.

The benefit from income taxes decreased for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to a reduction in tax benefits relating to stock-based compensation and research and development credits, and a valuation allowance recorded on impairment charges, offset by an increase in tax benefit on pretax loss.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, we believe Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, is useful in evaluating our operating performance. We use Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to Adjusted EBITDA rather than net income (loss), which is the nearest GAAP equivalent of Adjusted EBITDA. Some of these limitations are Adjusted EBITDA excludes:

•benefit from income taxes;

•interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt, which reduces cash available to us;

•depreciation and intangible assets amortization expense and, although these are non-cash expenses, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future;

•stock-based compensation expense, which has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense for our business and an important part of our compensation strategy;

•other impairment expense, which represents impairment on property and equipment and intangible assets and is infrequent in nature and is a non-cash adjustment;

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•non-recurring accrued legal contingencies, settlements, and related costs, which reduces cash available to us;

•non-recurring expenses related to our Direct Listing in April 2021;

•impairment on crypto assets still held, net, represents impairment on crypto assets still held and is a non-cash expense, which has been recurring, and may in the future recur, although the crypto assets impaired may be sold in the future at a price at or higher than the price the assets have been impaired to;

•the impact of restructuring, which is infrequent and not related to normal operations but impacted our results in 2022 and 2023;

•the impact of fair value gain or loss on derivatives, a non-cash expense, which has been recurring, and may in the future recur;

•the impact of crypto asset borrowing costs, a non-cash expense, which is similar in nature to interest expense on our crypto asset borrowings, which has been recurring, and may in the future recur;

•gain on extinguishment of long-term debt due to repurchases prior to maturity, a non-cash adjustment, which has been recurring, and may in the future recur;

•gain or loss on investments, which represents net gains on investments and impairment on investments, net, a non-cash expense, which has been recurring, and may in the future recur, although the impaired investments may be sold in the future at a price lower, at or higher than the price the assets have been impaired to;

•the impact of unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses and fair value adjustments on foreign exchange derivatives for hedging activities, non-cash adjustments, which have been recurring, and may in the future recur; and

•a non-recurring fee and write-off related to an early lease termination, a non-recurring accrual for value-added tax related to our Irish operations, and non-cash unrealized gains or losses on contingent consideration, which we have consolidated into the line item “other adjustments, net” because they are not material individually.

In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our disclosure of Adjusted EBITDA as a tool for comparison. A reconciliation is provided below for Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure stated, in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measure and the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net loss or income, adjusted to exclude provision for or benefit from income taxes, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, other impairment expense, non-recurring accrued legal contingencies, settlements, and related costs, non-recurring Direct Listing expenses, impairment on crypto assets still held, net, restructuring, fair value gain or loss on derivatives, crypto asset borrowing costs, gain on extinguishment of long-term debt, net, loss or gain on investments, net, unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, and other adjustments, net.

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The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
(in thousands)
Net income (loss)$94,871$(2,624,949)$3,624,120
Adjusted to exclude the following:
Benefit from income taxes(171,716)(439,633)(597,173)
Interest expense82,76688,90129,160
Depreciation and amortization139,642154,06963,651
Stock-based compensation780,6681,565,823820,685
Other impairment expense18,79326,518500
Non-recurring accrued legal contingencies, settlements, and related costs15,00064,2501,500
Non-recurring Direct Listing expenses39,160
Impairment on crypto assets still held, net29,481592,495119,421
Restructuring142,59440,703
Fair value (gain) loss on derivatives(41,033)7,410(32,056)
Crypto asset borrowing costs4,8076,67511,847
Gain on extinguishment of long-term debt, net(117,383)
(Gain) loss on investments, net(20,826)101,445
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)17,19028,516(14,944)
Other adjustments, net(11,200)16,37924,200
Adjusted EBITDA$963,654$(371,398)$4,090,071

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents and USDC will be sufficient in both the short and long term to meet our requirements and plans for cash, including meeting our working capital and capital expenditure requirements. Our ability to meet our requirements and plans for cash, including meeting our working capital and capital expenditure requirements, will depend on many factors, including market acceptance of crypto assets and blockchain technology, our growth, our ability to attract and retain customers on our platform, the continuing market acceptance of our products and services, the introduction of new subscription products and services on our platform, expansion of sales and marketing activities, and overall economic conditions. We anticipate satisfying our short-term cash requirements with our existing cash and cash equivalents and USDC and may satisfy our long-term cash requirements with cash and cash equivalents and USDC on hand or with proceeds from a future equity or debt financing.

