Coinbase Wins UK License to Offer Stocks and Derivatives Alongside Crypto

Coinbase has secured UK regulatory approval to offer equities and derivatives in addition to its existing crypto services, marking a major expansion in one of its largest international markets. The license allows institutional and advanced traders to access crypto, equity, and commodity perpetual futures, while UK retail customers will be able to trade equities on Coinbase for the first time.

Builds on Existing UK Presence

The new authorization adds to Coinbase’s UK e-money license and crypto registration, which it obtained from the Financial Conduct Authority in February last year. That earlier approval already allowed the company to offer crypto and fiat services in the country.

Part of a Broader Global Rollout

The UK expansion brings Coinbase’s international offerings closer to what US users already have, including stock and ETF trading. Eligible customers outside the US can also trade USDC settled stock perpetual futures on major companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla. Coinbase has additionally said it plans to offer tokenized stocks backed one-to-one by US equities, giving international investors ownership rights including dividends.

Part of Coinbase’s “Everything Exchange” Strategy

The UK license supports Coinbase’s broader push to combine stocks, crypto derivatives, tokenized assets, prediction markets, and consumer finance tools under one platform. The move also gives Coinbase a regulated way to grow beyond crypto ahead of the UK’s full crypto framework, expected to take effect in October 2027.