Coinbase is introducing spot cryptocurrency trading on its international exchange, marking a significant step towards its global expansion strategy.
Starting Dec. 14th, institutional traders can engage in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) transactions, paired with the USDC stablecoin. Greg Tusar, who leads institutional product development at Coinbase, emphasized the strategic importance of offering both spot and derivatives trading concurrently in an interview with Bloomberg.
Coinbase’s expansion arrives when the SEC is actively pursuing legal action against the firm. The SEC alleges that Coinbase has operated an unauthorized exchange, brokerage, and clearing agency. These claims are part of a larger crackdown by the SEC due to several high-profile cryptocurrency failures, including the notable FTX collapse.
The SEC has also targeted other major exchanges, such as Kraken and Binance, accusing them of operating without proper registration. Both firms have contested the SEC’s allegations. Additionally, the slow legislative process concerning cryptocurrency regulations in the U.S. Congress further complicates the regulatory landscape in the country.
Despite these challenges, the cryptocurrency market has partially recovered from its 2022 downturn. The resurgence is partly driven by expectations that the SEC might soon approve its first spot Bitcoin ETFs. Although Coinbase’s stock value has seen significant growth this year, it remains below its peak valuation in 2021.
Coinbase initially launched its international exchange in May, aiming to reduce its dependency on the U.S. market. The company plans to progressively introduce more tokens to the platform and eventually extend offshore spot trading services to retail investors as market liquidity improves.
