Coinbase expands into stocks after Australia licence

The Australian Financial Services Licence will initially allow the exchange to offer crypto and equity perpetuals, with plans to add futures, options and payments services.

The move is part of Coinbase’s push to become an “everything exchange” that competes directly with traditional financial platforms.

“We’re going to compete with traditional financial services on stock trading, payments and other TradFi products with the speed and execution of crypto,”

Said APAC managing director, John O’Loghlen.

Australia’s new digital asset legislation, passed on April 1, brings crypto platforms under the same regulatory framework as traditional finance, with implementation expected after a 12-month transition period.

The expansion comes as crypto adoption in Australia grows, with around 33% of the population holding digital assets and increasing usage for payments.

Coinbase has also been building its local presence through new hires and earlier initiatives such as crypto access for retirement funds, positioning itself to capture a share of the country’s multi-trillion-dollar superannuation market.