Coinbase Expands with Tokenized Stocks, Prediction Markets in U.S.

Coinbase is preparing to transform its flagship trading platform into an “everything exchange,” aiming to offer U.S. users more than just cryptocurrencies. Over the coming months, the platform will begin rolling out tokenized stocks, derivatives, real-world assets, early-stage token sales, and prediction markets. These features are expected to arrive first in the United States, followed by a gradual international expansion based on local regulatory permissions.

“We’re building an exchange for everything,” said Max Branzburg, Vice President of Product at Coinbase, in an interview with CNBC. “Everything you want to trade, in a one-stop shop, on-chain. … We’re bringing all assets onchain — stocks, prediction markets, and more. We’re building the foundations for a faster, more accessible, more global economy.”

Coinbase’s Broader Strategy and Industry Competition

Coinbase’s move places it in direct competition with platforms like Robinhood, Kraken, and Gemini, all of which have recently begun offering tokenized equities—but only to users outside the U.S. The expansion also marks Coinbase’s entry into the prediction markets space, where it will compete with Kalshi, the only federally licensed U.S. prediction market operator, and Polymarket, which recently acquired the CFTC-regulated QCEX exchange in a $112 million deal to re-enter the American market.

This initiative positions Coinbase alongside these competitors in the growing sector of tokenized and on-chain financial instruments. A promotional video from Coinbase teased the concept of an “everything exchange,” underscoring its goal to create a unified platform for all types of assets—crypto-native or not.

While trading remains the company’s core business, Coinbase is increasingly focusing on consumer engagement through broader services. Just two weeks before this announcement, the company launched the Base App, designed as a Western alternative to multifunctional apps like WeChat. It aims to centralize user access to payments, social features, and trading in a single ecosystem.

Regulatory Backdrop and SEC’s “Project Crypto”

The timing of Coinbase’s announcement aligns with a significant development from U.S. regulators. On the same day, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) introduced “Project Crypto,” a new initiative aimed at modernizing securities regulations to better accommodate the rise of digital asset trading.

This regulatory shift is seen as part of broader pro-crypto momentum under the Trump administration, which has reversed several of the restrictive policies established under the previous leadership. Industry watchers believe these changes could pave the way for greater mainstream integration of tokenized and blockchain-based financial products in the U.S.

According to Gambling Insider, Coinbase’s international expansion will depend on the pace of regulatory approval in each jurisdiction, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to compliance as it extends its reach beyond crypto.

Earnings, Challenges, and Long-Term Vision

Coinbase’s announcement came alongside the release of its latest earnings report. The company reported a slight decline in spot trading volume and weaker overall revenue performance. Additionally, Coinbase disclosed a significant financial hit due to data theft, reporting a $307 million loss related to the incident. Despite the news, the price of COIN remained relatively flat on the day of the announcement, according to The Block’s data.

CEO Brian Armstrong remains committed to a long-term vision of turning Coinbase into the world’s leading financial services app over the next decade. The move toward tokenized real-world assets and prediction markets represents a major step in that direction.

By integrating diverse asset classes into a single, on-chain platform, Coinbase is positioning itself at the forefront of financial innovation—seeking to offer users a seamless, unified experience that blurs the lines between traditional finance and decentralized technologies.

Source: 

Coinbase to launch tokenized stocks, predictions markets in US in coming months, cnbc.com, July 31, 2025.