Coinbase Shakes Up Finance: Prediction Markets and Tokenized Equities Launch Imminent

Coinbase is about to blur the lines between crypto and traditional finance. The exchange is gearing up to launch two major products next week: prediction markets and tokenized equities. This isn't just another feature drop—it's a direct challenge to the old guard.

Betting on Everything, Owning Anything

Prediction markets let users wager on real-world events, from election outcomes to box office numbers. It's speculative, controversial, and a massive untapped market. Meanwhile, tokenized equities promise to slice and dice traditional stocks into digital tokens, making them tradable 24/7. Think of it as Wall Street, but without the closing bell or the stuffy suits.

Why This Move Matters Now

The timing is strategic. Regulatory winds are shifting, and consumer appetite for crypto-native financial products is growing. By bundling these launches, Coinbase isn't just expanding its menu—it's building a one-stop shop for the future of digital assets. They're betting that users want more than just Bitcoin; they want a full-spectrum financial platform that cuts out traditional intermediaries.

A Calculated Gamble on Mainstream Adoption

This push into new asset classes carries significant risk. Prediction markets face regulatory scrutiny in many jurisdictions, while tokenized securities require navigating a complex web of financial laws. Coinbase's move suggests confidence—or a willingness to fight—in these battles. It also pressures competitors to innovate or be left behind in the race to define Web3 finance.

For an industry often accused of building solutions in search of problems, this is a rare case of solving two: giving crypto natives access to traditional market mechanics and giving everyone else a faster, cheaper way to trade real-world assets. Just don't call it 'disruption' within earshot of a legacy banker—they might clutch their pearls (and their dwindling fee revenue).

Coinbase Points to December Livestream for Product Reveal

A Coinbase spokesperson refused to confirm the information. Rather, the company focused on the next broadcast. The spokesperson said that they were launching new products that WOULD be shown in a live stream on Dec. 17. The response indicates a unified disclosure policy.

The launch was reported after remarks made in July by Coinbase. The exchange stated plans to aid tokenized stocks and prediction tools based on blockchain at the time. The project is in line with the Coinbase goal of providing a full trading experience in a platform.

Custody and settlement services have also been on the rise as a result of the exchange. Coinbase Custody was chosen by prediction market operator Kalshi to store USDC used in its trading business. The structure highlights the expanding role of Coinbase in regulated digital asset infrastructure.

According to market signals, increased interest in tokenized securities is growing. Recent data by rwa.xyz indicates that monthly transfer volumes in blockchain-linked equities grew by 32%. Overall volume was at $1.45 billion. The expansion points to the increasing use of tokenized real-world assets.

Prediction markets are becoming popular among the crypto circle as well. On Wednesday, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission allowed Gemini to run a regulated prediction market. The approval places Gemini in an exclusive organization of submissive platforms in the industry.

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Other financial firms are adopting similar strategies. Recently, Robinhood announced a futures and derivatives platform in a new joint venture. The TRUMP Media and Technology Group collaborated with Crypto.com to promote the rollout of other prediction-based services. Analysts believe that the wider market is worth over $10 billion.

Prediction markets enable betting on election results, sports and economic statistics, and real-world events. This segment grew at a high pace this year. An increasing institutional interest and a more favorable regulatory environment have fueled this growth.