Tokenized stocks promise real ownership
Coinbase is moving beyond its crypto roots, unveiling a suite of new products that include tokenized stocks backed one-for-one by underlying U.S. equities. Unlike many existing offerings that rely on derivatives or synthetic structures, Coinbase’s approach will allow users to own, trade, hold, and redeem these digital shares with direct ownership rights. The company announced that these tokenized securities will also pay out dividends automatically to holders, providing a tangible link between blockchain-based assets and traditional financial rewards.
However, the rollout comes with a significant caveat: at launch, tokenized stocks will only be available in select jurisdictions outside the United States. Coinbase has not specified an exact launch date but stated the products are “coming soon,” with initial access expected next month for eligible non-U.S. customers. This mirrors moves by competitors such as Kraken, which recently enabled tokenized U.S. stock trading for clients in over 180 countries.
AI adviser marks regulatory first
In tandem with its push into equities, Coinbase has introduced Coinbase Advisor—an artificial intelligence-powered investment advisory tool registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Initially available to Coinbase One subscribers in the United States, this service aims to provide personalized portfolio guidance using AI algorithms. The company claims it is among the first SEC-registered AI investment advisers in the country.
Coinbase Advisor debuted for U.S. users on Tuesday, following a 3 p.m. ET product event announcement.
On paper, AI may boost efficiency; but Coinbase reported a $394 million loss for Q1 2026.
The launch comes amid broader cost-cutting efforts at the exchange. In May, Coinbase announced a 14% reduction in staff and highlighted increased reliance on automation and AI tools to streamline operations. Whether these changes will offset recent financial losses remains uncertain.
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Options trading expands into equities
Coinbase’s expansion is not limited to spot trading. The company plans to introduce options contracts for both cryptocurrencies and traditional stocks—a move that could attract more sophisticated traders seeking leverage or hedging strategies. Customers can now transfer existing stock portfolios from other brokerages onto Coinbase through the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS), making it easier for users to consolidate their investments under one roof.
The platform already offers zero-commission trading on roughly 6,000 securities—including U.S. stocks and ETFs—via its Advanced interface for American users. Additional features include fractional share purchases and up to 3.5% rewards on eligible USDC stablecoin balances.
Coinbase’s push into options and expanded equity products comes at a time when overall exchange volumes have slumped: May saw combined trading volumes fall 3.45% to $4.41 trillion—the lowest since September 2024—while perpetual futures linked to real-world assets rose 10.4% to an all-time high.
Perpetual futures tap into hot trends
Beyond spot assets and options, Coinbase is launching perpetual futures tied to thematic baskets like artificial intelligence, defense technology, and Chinese equities—offering exposure to trending sectors without owning individual stocks outright. The exchange is also introducing pre-IPO perpetual futures for private companies such as SpaceX (SPCX), which went public earlier this month.
Other new offerings include borrowing against staked Solana (SOL) via Jito and Morpho integrations, a USDC-backed credit card for Coinbase One members, and a travel portal granting 5% bitcoin rewards on bookings. These additions reflect an effort to broaden appeal as competition intensifies among exchanges racing to tokenize Wall Street assets.
New products arrive amid slumping volumes
The timing of these launches is notable: despite reporting a 130% revenue jump in Q4 2024 after a post-election rally, Coinbase has since faced declining volumes and a slide in share price. As of Tuesday’s close, COIN shares were trading just above $169—down 13% over the past month and off 25% since the start of the year. Benchmark-StoneX analyst Mark Palmer recently reiterated a price target of $270 for COIN stock, nearly 60% above current levels.
Market reaction remains mixed as investors weigh innovation against ongoing losses.
According to decrypt.co, Tuesday’s event showcased how Coinbase is betting on diversification—pairing blockchain-native assets with traditional finance features—to reignite growth after two consecutive quarters of net losses.
The Essentials
- •Coinbase will launch tokenized U.S. stocks with direct ownership and automatic dividends for non-U.S. customers starting next month.
- •Coinbase Advisor, an SEC-registered AI investment tool, debuted for Coinbase One subscribers in the U.S. after a June 2024 event.
- •Users can now transfer stock portfolios via ACATS and trade about 6,000 securities on Coinbase Advanced with zero-commission trading.
Signals worth watching
If Coinbase’s tokenized stocks—backed one-for-one by underlying U.S. equities—launch as planned for customers outside the U.S. beginning next month, immediate attention will focus on initial trading volumes and user uptake, which remain unconfirmed ahead of the official rollout date.