Coinbase Broadens Crypto-Backed Lending: XRP, DOGE, ADA, and LTC Now Accepted as Collateral

In a significant expansion of its financial services, Coinbase has launched a new lending feature that allows U.S. customers to leverage their holdings in XRP, Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), and Litecoin (LTC) as collateral to secure loans of up to $100,000 in USD Coin (USDC). This move dramatically broadens the scope of the exchange's crypto-backed loan program, which was previously restricted to only Bitcoin and Ethereum. The service, which provides instant liquidity, is now available across the United States, with the notable exception of New York state. This development represents a major step in integrating a wider array of digital assets into practical financial tools, offering users a way to access capital without needing to sell their long-term crypto investments. By including these prominent altcoins, Coinbase is not only responding to user demand for more flexible financial products but also signaling growing institutional confidence in the underlying value and stability of these assets. The expansion underscores the maturation of cryptocurrency markets and their increasing convergence with traditional finance, providing a bullish indicator for the utility and adoption of digital assets beyond mere speculation. For practitioners and investors, this enhances the utility of their portfolios, allowing for strategic financial management while maintaining exposure to potential asset appreciation.

Coinbase Expands Crypto-Backed Lending to Include XRP, DOGE, ADA, and LTC

Coinbase has introduced a new lending service allowing U.S. customers to borrow up to $100,000 in USD Coin (USDC) using XRP, dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), and Litecoin (LTC) as collateral. This marks a significant expansion of the exchange’s crypto-backed loan offerings, which were previously limited to Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The service, available nationwide except in New York, provides instant liquidity without requiring users to sell their holdings. By leveraging blockchain infrastructure powered by Morpho on Base, Coinbase’s ethereum Layer-2 network, the platform streamlines borrowing while avoiding taxable events for long-term investors.

The MOVE reflects a broader trend of centralized exchanges integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to enhance efficiency and transparency. It also strategically positions Coinbase to capture demand from altcoin holders seeking flexible financial tools.

Base Shifts From OP Stack, Triggering 4% Drop in Optimism (OP) Token

Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 network Base announced its departure from Optimism's OP Stack, opting to develop an independent technology stack. The decision sent OP's price down 4% within 24 hours, reflecting market sensitivity to ecosystem dependencies.

With $3.85 billion in total value locked since its August 2023 launch, Base remains a dominant force in layer-2 scaling. The platform will maintain compatibility with OP Stack standards during the transition while targeting six major annual upgrades through self-managed infrastructure.

The strategic pivot underscores the competitive evolution of Ethereum's scaling landscape. Base's move toward technical independence mirrors broader industry trends favoring modular blockchain development and upgrade autonomy.

Wall Street and Crypto Leaders Converge at Trump's World Liberty Forum Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Coinbase's Brian Armstrong, and CFTC Chairman Michael Selig joined nearly 400 finance leaders at Mar-a-Lago for the TRUMP family's World Liberty Forum. The event, hosted by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, positioned itself as a nexus for traditional finance and cryptocurrency integration. "We're creating efficiencies in a system that's been undemocratized and broken," the Trump brothers declared.

Meanwhile, the CLARITY Act's April deadline looms as Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) suggests the stablecoin bill could soon become law. The legislation remains stalled in the Senate over a critical debate: whether crypto platforms should be permitted to offer yield on stablecoins—a practice banks vehemently oppose but the industry fiercely defends. Coinbase's Armstrong denied claims that crypto firms derailed earlier Senate Banking Committee drafts, hinting at progress in negotiations.

Morgan Stanley Doubles Down on Bitmine Amid Crypto Winter

Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Bitmine Immersion Technologies by 26% in Q4 2025, defying a 48% stock plunge. The firm now holds 12.1 million shares worth $331 million—a bullish bet on Ethereum infrastructure during a market downturn.

ARK Investment, BlackRock, and Vanguard joined the institutional buying spree, amplifying positions despite Bitmine’s NAV dropping below Ether’s spot price. The company deployed $260 million to acquire 45,759 ETH, bringing total holdings to 4.37 million tokens.

‘When the tide goes out, you see who’s swimming naked,’ said one trader, noting Bitmine’s mNAV ratio staying above 1. The moves suggest Wall Street views the selloff as a buying opportunity for long-term crypto infrastructure plays.

Coinbase CEO Foresees Triple Win in Crypto Market Structure Negotiations

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, projects a favorable resolution for all stakeholders in the ongoing U.S. market structure discussions. Speaking at the World Liberty Forum, Armstrong outlined a path where cryptocurrencies, traditional banks, and consumers WOULD collectively benefit from regulatory clarity.

The Coinbase chief framed stablecoin rewards as a competitive necessity for modernizing finance, countering earlier concerns from policymakers. His comments come amid Bitcoin's price volatility, which Armstrong characterized as a strategic accumulation opportunity for the exchange and its users.

Market structure negotiations have gained momentum following weeks of stagnation, with Armstrong emphasizing America's potential to become the global crypto hub through balanced regulation. The breakthrough would mark a significant step in institutional adoption while preserving consumer protections.

OP Token Slides as Base Migrates From OP Stack to Independent Codebase

Base, Coinbase's Ethereum Layer-2 solution, has initiated a strategic shift away from the shared OP Stack to a unified, self-controlled codebase. The move triggered an immediate market reaction, with Optimism's OP token declining as investors recalibrated expectations around the project's ecosystem role.

The newly announced base/base stack consolidates sequencer operations, client releases, and network tools under Base's direct oversight. This architectural change promises more predictable upgrade cycles—six targeted improvements annually—while maintaining backward compatibility with OP Stack implementations. With over $3.85 billion in total value locked, Base's technological pivot could reshape development dynamics across Ethereum's Layer-2 landscape.

Market participants interpreted the decoupling as a dilution of Optimism's influence, despite Base's assurances of continued interoperability. The OP token's downward price action reflects concerns about reduced utility for the shared stack, though Base remains the second-largest OP Chain by TVL after Optimism itself.