Coinbase to Launch Prediction Markets as Part of “Exchange for Everything” Strategy

The Vision: A “One-Stop Shop, On-Chain”

The company’s goal is to create a “one-stop shop” where users can trade a diverse array of assets directly on the blockchain. This will include not only prediction markets but also tokenized stocks, derivatives, and early-stage token sales.

“Everything you want to trade, in a one-stop shop, on-chain,” said Max Branzburg, Coinbase’s Vice President of Product. “We’re bringing all assets on-chain — stocks, prediction markets, and more. We’re building the foundations for a faster, more accessible, more global economy.”

The new offerings will be rolled out to US users in the coming months, with a gradual international expansion to follow.

Entering a Competitive Prediction Market Arena

Coinbase’s entry into the prediction market space will put it in direct competition with established players. In the U.S., it will face off against Kalshi, the country’s only federally licensed prediction market.

It will also have to contend with the global market leader, Polymarket, which is making its own aggressive push back into the U.S. market. Polymarket recently acquired a CFTC-licensed exchange for $112 million, signaling a new era of regulated competition in the prediction market sector.

The timing of Coinbase’s announcement is no coincidence. It comes as the regulatory environment in the U.S. is becoming increasingly favorable to crypto and digital assets. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently launched “Project Crypto,” a program aimed at modernizing securities laws for crypto-based trading.

The new pro-crypto policies from Washington have created a tailwind for companies like Coinbase, which is currently in the midst of a major campaign to boost consumer engagement with new services.