Why did Coinbase seek a UK investment services licence?

Coinbase obtained the licence to expand beyond cryptocurrency trading into regulated investment services. The approval allows the company to offer equities to retail customers and certain derivatives to institutional and advanced traders in the UK.

What new products can Coinbase offer in the UK?

Coinbase can now offer equity trading to UK retail customers for the first time. Institutional and advanced traders will also be able to access cryptocurrency, equity and commodity perpetual futures, subject to UK regulatory restrictions.

Can UK retail investors trade crypto derivatives on Coinbase?

No. Although Coinbase has received a broader investment services licence, the UK Financial Conduct Authority continues to prohibit the sale of cryptocurrency derivatives to retail investors. Those products remain limited to institutional and advanced traders.

How does the new licence fit into Coinbase's broader strategy?

Coinbase said the licence supports its strategy of offering a wider range of financial products through a single platform. The company has also expanded into stock trading, prediction markets, tokenised equities and crypto perpetual futures in other markets.

Why is the UK important for Coinbase?

The UK is one of Coinbase's largest international markets. According to the Financial Conduct Authority, about 7 million UK adults hold cryptocurrency, while the country's full cryptocurrency regulatory framework is expected to take effect in October 2027.

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Coinbase wins UK investment services licence

Written by Mahathir BayenaPublished Jul 8, 2026, 2:09 AM

Coinbase has received UK regulatory approval to offer equities and certain derivatives alongside cryptocurrency trading.
The licence allows retail customers to trade stocks, while derivatives will initially be limited to institutional and advanced investors.
The approval supports Coinbase's strategy of expanding into a broader range of financial services beyond digital assets.

Coinbase has received UK Financial Conduct Authority authorisation to offer regulated investment services, allowing the exchange to expand beyond cryptocurrency trading into equities and certain derivatives.

The new licence enables UK retail customers to trade equities through Coinbase for the first time, while institutional and advanced traders will gain access to cryptocurrency, equity and commodity perpetual futures, although crypto derivatives remain unavailable to UK retail investors under existing rules.

The authorisation adds to Coinbase's existing UK e-money licence and crypto registration, supporting the company's strategy of offering a broader range of financial products through a single platform.

The approval comes as the UK finalises its cryptocurrency regulatory framework ahead of a full regime expected to take effect in October 2027, and following the announcement Coinbase shares were not immediately reported to have moved.

Coinbase has been expanding beyond cryptocurrency trading in several markets, including launching crypto perpetual futures in the United States, rolling out stock trading, introducing prediction markets through Kalshi and planning tokenised equities.

According to the Financial Conduct Authority, around 7 million UK adults hold cryptocurrency, while the regulator continues to prohibit the sale of crypto derivatives to retail investors despite allowing broader investment services under the new licence.