ARK Invest Takes a Defensive Step
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest trimmed major positions in Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and its own spot Bitcoin ETF on Thursday, signaling a rare defensive move from the firm. ARK is usually known for buying high-growth assets during market dips. This time, however, it moved in the opposite direction as pressure built across both stocks and crypto.
Reports said ARK sold nearly $41 million worth of Meta shares, more than $26 million of Nvidia stock, and about $11 million of ARKB, the firm’s Bitcoin ETF tied to 21Shares. The timing caught attention because ARK has long leaned into volatility instead of stepping back from it.
The sales followed a rough day for U.S. markets on March 26. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.4%, while the S&P 500 dropped 1.7%. Investors reacted to renewed geopolitical tension involving Iran and rising oil prices, which added fresh uncertainty to already nervous markets.
ARK also reportedly cut positions in other tech names, including Alphabet and AMD. That broader pullback suggests the firm wanted to lower risk across its portfolio rather than respond to one stock alone.
Several factors likely pushed the decision:
- Rising geopolitical stress
- Higher oil prices
- Weakness in major growth stocks
- Increased volatility in the crypto market
- A need for short-term liquidity and flexibility
Bitcoin and Growth Stocks Face More Pressure
Meta and Nvidia entered the sell-off from different positions, but both felt the impact of the wider retreat from risk assets. Meta had already been under pressure in recent weeks, while Nvidia also lost ground as investors reexamined expensive AI-related trades.
Bitcoin also slipped to around $66,000, hitting its lowest level since early March. Traders were already watching a large options expiry, and that added more caution to the market mood.
Even so, ARK remains deeply tied to innovation-focused investing, and Cathie Wood has continued to support Bitcoin’s long-term potential. Therefore, this latest move looks less like a loss of faith and more like a short-term adjustment. In a shaky market, even aggressive investors sometimes choose to protect cash first and wait for better conditions.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Morgan Stanley Purchases 177.76 BTC Worth $13.75 Million
Gate News message, Morgan Stanley bought 177.76 BTC worth $13.75M three hours ago. The firm now holds 1,347.54 BTC worth $103.94M in total.
GateNews1h ago
BTC fell below 77000 USDT
Gate News bot message, Gate quotes show that BTC fell below 77000 USDT, trading at 76961.6 USDT.
CryptoRadar2h ago
NYSE Welcomes Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Launch as First Spot Bitcoin ETF Issued by a Major US Bank
Bank-backed bitcoin ETFs are accelerating institutional adoption and strengthening market credibility. The NYSE marked a new milestone as Morgan Stanley Investment Management rang the closing bell and celebrated the launch of MSBT, which the NYSE described as the first spot bitcoin ETF by a major
Coinpedia5h ago
BTC falls 0.49% in 15 minutes: fragile long leverage and active sell-off pressure resonate to weigh on the short term
From 18:00 to 18:15 (UTC) on 2026-04-17, the BTC price fluctuated and trended downward within the 77097.4 to 77573.2 USDT range. Over these 15 minutes, the return rate recorded -0.49%, and the amplitude reached 0.61%. During this period, market trading was active; short-term volatility was amplified, and trading attention increased significantly. The main driver behind this abnormal move is that the overall leverage structure is bearish and long positions are fragile. At present, the BTC perpetual contract funding rate has remained negative for 11 consecutive days, indicating that the bears have the upper hand in the market. In addition, futures open interest (OI) is about 628.3 billion USDT, which is at a historical high. During the anomaly window, trading volume increased noticeably. On-chain data shows large amounts of BTC flowing from long-term holder addresses to exchanges, suggesting that active sell orders may have triggered longs to passively reduce positions, amplifying downward price pressure. Moreover, institutional positioning enthusiasm in the mainstream contract market has cooled off; liquidity boundaries have tightened, causing large-trade activity to have an amplified effect on market volatility. In the options market, implied volatility rose to 39.81%, increasing demand for downside protection and reflecting a defensive posture among market participants. Macro-environment volatility and some capital flowing into safe-haven assets, together with the recent regulatory uncertainty-related historical events, reinforced the move, pushing overall market risk appetite lower. Current BTC leverage risks still remain. If, in the future, there are concentrated sell-offs, volatility may be further amplified. It is recommended to continue monitoring sustained high OI levels, the persistence of negative funding rates, and on-chain transfers of large amounts of funds, and to stay alert for whale behavior and any disruptions to market sentiment caused by macro-policy developments. For subsequent price action, please watch key support levels, institutional and whale on-chain moves, and relevant global market news, and guard against short-term risks.
GateNews7h ago
Bitcoin Liquidations Hit $815M as BTC Surges Above $78K Amid Iran Strait Opening
Over $815 million in leveraged cryptocurrency positions were liquidated recently, mainly due to short positions against Bitcoin. Markets improved as Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz and Trump hinted at a deal with Iran, boosting Bitcoin prices significantly.
GateNews7h ago
