Robinhood Q3 Revenue Hits Record as Crypto Slump Offsets Gains in Options and Prediction Markets

3 min read
Source: CNBC
Robinhood Q3 Revenue Hits Record as Crypto Slump Offsets Gains in Options and Prediction Markets
Photo: CNBC
TL;DR

Robinhood reported a record third-quarter revenue of $1.42 billion, up 12% year-over-year, but shares fell 4% after net income dropped to $468 million. While transaction-based revenue grew 19% to $867 million, driven by a 500% surge in event contracts and 31% growth in options, cryptocurrency revenue plummeted 55% to $120 million. The company noted that crypto event contracts performed well despite the price slump, helping offset losses in spot trading. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 60 cents, beating estimates, while net deposits reached $15.7 billion. Management highlighted strong momentum, with October net deposits exceeding $13 billion month-to-date, including a $6 billion contribution from the Dell family to Trump Accounts.

Key points

  • Total revenue reached a quarterly record of $1.424 billion, slightly exceeding the $1.422 billion consensus estimate.
  • Net income declined to $468 million, or 51 cents per share, from $556 million a year ago, though adjusted EPS beat expectations at 60 cents.
  • Cryptocurrency revenue fell 55% to $120 million, a significant drag on overall performance compared to the prior year.
  • Event contracts revenue surged over 600% to $173 million, with total event contracts volume reaching a record 16.4 billion.
  • Options revenue increased 31% to $399 million, and equities revenue rose 41% to $121 million.
  • The company reported 5.2 million Robinhood Gold subscribers and 28.7 million funded customers, with average revenue per user rising 5% to $200.

Background

This earnings report follows Robinhood's September announcement of 24/7 trading and AI-powered agents, signaling a shift toward institutional-grade capabilities. The recent decline in crypto revenue contrasts with the broader market volatility seen in other tech sectors, such as Tesla's profit slump and Netflix's revised outlook, where investors scrutinized growth sustainability despite operational beats. Robinhood's diversification into wealth management and subscriptions aims to reduce reliance on volatile trading volumes, a strategy aligned with its goal of broadening financial services beyond traditional brokerage.

How outlets are covering it

CNBC emphasized the weakness in transaction-based revenue, which missed estimates at $867 million versus $879 million expected, highlighting concerns about reliance on volatile market activity. Yahoo Finance focused on the record revenue total and the strength of non-crypto segments, noting that Trump Accounts and subscription revenues drove other revenue up 61%. While CNBC framed the crypto drop as a key risk, Yahoo highlighted the success of event contracts as a hedge against spot trading declines. Both outlets agreed on the revenue beat but differed in emphasis: CNBC stressed the profit decline and missed transaction targets, whereas Yahoo highlighted the adjusted EPS beat and record subscriber counts.

Why it matters

The results demonstrate Robinhood's ability to offset crypto weakness through diversification into options and prediction markets, but the profit decline and missed transaction estimates raise questions about sustainability. The strong net deposits and subscriber growth suggest continued user engagement, while the lowered expense outlook indicates cost discipline. Investors are watching whether the company can maintain momentum in Q4, especially with the $6 billion Dell contribution to Trump Accounts, as it transitions from a crypto-focused platform to a broader financial services provider.

What to watch

Investors will monitor Q4 performance, particularly the impact of the $6 billion Dell contribution to Trump Accounts and the continued growth in event contracts. The company's lowered 2026 expense outlook suggests potential margin improvements if revenue growth continues. Watch for updates on the 24/7 trading launch and AI agent adoption, which could further drive transaction revenue. The success of crypto event contracts may also indicate a shift in how retail investors engage with digital assets during volatile periods.

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