Coinbase is expanding its operations in Australia after obtaining an Australian financial services license. The license will allow the exchange to offer crypto and equity perpetuals initially, with plans to introduce futures, options, and other traditional financial products over time.
Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).
The move aligns with Coinbase’s global strategy to become a multi-product platform. The company has been building a “gateway to everything in finance,” combining crypto with equities, derivatives, and other financial products under a single platform. The Australian expansion is a step in this broader push to move beyond crypto-only offerings.
Coinbase AFSL Brings Full Regulatory Oversight
The AFSL subjects Coinbase to the same regulatory standards that govern traditional financial services providers, including requirements for conduct, disclosure, governance, and consumer protection. The move comes as Australia advances a dedicated regulatory framework for digital assets.
- Retail Investors Get a Shot at SpaceX as Wall Street Fights Over a $75 Billion IPO
- Former Finalto Trading CEO Andrew Biggs Joins IG to Lead Trading Operations
- EBC Financial’s UK CEO David Barrett Steps Down After Six Years
The Corporations Amendment Bill 2025 passed both houses of Parliament on April 1 and is awaiting royal assent. The bill is expected to take effect 12 months after assent.
Australians Increasingly Using Crypto Payments
Coinbase has also been hiring locally across legal, compliance, marketing, and operations roles, drawing talent from other regulated industries. In September, the company and competitor OKX launched services for self-managed superannuation funds, enabling individuals to include crypto in retirement savings.
According to the Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index, around 33% of Australians now have exposure to cryptocurrency, up from 31% in 2025. The data also suggests more Australians are using crypto to pay for goods and services.
US Equity Perpetuals Expand Coinbase Offerings
Last month, Coinbase launched stock perpetual futures for eligible non-US users, expanding crypto, equities, and prediction market offerings outside the US.
The contracts provide leveraged, cash-settled exposure to major US stocks and indices, accessible on Coinbase Advanced for retail users and Coinbase International Exchange for institutions. The move follows earlier launches in the US and Europe, forming part of Coinbase’s 2026 strategy to build a global multi-asset brokerage model.
