Coinbase Expands Beyond Crypto: Stock Trading, Prediction Markets & Major Solana DEX Update Unveiled

Coinbase just dropped a triple bombshell—and it's not just about Bitcoin anymore.

The exchange is launching stock trading, diving into prediction markets, and rolling out a significant upgrade to its Solana-based decentralized exchange. This isn't an expansion; it's a full-scale invasion of traditional finance's turf.

From Crypto Niche to Financial Super-App

Forget the 'crypto-only' label. The stock trading move directly challenges legacy brokerages by bringing equities onto the same platform as digital assets. It's a seamless bridge between two worlds that have been artificially kept apart—mostly by old-guard institutions protecting their fees.

The prediction market feature leans into crypto's speculative roots but frames it as 'event trading.' It turns real-world outcomes into tradable assets, a concept that would give a traditional compliance officer heart palpitations.

The Solana Power Play

While chasing Wall Street, Coinbase isn't forgetting its base. The Solana DEX upgrade is a serious commitment to one of Ethereum's biggest rivals. It focuses on speed and lower costs, addressing the very pain points that have plagued DeFi on other networks. This isn't just support; it's a strategic bet on a high-throughput blockchain's future.

One cynical finance jab? They're building the everything-app for the degens and the 'responsible investors' simultaneously—finally, a place to YOLO on meme stocks and meme coins in one convenient portfolio, just in time for the next bubble.

Coinbase isn't waiting for the future of finance. It's building it, one aggressive product launch at a time. And traditional finance? It's left playing catch-up, weighed down by legacy systems and the desperate hope that regulation will save them.

TLDR

• Coinbase rolls out stock trading and plans to expand into tokenized equities in 2026.
• New features include prediction markets via Kalshi and Solana DEX trading via Jupiter.
• Coinbase integrates custom stablecoins and expands developer APIs for payments.
• Simplified futures and perpetual futures trading now available on Coinbase’s main app.

Coinbase has unveiled a major product expansion, positioning itself to evolve into a broad “everything exchange.” At its December 17 system update event, the platform announced several new features, including stock trading, prediction markets, and decentralized trading for solana tokens. This expansion aims to extend Coinbase’s offering beyond cryptocurrencies, integrating equities, derivatives, and a variety of financial services.

One of the most notable features is the introduction of stock trading. Coinbase now allows U.S. users to trade stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) commission-free, alongside their crypto holdings.

This development enables users to manage both traditional and digital assets within a single account. Coinbase plans to broaden its stock offerings, with the goal of adding thousands of new stocks in the coming months. Additionally, stock-linked perpetual futures will be available for non-U.S. users, providing access to U.S. equities in a more capital-efficient way.

Integration with Kalshi for Prediction Markets

As part of its expansion, Coinbase is also entering the prediction market space through a partnership with Kalshi, a regulated prediction market platform. This will allow users to trade event-based contracts using U.S. dollars or USDC, directly within the Coinbase app. The company emphasized that liquidity for these contracts will initially be sourced from Kalshi, though additional platforms will be integrated over time.

This integration enables users to diversify their portfolios with predictive trading opportunities. Positions will appear alongside users’ existing crypto, equities, and cash balances, making it easier to manage all assets in one place. Coinbase’s MOVE into prediction markets reflects the company’s desire to expand into broader financial services, offering a unique way for users to engage with real-world events through financial contracts.

Solana DEX Trading via Jupiter Integration

Coinbase is also enhancing its decentralized finance (DeFi) capabilities by integrating Solana-based token trading through Jupiter, Solana’s largest decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator. This integration allows Coinbase users to trade Solana tokens seamlessly within the platform without the need to manually route trades across multiple decentralized exchanges.

https://x.com/Blockworks_/status/2001407029496123749?s=20 

With this update, Coinbase users will have access to millions of assets across both the Solana and Base networks. The platform plans to expand its decentralized trading features to include additional networks over time. This move is part of Coinbase’s broader strategy to offer a more comprehensive range of trading options that include both centralized and decentralized assets.

Custom Stablecoins and Expanding Developer APIs

Coinbase is also making strides in the stablecoin sector with the introduction of custom stablecoins. These stablecoins allow companies to issue branded tokens backed by a flexible mix of collateral, including USDC. By launching this feature, Coinbase is competing with stablecoin infrastructure providers like Paxos and Anchorage, offering businesses a new way to integrate stablecoin payments into their operations.

Moreover, Coinbase is enhancing its developer platform with new APIs for custody, payments, trading, and stablecoins. These APIs are designed to help businesses integrate crypto payments and financial services into their operations. Partners such as Deel, Papaya, and dLocal are already utilizing Coinbase’s payment infrastructure to streamline their crypto transactions. Additionally, the company has introduced x402, a payment standard for stablecoin transactions, which facilitates AI-powered autonomous transactions.