Coinbase targets prediction markets and tokenized equities in upcoming platform update

Coinbase is redesigning its core trading app to include on-chain access to a range of asset classes, including stocks, derivatives, early-stage token sales, and real-world prediction markets, beyond its current focus on crypto.

The new offerings will launch in the United States within the next few months, followed by a gradual international release dependent on regulatory approval.

The planned expansion extends Coinbase’s services beyond its current cryptocurrency trading operations. The company described the strategy as creating a platform that accommodates various types of financial products in one place.

“We’re building an exchange for everything,” Max Branzburg, Vice President of Product at Coinbase, told 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.”

As part of its upcoming features, Coinbase will launch prediction markets that allow users to stake money on binary outcomes tied to real-world events, including politics, sports, and pop culture.

This development places Coinbase in a market currently occupied by platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi. Polymarket recently acquired QCEX for $112 million to regain access to the US market.

DraftKings is also reportedly exploring entry into the segment and was last month rumored to be considering acquiring Railbird Exchange to build out its own prediction market platform.

Coinbase’s expansion also includes the tokenization of equity and other real-world assets, aligning with recent industry movements toward making traditional financial instruments accessible via blockchain infrastructure.

Robinhood, Gemini, and Kraken have also launched tokenized equity services, primarily available to users outside the US.

The announcement came shortly after the US Securities and Exchange Commission introduced “Project Crypto,” an initiative aimed at updating securities regulations to allow crypto-based trading activities. Tokenization has gained more attention as the Trump administration has worked to roll back restrictive crypto policies introduced under previous US leadership.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has previously said the company’s goal is to become the top financial services app within the next decade.

Two weeks prior to the trading app expansion announcement, Coinbase launched the “Base App,” which the company intends to evolve into a multi-service platform similar to integrated apps used in other markets.

While crypto trading remains Coinbase’s main business activity, the introduction of on-chain real-world assets and prediction markets reflects an expansion of its product line that aligns with recent regulatory developments and evolving market demand.