The central bank of the Czech Republic adjusted its U.S. investment portfolio by increasing a stake in one volatile name and taking a position in another.

The Czech National Bank bought more shares of data-analytics firm Palantir Technologies, and started an investment in the cryptocurrency platform Coinbase Global in the second quarter. The bank disclosed the trades, among others, in a form it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In an email, the bank declined to comment specifically on the two stocks, but added, "We can only repeat that the passive replication of indices strategy has not changed."

Palantir stock rocketed 80% in the first half of 2025, compared with a 5.5% rise in the S&P 500. So far in the third quarter, shares are up 4.2% while the index is up about 1%.

Palantir has turned in strong earnings reports this year, as investor appetite for artificial intelligence continues to grow. Shares have been rising since the company was added to the S&P 500 in September; new components in the index benefit from having their shares bought up by funds that track the market benchmark.

The Czech National Bank bought 49,135 more Palantir shares in the second quarter to end June with 519,950 shares.

The bank bought 51,732 Coinbase shares in the second quarter. It hadn't owned any at the end of the first.

Coinbase is another recent addition to the S&P 500, having joined the index in May. The company has also turned in strong earnings reports this year. Bitcoin has soared this year, continuing to set records in the past week, powering Coinbase stock upward from lows reached in April.

Coinbase stock gained 41% through the first half of this year. Since then, the shares are up 10%.

Inside Scoop is a regular Barron's feature covering stock transactions by corporate executives and board members -- so-called insiders -- as well as large shareholders, politicians, and other prominent figures. Due to their insider status, these investors are required to disclose stock trades with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory groups.