To the extent that current and anticipated future sources of liquidity are insufficient to fund our future business activities and cash and other requirements, we may be required to seek additional equity or debt financing. The sale of additional equity would result in additional dilution to our stockholders. The incurrence of additional debt financing would result in debt service obligations and the instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. As a result of our credit rating downgrade, our ability to raise additional financing from external sources in the future may be adversely affected and we may not be able to raise capital on terms acceptable to us or at all. In addition, even if debt financing is available, the cost of additional financing may be significantly higher than our current debt.

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Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and USDC

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and USDC balances consisted of the following (in thousands):

December 31,December 31,
20232022
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents(1)$3,682,917$2,250,065
Cash held at banks1,367,6432,031,749
Cash held at venues(2)88,791143,207
Total cash and cash equivalents$5,139,351$4,425,021
Restricted cash(3)$22,992$25,873
USDC(4)576,028861,149

__________________

(1)    Cash equivalents consists of money market funds denominated in U.S. dollars.

(2)    Venues include other crypto asset trading platforms that hold money transmitter licenses and payment processors. This amount excludes $4.7 million and $1.6 million of cash that is subject to restrictions on withdrawal as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(3)    Restricted cash consists primarily of amounts held in restricted bank accounts at certain third-party banks as security deposits.

(4)    USDC is a stablecoin redeemable on a one-to-one basis for U.S. dollars. While not accounted for as cash or cash equivalents, we treat our USDC holdings as a liquidity resource.

Debt

In September 2021, we issued $2.0 billion in Senior Notes consisting of $1.0 billion of 2028 Senior Notes due on October 1, 2028 and $1.0 billion of 2031 Senior Notes due on October 1, 2031. In May 2021, we issued an aggregate of $1.4 billion of 2026 Convertible Notes that mature on June 1, 2026, unless converted, redeemed or repurchased on an earlier date. We periodically issue short-term debt to support certain business operations.

As market conditions warrant, we may, from time to time, repurchase our outstanding debt securities in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, by exchange transaction or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity and other factors and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved and total consideration paid may be material. In 2023, we repurchased $427.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding debt securities for cash payments aggregating $303.5 million. Following the close of these transactions, the remaining outstanding principal balance of the 2026 Convertible Notes, 2028 Senior Notes, and 2031 Senior Notes was approximately $1.3 billion, $1.0 billion, and $0.7 billion, respectively, for a total remaining outstanding principal balance of $3.0 billion as of December 31, 2023.

See Notes 12. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities and 14. Indebtedness of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information regarding our short and long-term borrowings, respectively.

In January 2023, S&P Global Ratings announced a downgrade of our issuer credit rating and senior unsecured debt from BB to BB-, and Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) announced a downgrade of our Corporate Family Rating (“CFR”) to B2 from Ba3 and downgraded our guaranteed senior unsecured notes to B1 from Ba2. As of December 31, 2023, our credit ratings with S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s remain unchanged from these downgraded levels.

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Crypto assets

We hold crypto assets for investment, operating and borrowing purposes. Our future earnings and cash flows will be impacted when we choose to monetize our crypto assets and the variability of our earnings on these transactions will be dependent on the future fair value of such crypto assets. We have limited ability to predict whether the sale of crypto assets received from airdrops or forks will be material to our future earnings, which is dependent on the future market liquidity, viability and fair value of such crypto assets. Our current policy is not to monetize unsupported forks or airdrops held on our platform. Crypto assets received through airdrops and forks, at the time of the airdrop or fork and at the end of the periods presented, are not material to our financial statements.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the carrying value and fair values of our crypto assets held were as follows (in thousands):

