Coinbase Receives UK Approval to Offer Traditional and Crypto Investments

On July 7, 2026, Coinbase announced it secured authorization from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide a range of traditional investment services. These services include derivatives and equities, enabling institutional traders to access perpetual futures linked to cryptocurrencies and commodities. For the first time, retail clients in the UK will also be able to trade equities on the platform.

This new license complements Coinbase's existing U.K. e-money license and its registration for providing cryptocurrency services, which the company received in February last year. The latest development expands Coinbase's market offerings in one of its significant international hubs, enhancing its vision of becoming an "Everything Exchange." This strategy aims to incorporate not just cryptocurrencies but also stocks, derivatives, tokenized assets, prediction markets, and consumer finance products.

The authorization also allows Coinbase UK to roll out products already available to users outside the U.K. For example, U.S. users can trade stocks and exchange-traded funds, while eligible non-U.S. clients can access U.S. dollar-backed stock perpetual futures for major companies like Apple and Tesla. Additionally, Coinbase has plans to introduce tokenized stocks fully backed by U.S. equities, allowing investors to benefit from underlying share ownership and dividends.

Coinbase's authorization comes just ahead of a significant regulatory framework expected to be implemented in the U.K. by October 2027, indicating that Coinbase is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on the expanding market opportunities ahead of these changes. The company has not provided specific timelines for the rollout of its new products but is likely to expand rapidly given the newly received license.

As Coinbase enhances its product suite, the crypto landscape will also be watching closely for how these expansions influence the broader adoption of cryptocurrencies and traditional financial products amid increasing competition in the market.