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Coinbase Expands Bitcoin Holdings and Prepares to Launch Tokenized Stocks and Prediction Markets in U.S.

Coinbase, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, announced it has increased its bitcoin holdings by 2,509 BTC in the second quarter of 2025 and continues to acquire more.

CEO Brian Armstrong emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to bitcoin, stating, “Coinbase is long bitcoin. Our holding increased, and we keep buying more.”

Although Coinbase’s Bitcoin purchase strategy echoes the trend seen in other firms inspired by Michael Saylor’s approach, the company clarifies it is an operating crypto business, not a bitcoin treasury firm.

In addition to expanding its cryptocurrency reserves, Coinbase revealed plans to launch tokenized versions of U.S. stocks and introduce prediction markets in the United States. Tokenized stocks are digital representations of equities that users can trade on blockchain technology, enabling fractional ownership, faster settlement times, and lower transaction costs compared to traditional stock markets. This initiative is currently awaiting approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Max Branzburg, Coinbase’s Vice President of Product, described this move as part of creating an “everything exchange” where users can trade a wide range of assets, including stocks, prediction markets, and more—all on-chain in one platform. The launch of these new features is expected within the coming months, subject to regulatory clarity, and will initially serve U.S. customers before expanding internationally.

The development puts Coinbase in direct competition with firms like Robinhood, Kraken, and Gemini, which have already introduced tokenized stock offerings outside the United States. This expansion aligns with a broader industry trend where financial companies leverage tokenization to increase market accessibility and efficiency. Major institutions such as BlackRock and JPMorgan have also begun exploring tokenized asset trading recently.

Also Read: Coinbase CEO Calls for Changes to Accredited Investor Rules in the US

Despite these innovation efforts, Coinbase’s second-quarter earnings fell below expectations amid declining retail trading volumes, causing the company’s shares to drop around 6% in after-hours trading. Nevertheless, Coinbase’s strategic push into tokenized stocks and prediction markets highlights the firm’s goal to build a faster, more inclusive, and globally integrated economy.

Tokenized U.S. stocks have gone live in 2026

In August 2026, Coinbase launched tokenized versions of Apple, Nvidia, Meta and Alphabet shares on Base, initially targeting investors outside the United States. The tokens are backed 1:1 by underlying shares held with a custodian and can trade around the clock on eligible onchain venues.

This followed Coinbase’s June announcement that it was preparing tokenized U.S. stocks that would allow eligible users to trade and hold blockchain-based representations of equities. The company said holders would also be able to receive dividends.

Coinbase is attempting to bring traditional securities onto blockchain infrastructure, potentially allowing equities to interact with DeFi applications and other onchain financial products. In August, the company also received Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to establish an international tokenization hub in Abu Dhabi. The authorization allows Coinbase to arrange deals in investments and provide custody as it develops its tokenized-securities business.

 

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