December 31,December 31,
20232022
Carrying ValueFair Value(2)Carrying ValueFair Value(2)
Recorded at Cost(1)Recorded at Fair ValueRecorded at Cost(1)Recorded at Fair Value
Crypto assets held as investments:
Bitcoin(3)$126,614$$388,326$21,837$89,716$151,792
Ethereum(3)129,131272,41147,53143,700138,714
Solana6,61161,1662,7102,884
Other68,254306,06083,173132,879
Total held as investments330,6101,027,963155,251133,416426,269
Crypto assets held for operating purposes:
Bitcoin7,2439,0065,3905,833
Ethereum15,77520,17624,40525,796
Solana10,27511,6251,7672,057
Other40,81071,61736,01557,070
Total held for operating purposes74,103112,42467,57790,756
Crypto assets borrowed:
Bitcoin36,36836,36868,14968,149
Ethereum3,7203,720
Solana3,5163,516
Other1,6081,608
Total borrowed45,21245,21268,14968,149
Total crypto assets held$404,713$45,212$1,185,599$222,828$201,565$585,174

__________________

(1)Cost amounts shown are net of impairment recognized.

(2)The fair value of crypto assets held is the fair value of assets recorded at cost plus assets recorded at fair value and is based on quoted market prices for one unit of each crypto asset reported on our platform at 11:59 pm Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on the last day of the respective period multiplied by the quantity of each crypto asset held.

(3)During the fourth quarter of 2022, we entered into futures contracts to hedge our price exposure on crypto assets held as investments. These contracts were closed out during the first quarter of 2023. As of December 31, 2022, the cost and fair value amounts for Bitcoin were $89.9 million and $85.8 million, respectively, and the cost and fair value amounts for Ethereum were $43.7 million and $50.8 million, respectively.

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Crypto assets held as investments

We view our crypto asset investments as long term holdings and we do not plan to engage in regular trading of crypto assets. From time to time, we may enter into derivatives or other financial instruments in an attempt to hedge our price exposure on our crypto assets held as investments. During times of instability in the market of crypto assets, we may not be able to sell our crypto assets at reasonable prices or at all. As a result, our crypto assets are less liquid than our cash and cash equivalents and may not be able to serve as a source of liquidity for us to the same extent as cash and cash equivalents. Customer accommodations and corporate expenses denominated in crypto assets are fulfilled with crypto assets held for operational purposes. We recognized $34.0 million and $501.0 million of gross impairment expense on our crypto asset investment portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Crypto assets held for operating purposes

We use crypto assets to fulfill corporate expenses denominated in crypto assets, including miner fees, staking rewards, promotional and marketing expenses, and other various expenses totaling $298.3 million and $383.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We recognized $62.8 million and $256.2 million of gross impairment expense on our crypto asset operating portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Crypto assets borrowed and related collateral

We borrow fiat and crypto assets from eligible institutional customers. These borrowings are generally open-term or have a term of less than one year. Such activities are not material to our business. We are required to maintain a collateral to loan ratio per our borrowing agreements. Any significant change in crypto asset prices could impact the value of the crypto asset borrowed or the value of crypto asset collateral. Recent downward trends in crypto asset prices have not had a material impact on the value of our corporate collateral. If crypto asset prices rise, we will post additional collateral to maintain required collateral loan ratios. We were in compliance with all collateral requirements as of December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the balance of our assets that we have pledged as collateral on our borrowings consisted of the following (in thousands, except units):

December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
UnitsFair ValueUnitsFair Value
Asset
USDC51,879,705$51,88047,633,897$47,634
Bitcoin65010,743
FiatN/A1,191N/A41,630
Total$53,071$100,007

Our business model does not expose us to liquidity risk if we have excessive redemptions or withdrawals from customers. We do not use customer crypto assets as collateral for any loan, margin, rehypothecation, or other similar activities without their consent to which we or our affiliates are a party, and we did not have any such arrangements as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, we have not experienced excessive redemptions or withdrawals, or prolonged suspended redemptions or withdrawals, of crypto assets to date. See Risk Factors–Depositing and withdrawing crypto assets into and from our platform involves risks, which could result in loss of customer assets, customer disputes and other liabilities, which could adversely impact our business included in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.

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Cash requirements and contractual obligations

Certain jurisdictions where we operate require us to hold eligible liquid assets, as defined by applicable regulatory requirements and commercial law in these jurisdictions, equal to at least 100% of the aggregate amount of all customer custodial cash liabilities. Depending on the jurisdiction, eligible liquid assets can include cash and cash equivalents, customer custodial cash, and in-transit customer receivables. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, our eligible liquid assets were greater than the aggregate amount of customer custodial cash liabilities. We are also required to hold corporate liquid assets at our subsidiaries to meet capital requirements established by our regulators based on the value of crypto assets held in custody. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with these capital requirements.

