Coinbase has rolled out commission-free trading of US-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds to all its American customers, operating 24 hours a day, five days a week. This expansion aims to position the platform as an 'everything exchange' by integrating traditional assets with cryptocurrency services. Users can fund trades using US dollars or the USDC stablecoin and purchase fractional shares starting at $1.
Coinbase announced the launch of stock and ETF trading on February 24, 2026, building on its December plan to create an 'everything exchange.' The feature allows all US users to buy and sell over 8,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs directly on the platform alongside crypto trading. Operations run 24/5 with zero commissions on eligible securities, and the company plans to extend this schedule to more assets in the coming months.
This move follows a limited equities launch in December and the introduction of a predictions market earlier in February. Coinbase is partnering with Apex Fintech Solutions for clearing, custody, and execution services, enabling seamless integration within its app. Additionally, an agreement with Yahoo Finance includes a 'Trade [asset] on Coinbase' button on stock and crypto pages, along with real-time data feeds from Coinbase into Yahoo's market pages.
The expansion intensifies competition with platforms like Robinhood, which has grown its crypto offerings. Both Coinbase (COIN) and Robinhood (HOOD) shares have declined about 35% this year amid digital asset market weakness. Coinbase's CEO Brian Armstrong recently defended spot Bitcoin ETFs, emphasizing the company's custodial role and rejecting claims of 'paper bitcoin' backing.
Financially, Coinbase reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $667 million, with declines in transaction and subscription revenue. The addition of equities seeks to diversify revenue and reduce reliance on crypto volatility. The company has expressed interest in future tokenized stocks for blockchain-based trading, pending regulatory approval.
This development reflects a broader trend among crypto firms to blend traditional finance with digital assets, potentially stabilizing Coinbase's stock performance like that of diversified tech platforms.
