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Coinbase has unveiled a sweeping expansion that significantly broadens its role beyond crypto trading.
During its System Update livestream on Wednesday, the exchange introduced a wide slate of new products designed to bring multiple asset classes together on a single platform.
The announcement represents one of the most ambitious transformations in Coinbase’s 13-year history, as competition intensifies from decentralized protocols, fintech apps, and global exchanges that already offer a broader range of trading options.
Stock Trading Becomes a Core Offering
At the heart of the expansion is Coinbase’s entry into stock trading. The company has begun rolling out access to U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds through its regulated subsidiary, Coinbase Capital Markets Corp.
With this addition, customers can manage stocks and crypto side by side in one account. Trades can be funded using U.S. dollars or USDC, allowing for a unified balance across asset types. Coinbase confirmed that stock trades will carry no commissions.
To further differentiate the offering, select stocks will be available during extended trading hours, enabling activity for up to 24 hours a day, five days a week. A Coinbase spokesperson said the zero-commission structure will be permanent, with thousands of additional stocks to be added over time.
Building Toward Tokenized Equities
While traditional stock trading is now live, Coinbase positioned the launch as a stepping stone rather than an endpoint. The company reiterated that tokenized equities remain a key part of its long-term vision, though they are not yet available.
To support that direction, Coinbase plans to introduce an institutional platform called Coinbase Tokenize. The service is designed to help institutions issue and manage tokenized real-world assets, including equities, in a compliant and scalable manner. The company stated that more details about the platform are expected sometime in 2026.
Stock-Linked Perpetual Futures for Global Users
In parallel with spot equities, Coinbase is preparing to launch stock-linked perpetual futures for users outside the United States. The company stated that the products are designed to provide continuous exposure to U.S. equities while simultaneously utilizing capital more efficiently.
Unlike traditional equity positions, the contracts would not have fixed expiration dates. Coinbase said broader access to these stock-based perpetual futures is planned for early next year, although it did not specify which markets will be eligible.
Expanding Into Prediction Markets
As part of its broader push to diversify tradable assets, Coinbase is also entering prediction markets through a partnership with regulated platform Kalshi. At launch, Kalshi will provide all the liquidity for prediction markets on Coinbase.
Users will be able to trade event-based contracts starting at one dollar, using either U.S. dollars or USDC. Within the Coinbase app, these positions will be shown alongside the user’s cryptocurrency, stock, and cash holdings. Over time, the company plans to integrate additional prediction market platforms.
Solana DEX Trading Comes In-App
Coinbase is also expanding its decentralized trading capabilities by adding in-app support for Solana-based tokens. Specifically, the company integrated Jupiter, the leading DEX aggregator on Solana, directly within the Coinbase app.
The setup allows users to trade newly launched Solana tokens immediately without leaving the platform. Jupiter handles price discovery and routing, while Coinbase manages wallet interactions and the overall user experience.
According to the company, millions of assets across Solana and Coinbase’s Base network are now accessible by default, with further network integrations planned.
Stablecoins Take Center Stage in Payments Strategy
Stablecoins underpin much of Coinbase’s broader payments strategy. For instance, the company introduced Custom Stablecoins, which allow businesses to issue branded stablecoins backed one-to-one by a flexible mix of USDC and other dollar-pegged stablecoins.
However, the backing does not include fiat currency, a Coinbase spokesperson said. Early partners exploring the product include Flipcash, Solflare, and R2.
Additionally, as part of its longer-term financial infrastructure ambitions, Coinbase has also applied for a National Trust Company charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The application remains under review, the company confirmed.
Developer APIs and the x402 Payments Standard
Coinbase is simultaneously expanding its developer platform. Specifically, new APIs now span custody, payments, trading, and stablecoins, the company said.
Several businesses, including Deel, Papaya, Routable, and dLocal, are already using Coinbase’s payment tools.
Furthermore, the company emphasized x402, an open payments protocol that enables stablecoin transactions to be integrated directly into web requests. Coinbase said the protocol has processed more than $200 million in annualized transaction volume over the past 30 days.
To support further adoption, the company plans to help establish an x402 Foundation in partnership with Cloudflare.
Simplifying Access to Futures and Perpetuals
Derivatives trading is also being reworked as part of the expansion. Specifically, Coinbase plans to integrate futures and perpetual futures trading into its main retail app, thereby providing a simplified interface.
Previously, these products were largely confined to Coinbase Advanced. The redesigned experience aims to simplify the process and facilitate leveraged trading with lower upfront capital. A Coinbase spokesperson said all U.S. users can now trade perpetual futures directly from the primary Coinbase app.
AI Tools, Base App, and Business Services
Beyond trading, Coinbase is introducing tools designed to support everyday financial decision-making. The company launched Coinbase Advisor, an AI-powered assistant embedded in the app that helps users ask questions, build portfolios, and receive personalized recommendations. Beta access is now rolling out to early users.
Separately, the Base App is now available in more than 140 countries. Coinbase describes it as an on-chain “everything app” that combines social features, trading, payments, and app discovery, with content tokenized and tradeable by default.
For businesses, Coinbase Business is now generally available in the United States and Singapore. The service targets startups and small companies, offering global payments, crypto asset management, USDC rewards, and automated financial workflows. Expanded trading access is expected to follow.
Ultimately, Coinbase characterized the expansion as a defining moment in its evolution, framing the new offerings as the next phase in building a unified financial platform that extends well beyond crypto trading.