Coinbase Opens Stock and ETF Trading to All U.S. Users
Coinbase has officially launched stock and exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading for all U.S. customers, marking a major expansion beyond digital assets. Users can now buy and sell U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs on the same platform they use for cryptocurrency. Trading is available 24 hours a day, five days a week (24/5), with zero commission on eligible securities. Customers can fund trades with U.S. dollars or the USDC stablecoin and purchase fractional shares starting at just $1.
The full rollout follows a limited equities launch in December 2025 and the debut of a predictions market earlier this month. Together, these products reflect Coinbase's broader strategy to bring multiple asset classes under one account and interface, aiming to become an 'everything exchange.'
Partnerships: Yahoo Finance and Apex Fintech Solutions
As part of the expansion, Coinbase has partnered with Yahoo Finance. The financial news platform will add a 'Trade [asset] on Coinbase' button to stock and crypto pages, allowing users to move seamlessly from research to execution. Yahoo Finance will also integrate real-time Coinbase data into its market pages. The companies did not disclose financial terms.
For the underlying equities infrastructure, Coinbase is working with Apex Fintech Solutions to handle clearing, custody, and execution services. This integration enables users to access U.S. equity markets within the Coinbase app while relying on Apex for back-end brokerage functions, bypassing the need for Coinbase to build its own brokerage license from scratch.
Competitive Landscape: Direct Battle with Robinhood
The launch places Coinbase in direct competition with retail brokerages such as Robinhood, which has aggressively expanded its crypto offerings over the past few years. By adding stocks and ETFs, Coinbase is moving onto Robinhood's core turf. Both firms now compete for retail traders who want exposure to both digital assets and traditional markets in a single account.
Coinbase said more than 8,000 stocks and ETFs are available at launch, with plans to expand 24/5 trading to additional securities in the coming months. The company also signaled interest in future tokenized stocks, which would allow equities to move across blockchain networks and trade around the clock—subject to regulatory approval.
Coinbase Stock Performance and Financial Pressure
The expansion carries implications for Coinbase's own stock performance. Shares of Coinbase Global Inc. ($COIN) have historically moved in tandem with bitcoin prices, reflecting the company's heavy reliance on crypto trading revenue. A broader product mix tied to equities could help loosen that relationship and reposition Coinbase as a diversified technology platform rather than a pure-play crypto exchange.
Nevertheless, both $COIN and Robinhood's $HOOD have fallen about 35% this year amid weakness in digital asset markets. By contrast, trading activity in equities has provided a steadier revenue base for some platforms during periods of low crypto volatility. Over the past two weeks, Coinbase shares have experienced sharp volatility as crypto markets swung between selloffs and brief relief rallies. Analysts have trimmed price targets amid weaker trading activity, though shares rebounded strongly during short-term bitcoin surges.
CEO Brian Armstrong recently publicly defended the integrity of spot Bitcoin ETFs, rejecting claims that they are backed by 'paper bitcoin' and emphasizing Coinbase's custodial role. On the financial front, Coinbase reported a Q4 net loss of $667 million, with transaction revenue down quarter over quarter and subscription and services revenue also declining. The addition of stock and ETF trading represents a strategic effort to diversify income streams and attract users who want a single venue for managing both crypto and traditional investments.