As of December 31, 2023, our material cash requirements and contractual obligations arising in the normal course of business due within the next 12 months and in total consisted of the following (in thousands):

Amounts Due
Next 12 MonthsTotal
Operating leases(1)$11,235$15,151
Non-cancelable purchase obligations(2)245,011479,226
2026 Convertible Notes(3)
Interest6,36515,930
Principal1,273,013
2028 Senior Notes(4)
Interest33,750168,750
Principal1,000,000
2031 Senior Notes(4)
Interest26,733213,863
Principal737,457
Other(5)10,57310,573
Total$333,667$3,913,963

_______________

(1)    Lease payments due for corporate offices.

(2)    Committed spend for non-cancellable purchase obligations greater than $1.0 million per obligation, primarily relating to technology and advertising.

(3)    Assumes the 2026 Convertible Notes are not converted into our Class A common stock, repurchased or redeemed prior to maturity.

(4)    Assumes the 2028 and 2031 Senior Notes are not repurchased or redeemed prior to maturity.

(5)    Remaining amounts committed under a consent order with NYDFS. In January 2023, the NYDFS announced a consent order focused on historical shortcomings in Coinbase, Inc.’s compliance program. Pursuant to the consent order, Coinbase, Inc. paid a $50.0 million penalty in January 2023 and agreed to invest an additional $50.0 million in its compliance function by the end of 2024.

See Notes 12. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities, 14. Indebtedness, 20. Income Taxes and 22. Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further information relating to our short and long term material cash requirements and contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023.

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Cash flows

The following table summarizes our consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities$922,951$(1,585,419)$4,038,172
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities5,392(663,822)(1,124,740)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(811,332)(5,838,518)9,976,084
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash$117,011$(8,087,759)$12,889,516
Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash$8,772$(163,257)$(64,883)
Change in customer custodial cash$(585,666)$(5,547,481)$6,762,841

Operating activities

Our largest source of cash provided by operations are revenues generated from transaction fees and stablecoin revenue. Our primary uses of cash from operating activities include payments to employees for compensation, payments for website hosting and infrastructure services, professional services, outsourced customer support costs, and other general corporate expenditures.

Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $2.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to:

•a $1.1 billion increase in cash provided by USDC conversions primarily to optimize our corporate balance; and

•a decrease in cash expenditures as a result of our cost management efforts.

Net cash used in operating activities increased by $5.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to:

•a $4.6 billion decrease in total revenues; and

•a $770.7 million increase in cash used to purchase USDC to increase our corporate balances.

Investing activities

Net cash provided by investing activities increased by $669.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to:

•a $614.8 million decrease in cash used to purchase crypto assets for our corporate investment portfolio and a decrease in crypto asset purchases and disposals due to our investments in database and network infrastructure to support heightened trading volumes on our platform in order to reduce unanticipated system disruptions; and

•a $155.4 million decrease in cash used related to fewer business combinations completed in 2023 due to reduced acquisition activity year-over-year as a result of market conditions and a refresh of our strategic priorities in light of these market conditions; offset in part by

•a $193.2 million increase in cash used for net loans originated and repaid related to an increase in consumer demand for these loans due to stabilizing interest rates and increasing crypto asset prices which are used for collateral against these loans thereby increasing borrowing power.

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Net cash used in investing activities decreased by $460.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to:

•a decrease in strategic equity investments. In 2021, our overall discretionary investing activity grew significantly as we saw rapid acceleration in the pace of innovation in our industry. This drove higher investment volume and spend as: (i) we saw growth in new company formation and invested broadly across the ecosystem through our venture investing program and (ii) we made select larger corporate investments in companies that provided us with exposure to new or complementary areas of crypto (e.g., geographic regions where we did not operate). Our investing activity significantly declined year-over-year in 2022 as macroeconomic conditions shifted and led to tightening in the broader capital markets. We also significantly reduced corporate investing activity due to a refresh of our strategic priorities in light of market changes. While our strategic investing activity declined in 2022 relative to 2021, with cash outflows of $326.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to $63.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, we continued to invest at a higher rate than in 2020, both in terms of deal volume and spend;

•a $331.9 million decrease in net loans originated and repaid as we have seen a decline in consumer demand for these loans due to increasing interest rates and declining crypto assets prices which are used for collateral against these loans thereby decreasing borrowing power; offset in part by

•a $115.2 million increase in cash used for business combinations completed in 2022 due to changes in market conditions; and

•a $39.0 million increase in our capitalized software costs as we focused efforts on optimizing our platform through investments in database and network infrastructure launching new products, adding payment rails and expanding internationally.

