Coinbase Canada CEO Calls for Permanent Crypto Rules to Expand Product Lineup

Coinbase’s newly appointed Canadian CEO, Eric Richmond, says the country needs permanent regulatory legislation rather than temporary exemptions if it wants to support the exchange’s plans to introduce derivatives, tokenized assets and decentralized finance products to Canadian users.

Vision Beyond Trading

Richmond said the company’s long-term goal is to move past being just a trading platform and instead build a full range of blockchain-based financial services in one place, offering round-the-clock, seamless access. Achieving this in Canada, he noted, depends heavily on how the regulatory landscape develops.

Exemptions Versus Legislation

While Canada was an early adopter of spot crypto ETFs and trading platform registration, Richmond pointed out that much of this progress came through staff notices and case-by-case exemption orders rather than dedicated digital asset laws. He argued this method worked in crypto’s early stages but now limits growth as firms push for more advanced offerings. A recent legal industry report noted the U.S. has issued more detailed guidance on tokenized securities, custody and capital treatment compared to Canada’s more consultative approach.

Access Gaps for Canadian Users

Richmond highlighted that Canadian customers currently receive lower stablecoin yields and limited access to futures products compared to their U.S. counterparts, largely due to differing regulatory structures rather than slower decision-making.

Push for a National Framework

Richmond praised Canada’s new Stablecoin Act and encouraged regulators to consolidate existing rules into a single harmonized national instrument, arguing this would create consistency across provinces and reduce uncertainty for companies building crypto products.