Coinbase has secured a groundbreaking UK license that unleashes stock trading for retail investors and perpetual futures for institutional clients, marking a massive leap in its global “Everything Exchange” ambition. This regulatory green light, granted on July 7, 2026, transforms the platform into a multi-asset hub where traditional finance and crypto converge, complementing its existing FCA crypto registration and e-money license in the UK.
On July 7, 2026, Nasdaq-listed Coinbase (COIN) announced it received authorization from UK financial regulators to offer derivatives and equities alongside its crypto services. This approval enables the firm to provide perpetual futures tied to crypto, equity, and commodities for institutional traders while giving UK retail customers the ability to trade equities for the first time on the platform. The company stated this move “advances Coinbase’s Everything Exchange strategy,” creating a comprehensive suite spanning crypto assets, tokenized stocks, and prediction markets.
This new license complements Coinbase’s existing UK cryptoasset registration acquired from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in February 2025, which permits the firm to deliver crypto and fiat services within the jurisdiction. Coinbase also holds an e-money license in the UK, facilitating regulatory compliance for fiat transactions.
Key details of this regulatory milestone include:
For the first time, UK retail investors can trade equities directly on Coinbase, significantly broadening the platform’s offerings beyond its traditional crypto focus. This arrival of stock trading allows everyday users to access major companies alongside their digital asset portfolios, fulfilling a long-standing demand for integrated multi-asset trading.
Institutional participants now access crypto, equity, and commodity perpetual futures products, which are derivative contracts with no expiry date allowing flexible trading in volatile markets. Coinbase has offered similar products in the US, and eligible non-US users can currently trade USDC-settled stock perpetual futures for major companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla. The firm is also preparing to launch tokenized stocks backed one-for-one by US equities, offering dividend rights to investors.
Perpetual-style contracts carry five-year expiries, use an hourly funding mechanism to align prices with underlying assets, and settle daily. Dated contracts have monthly or quarterly expirations, are marked to market daily, and settle in cash at expiry if held to maturity. Traders can use up to 10x use on select contracts, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and certain equity indices.
Matt Hughes, Head of Institutional Markets at Coinbase, stated: “Securing UK authorization is a critical milestone that empowers us to serve a wider segment of investors and fulfill our mission as the Everything Exchange. This license paves the way for deeper integration of traditional financial products with the crypto ecosystem.”
Kate Powell, a UK-based fintech analyst, noted: “Coinbase’s move is timely given increasing institutional interest in diversified asset exposure. Offering derivatives and equities on a single platform could position Coinbase well against legacy brokers and crypto-native competitors alike.”
Coinbase’s launch of regulated crypto futures in 26 European countries, offering perpetual and dated contracts with up to 10x use, supports this global expansion strategy. The products are available through Coinbase Advanced, the company’s high-performance trading interface, and are offered by its MiFID-registered European entity, ensuring compliance with EU financial regulations.
The UK’s crypto regulatory framework is evolving, with the full framework expected to come into effect in October 2027, and Coinbase’s new license provides a path to offer a regulated suite of products well ahead of this timeline. This development aligns with the broader global trend of cryptocurrency exchanges diversifying beyond token trading to deliver traditional financial instruments such as stocks and derivatives.
It responds to growing demand among retail and institutional clients for integrated platforms that offer multi-asset trading alongside crypto. The launch forms part of Coinbase’s broader strategy to create an “exchange for everything,” which includes adding stock trading for U.S. users, introducing prediction markets, and outlining a tokenization roadmap aimed at on-chain access to traditional assets.
Coinbase’s acquisition of a UK license to offer equities and derivatives marks a pivotal moment in its global expansion and the blending of traditional financial instruments with crypto assets. By enabling retail equity trading alongside crypto perpetual futures, Coinbase strengthens its “Everything Exchange” proposition, aiming to serve diverse investor needs under one roof. This strategic move comes as the UK prepares for a full crypto regulatory framework in 2027, underscoring Coinbase’s forward-looking approach to compliance and innovation. As markets evolve, such integration could reshape asset accessibility for UK investors and serve as a model that other jurisdictions and platforms may soon follow.
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