Coinbase Secures UK Investment License — British Users Are About To Get A Lot More Than Crypto

Coinbase disclosed Tuesday it has secured an investment services license in the United Kingdom (UK), opening the door to a significant expansion of what the exchange can offer British users. The authorization means UK customers will soon be able to trade derivatives and equities alongside crypto on the platform. 

Why Coinbase Is Betting Big On The UK 

The exchange called it the single biggest expansion of its UK product suite since entering the market. Institutional and advanced traders gain access to derivatives across crypto, equities, and commodity perpetual futures. Retail users get something the ability to trade equities on Coinbase for the first time. The company said this is just the start.

The new license sits within Coinbase’s existing UK entity alongside its e-money license and crypto registration, consolidating what the company described as the most comprehensive regulatory footprint of any crypto firm currently operating in the UK market.

Today marks our biggest ever expansion of Coinbase UK’s product suite.

We’ve now secured an investment services authorisation in the UK, enabling us to soon offer both equities and derivatives.

Another step to bringing the everything exchange worldwide. pic.twitter.com/sns3IGRHHM

— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) July 7, 2026

The timing connects to a broader shift in the UK’s approach to digital finance. As CryptoDepth reported, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) finalized a mandatory framework for crypto trading platforms, custodians, and stablecoin issuers earlier this year, with full implementation set for October 2027. Coinbase pointed to that new regime as part of its reasoning for deepening its UK presence. 

DeFi Rules Are Still Missing 

Coinbase further disclosed that the regulator found that around seven million UK adults already hold crypto, and that roughly a quarter of non-holders said they would be more likely to participate if the sector were properly regulated. 

On why it is leaning into the UK at this moment, the firm said the government and the FCA are building what Coinbase called a forward-thinking, pro-growth framework for digital finance — and the company’s position is that high regulatory standards and product innovation are not in conflict. 

Still, one area of the UK’s framework that remains unresolved is decentralized finance (DeFi). The FCA has said it plans to consult on DeFi-specific guidance later this year, though no timeline has been confirmed.

Coinbase’s stock closed Tuesday’s session at $163 per share, down 3% on the day. That puts it well below the $330 price target that Bernstein analysts have on the stock. 

Featured image generated with OpenArt.