Coinbase to Launch Stock Futures, Why This Is Big For Crypto

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-03-21Last updated on 2026-03-21

Abstract

Coinbase, a major US cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the launch of stock perpetual futures for non-US traders. This expansion is a significant step in its "Everything Exchange" strategy, moving beyond crypto into traditional assets like stocks and ETFs. The new derivatives allow eligible traders to speculate on the price of major tech stocks (Apple, Microsoft, etc.) and index ETFs (SPY, QQQ) with up to 10x and 20x leverage, respectively, all settled in USDC. These contracts never expire, enabling 24/7 trading. This launch integrates traditional assets with crypto on a single platform, offering new trading and hedging opportunities but also introducing higher risks of volatility and liquidations.

Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency centralized exchanges (CEX) in the United States, has just announced the launching of stock perpetual futures for non-US traders.

Coinbase Expands Beyond All Borders

The CEX’s expansion, announced today in a blog post on its official website, isn’t just about stepping beyond U.S. borders to give global traders ongoing leveraged exposure via perpetual futures. It also marks Coinbase’s push beyond crypto into traditional assets, turning this rollout into a fresh bet on the growing trend toward tokenized stocks and 24/7 markets, driven by both TradFi and DeFi players. Recently, Europe’s largest asset manager Amundi announced the launching of a tokenized fund on Ethereum and Stellar, as covered by Bitcoinist just today.

Coinbase frames this launch as part of its broader “Everything Exchange” strategy, aiming to bring crypto, traditional assets, and new tokenized products into one venue.

Today, Coinbase expands its global derivatives offering with the launch of stock perpetual futures, becoming one of the first major centralized venues to offer this product. This launch strengthens Coinbase’s position in international derivatives and advances our long-term strategy of building the Everything Exchange where traders can access crypto, traditional, and emerging assets side by side.

Over the past year, Coinbase has laid the regulatory and product runway for this leap. It first rolled out crypto perpetual futures to U.S. retail traders under CFTC oversight in mid‐2025, then pushed derivatives into Europe via a MiFID II license obtained through its Bux acquisition, reaching 26 countries in an earlier March 2026 expansion that landed alongside its stock index futures debut.

A 24/7 US stock market

The CEX itself describes perpetual futures as “a type of derivative contract that enables traders to speculate on the price of an asset (...) without needing to buy or own the underlying asset itself.” Unlike standard futures, never expire, so traders can keep positions open indefinitely as long as they meet the margin requirements.

At launch, contracts cover the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, NVIDIA, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. In certain permitted jurisdictions, perpetual futures on benchmark ETFs tracking, the S&P 500 (SPY) and the tech‐heavy Nasdaq‐100 (QQQ), are also available.

Leverage goes up to 10x on individual stock perpetuals and up to 20x on ETF perpetuals. All contracts are settled in USDC, Coinbase’s preferred stablecoin. The platform uses unified margin across perpetual and spot positions, allowing more capital-efficient portfolio management and risk offsets.

What This Means For Traders

Coinbase is methodically weaving spot, futures, and now stock‐linked perpetuals into a single, always‐on risk platform that changes how both retail and institutions express views across markets. For traders, that unlocks new basis trades between spot stocks and perpetuals, tighter cross‐asset plays between crypto and U.S. equities, and more complex hedging around macro events and earnings.

The flip side is obvious: deeper leverage stacks mean a higher risk of cascading liquidations and sharper, event‐driven volatility when the Fed speaks, data prints hit, or Big Tech reports.

At the moment of writing, BTC trades barely above the $70k level on the daily chart, marking a downside trend. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview

Cover image from Perplexity, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

Related Questions

QWhat new product has Coinbase announced for non-US traders?

ACoinbase has announced the launch of stock perpetual futures for non-US traders.

QWhich major tech stocks are covered by the new perpetual futures contracts?

AThe contracts cover the 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, NVIDIA, Meta Platforms, and Tesla.

QWhat is the maximum leverage offered on individual stock perpetual futures?

ALeverage goes up to 10x on individual stock perpetual futures.

QIn what currency are all the new perpetual futures contracts settled?

AAll contracts are settled in USDC, which is Coinbase's preferred stablecoin.

QHow does Coinbase describe the broader strategy that this launch is a part of?

ACoinbase frames this launch as part of its broader 'Everything Exchange' strategy, aiming to bring crypto, traditional assets, and new tokenized products into one venue.

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