Financing activities

Net cash used in financing activities decreased by $5.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to:

•a $5.3 billion decrease of customer custodial cash liabilities as a result of a decline in fiat balances held on our platform due to a decrease in market sentiment, as discussed in the section titled “—Key Business Metrics” above, and customers seeking higher yields on cash holdings in banks and USDC holdings on our platform; and

•a $74.1 million decrease in taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards due the overall decrease in headcount and the decline in our stock price on the vesting dates, the taxable event. Our choice to net settle employee awards and pay taxes is routinely evaluated by management and may change in the future; offset in part by

•an increase of $303.5 million in cash used for long-term debt repurchases that began in June 2023.

Net cash used in financing activities increased by $15.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to:

•a decrease in customer custodial cash liabilities of $5.6 billion as we saw an overall decline in fiat balances held on our platform due to lower customer trading activity as compared to an inflow of $6.7 billion in the prior year;

•a decrease of net $3.4 billion related to the issuance of our Senior Notes and 2026 Convertible Notes, which did not recur in 2022; and

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•a $165.6 million decrease in proceeds from the issuance of Class A and Class B common stock upon the exercise of stock options as our stock price was at an all-time high in 2021 as compared to 2022, coupled with our first year as a public company and the associated liquidity event this provided for holders of our stock options.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of consolidated financial statements also requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, and expenses and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ significantly from our estimates. To the extent that there are differences between our estimates and actual results, our future financial statement presentation, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows will be affected.

See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a summary of significant accounting policies and significant estimates and assumptions and their effects on our financial statements. Below are the significant estimates and assumptions that we consider critical because they involve a significant amount of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Business combinations, goodwill, and intangible assets

We determined that business combinations, goodwill, and intangible assets represent critical accounting estimates, as they involve significant judgment, estimates, and assumptions and to the extent that our estimates and assumptions materially change or if actual circumstances differ from those in the assumptions, our financial statements could be materially impacted.

We account for our business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires, among other things, allocation of the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. When determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, we make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to non-crypto intangible assets. These intangible assets do not have observable prices and have primarily consisted of customer relationships, developed technology, licenses, trademarks and trade names, and non-compete agreements, which are recorded at acquisition date fair value, less accumulated amortization. These estimates and assumptions can include, but are not limited to, the cash flows that an asset is expected to generate in the future, the appropriate weighted-average cost of capital, the number of working hours required to recreate the intangible asset (if following the cost approach), and the estimated useful lives. Changes in these assumptions could affect the carrying value of these assets. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates.

Goodwill

We perform an impairment test annually in the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill might not be fully recoverable. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, a company can assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a goodwill impairment test. Alternatively, a company may elect to proceed directly to a quantitative goodwill impairment test. We do the former and assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a goodwill impairment test. We review factors including changes in our stock price, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in any key personnel, and any changes in the composition of the carrying amount of our assets. There were no changes to the qualitative factors considered indicating an impairment of goodwill for the reporting periods presented. In the future, if there are material changes in the underlying

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estimates and assumptions pertaining to the impairment assessment, our financial statements could be materially impacted. For the reporting periods presented, we determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit was more than the respective related carrying amounts, including goodwill, and therefore we did not record any goodwill impairment. Management also concluded that the Company’s reporting unit was not at risk of failing this test as of December 31, 2023.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets are initially valued at fair value using generally accepted valuation methods appropriate for the type of intangible asset. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment if indicators of impairment arise. Intangible assets assessed as having indefinite lives are not amortized, but are assessed for indicators that the useful life is no longer indefinite or for indicators of impairment each period. Indicators we review, as applicable, include whether there has been a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which our assets are being used, a significant adverse change in legal factors affecting our assets, customer attrition, and/or a cash flow loss. Due to the dynamic nature of our business and the regulatory environment in which we operate, it is not practicable to model sensitivity of the valuation of these assets to these factors. Each reporting period, we evaluate the estimated remaining useful life of our intangible assets and whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. We did not identify indicators of impairment of our intangible assets during the reporting periods presented. In the future, if there are material changes in the underlying estimates and assumptions pertaining to the impairment assessment, our financial statements could be materially impacted.

