Coinbase (COIN), a cryptocurrency exchange listed in the U.S., is set to launch stock trading along with prediction markets and several other fresh products and assets. This move aims to solidify the platform’s identity as the “Everything Exchange,” as announced during Wednesday’s System Update stream.
The exchange is significantly enhancing the range of assets available for trading, which will now include innovative cryptocurrencies, perpetual futures, stocks, and prediction markets, starting with Kalshi and with more integrations planned for the future.
Providing users with a versatile trading platform has recently become a competitive endeavor. Competitors like Robinhood, Kraken, and Gemini have introduced tokenized equity offerings for users outside the U.S. and are also considering prediction markets.
The primary Coinbase app will feature “a user-friendly interface for trading futures and perps, the ability to trade all Solana assets upon their creation, primary token sales, and the global rollout of the Base App,” according to the blog post.
The regulatory landscape in the U.S. has undergone significant changes recently, allowing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to tacitly endorse the continuous trading of certain tokenized stocks on blockchains.
Taking Stock
Coinbase’s head of consumer and business products, Max Branzburg, stated that there’s no finalized list of stocks for the initial launch, as it’s still open to adjustment. However, it will feature hundreds of leading stocks based on market cap, trading volume, and other factors, with aspirations to introduce thousands more stocks and ETFs in the upcoming months, Branzburg noted via email.
This integration streamlines portfolio management, enabling Coinbase users to buy, sell, and manage stocks and ETFs alongside their crypto portfolios – using either USD or USDC – all within a single Coinbase app and account, the exchange detailed in its blog.
“Traders will benefit from zero-commission trading without the limitations of traditional market hours – trade your preferred stocks 24/7, five days a week,” the blog continued. “We intend to add thousands of additional stocks in the months to come.”
The goal for early next year is to broaden stock perpetuals so that traders outside the U.S. can gain 24/7, capital-efficient exposure to U.S. stocks via the app, Coinbase announced.
This initiative is supported by Coinbase Tokenize, the company’s new end-to-end platform for tokenizing real-world assets, which will facilitate retail access to tokenized stocks on the exchange.
When asked about the specifics of the tokenization process and the regulatory status of stock tokens and their custody in relation to a Central Securities Depository (CSD), for example, Branzburg replied via email:
“Our primary focus is on enabling real-world assets (RWA) and tokenized assets. The methodology for achieving this is in development, and we will provide further details soon. Our regulatory diligence positions us favorably to lead as the industry gets more established.”
Prediction Markets, Perps, Solana DEX
With the initial integration of $11 billion-valued prediction market provider Kalshi, Coinbase users will be able to bet on the outcomes of real-world events, including elections, sports, collectibles, and economic indicators, with the prices of event contracts reflecting the collective trading actions of market participants.
Coinbase also mentioned that they have simplified derivatives trading, enabling users to make larger investments with less upfront capital and enjoy more advantageous tax benefits when trading in crypto markets and commodities.
“We currently offer over 30 futures and perps contracts in the U.S. across asset classes such as crypto, commodities, and equity indices, with plans to expand to hundreds more contracts as time goes on,” Branzburg noted via email. “As of this week, we now provide 15 perpetual-style futures contracts for cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP along with a list of the specific contracts here.”
Over the next few weeks, Coinbase plans to expand its decentralized exchange (DEX) trading integration to include Solana tokens. The main exchange app is set to integrate the popular Solana DEX aggregator Jupiter, allowing users to swap tokens securely without exiting the app.
Coinbase Business and Wealth Management
Moreover, Coinbase Business, a financial platform tailored for startups and small businesses working within the crypto space, has become accessible to all qualified businesses in the U.S. and Singapore, as announced by the exchange.
“We are enabling users to send and receive payments globally through payment links and invoices, manage crypto assets using Coinbase Advanced, and automate financial workflows by leveraging Coinbase’s regulated infrastructure,” the blog post stated.
The exchange is also introducing a new AI-driven wealth management tool called Coinbase Advisor, which aims to bridge the gap between planning and execution. The company emphasized that high-quality financial advice should be a standard offering, rather than a luxury.
“Users can simply communicate their goals and inquiries to the AI – ‘Create a portfolio for me,’ ‘What’s the latest market news and what implications does it have for me?’ – and receive tailored responses with recommendations powered by the products, data, and tools available on Coinbase,” the post elaborated.
Coinbase’s highly-regarded Ethereum overlay blockchain, Base, is now available globally, having officially launched in over 140 countries. Analysts had speculated that upgrades to the Base network might hint at the introduction of a native blockchain token.
“We are still exploring the possibilities for a Base token, but currently have no updates to provide,” Branzburg stated.
