Coinbase expands UK offerings with U.S. stock trading and crypto derivatives

Aug 9, 2026

Coinbase has expanded its UK product suite by launching zero-commission U.S. stock trading for retail users and over 170 leveraged derivatives contracts for professional clients. Retail investors can trade nearly 4,000 fractional U.S. shares 24/5 using British pounds or USDC. Enabled by its MiFID license, the rollout is part of Coinbase's 'Everything Exchange' strategy to build a unified financial platform and diversify its revenue away from spot cryptocurrency trading.

Coinbase UK stock trading

▪Coinbase allows 24/5 U.S. stock trading for UK users, though trades executed outside standard U.S. market hours are restricted to whole shares.
▪Coinbase launched U.S. equity trading for eligible retail customers in the United Kingdom, allowing them to trade nearly 4,000 U.S. stocks within its main application.
▪The Coinbase UK stock trading service offers zero-commission trading and fractional share purchases starting at one pound.
▪UK users can fund their Coinbase stock purchases instantly using traditional British pound balances or USDC stablecoins.

Crypto derivatives for professionals

▪The Coinbase UK derivatives offering allows professional clients to trade perpetual futures with up to 50x leverage and dated futures with up to 20x leverage.
▪Coinbase's derivatives rollout in the United Kingdom is restricted to clients who satisfy specific eligibility requirements and qualify as professional clients.
▪Coinbase launched more than 170 derivatives contracts, including perpetuals, dated futures, and crypto options, for professional investors in the United Kingdom.

MiFID regulatory license approval

▪The derivatives launch in the United Kingdom follows Coinbase's acquisition of a MiFID license, which expanded the range of investment products the platform can provide.
▪Coinbase secured UK investment services authorization in July 2026, allowing it to offer regulated investment products before the UK's full crypto regulatory regime takes effect in October 2027.

Everything Exchange platform strategy

▪As part of its broader financial services expansion in the United Kingdom, Coinbase previously introduced crypto-backed loans of up to $5 million in USDC in April 2026.
▪Coinbase's UK stock and derivatives launches are part of its 'Everything Exchange' strategy to combine crypto trading, stocks, commodities, derivatives, payments, and lending in a single account.

Crypto-traditional finance convergence

▪Coinbase is diversifying its business beyond cryptocurrency trading, reporting in its second-quarter report that 88% of its net revenue came from sources other than bitcoin spot trading.
▪By offering stock trading, Coinbase is competing with European companies that offer free stock trading, aiming to differentiate itself by leveraging its existing crypto infrastructure.