Strategic investments

We hold strategic investments in privately held companies in the form of equity securities without readily determinable fair values in which we do not have a controlling interest or significant influence. The vast majority of these investments are accounted for under the measurement alternative method (“the measurement alternative”) and are measured at cost, less impairment, subject to upward and downward adjustments resulting from observable price changes for identical or similar investments of the same issuer (“pricing adjustments”). We determined that valuation of privately-held strategic investments represents a critical accounting estimate because impairment evaluations and pricing adjustments involve significant judgment, estimates, and assumptions, and to the extent that these estimates and assumptions change materially or if actual circumstances differ from those in the assumptions, our financial statements could be materially impacted.

Pricing adjustments

Pricing adjustments require quantitative assessments of the fair value of our strategic investments, which may require the use of unobservable inputs. Pricing adjustments are determined by using various valuation methodologies and involve the use of estimates using the best information available, which may include cash flow projections or other available market data.

Impairment

Privately-held strategic investments are evaluated quarterly for impairment. Our qualitative analysis includes a review of indicators such as: operating results when available, business prospects of the investees, changes in the regulatory and macroeconomic environment, observable price changes in similar transactions, and general market conditions of the geographical area or industry in which our investees operate. If indicators of impairment exist, we prepare quantitative measurements of the fair value of our equity investments using an Option-Pricing Model that uses publicly available market data of comparable companies and other unobservable inputs including expected volatility, expected time to liquidity, adjustments for other company-specific developments, and the rights and obligations of the securities we hold. When the quantitative remeasurements of fair value indicate an impairment exists, we write down the investment to its current fair value.

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We anticipate volatility to our net income (loss) in future periods due to changes in the fair values associated with these investments and changes in observable prices and similar transactions that could impact our fair value assessments. Based on future market conditions, these changes could be material to our financial statements. For more information regarding these market conditions and related sensitivity, see the section titled “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk – Equity investment risk. See Note 11. Prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of changes, which were material, in our strategic investments for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Income taxes

We determined that income taxes involve critical accounting estimates because management makes significant estimates, assumptions, and judgments to determine our provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets, and to the extent that our estimates and assumptions materially change, or if actual circumstances differ materially from those in the assumptions, our financial statements could be materially impacted.

We utilize the asset and liability method for computing our income tax provision. Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the expected future consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities as well as operating loss, capital loss, and tax credit carryforwards, using enacted tax rates. We assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. Assessing the need for a valuation allowance requires a great deal of judgement and we consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, to determine whether it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets are recoverable. We evaluate all available evidence including, but not limited to, history of earnings and losses, forecasts of future taxable income, and the weight of evidence that can be objectively verified. See Note 20. Income taxes of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of changes in our valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized within provision for income taxes. See Note 20. Income taxes of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of changes in unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

For U.S. federal tax purposes, crypto asset transactions are treated on the same tax principles as property transactions. We recognize a gain or loss when crypto assets are exchanged for other property, in the amount of the difference between the fair market value of the property received and the tax basis of the exchanged crypto assets. Receipts of crypto assets in exchange for goods or services are included in taxable income at the fair market value on the date of receipt.

Legal and other contingencies

We are subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, the outcomes of which are inherently uncertain, and such uncertainty may be enhanced due to the industry in which we operate. We record a liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable, the determination of which requires significant judgment. In addition, we record recoveries of these losses when it is probable that they will be collected. These estimates are highly sensitive to change and involve variables that are not completely within our control nor practicable to model, including decisions made by regulators and settlement negotiations. Resolution of legal and

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other contingencies in a manner inconsistent with management’s expectations could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations. See the section titled “—Results of operations—Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021—Operating expenses—General and administrative expenses” above for discussion of material changes in legal and other contingencies during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements adopted and not yet adopted as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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