Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, plans to officially launch prediction markets and tokenized stock services. This marks the beginning of a full-fledged strategy to expand beyond cryptocurrency trading to include traditional financial products on-chain.
According to Bloomberg, Coinbase will unveil its prediction market and tokenized stock services at a showcase event on the 17th. Specifically, the tokenized stocks will reportedly be offered through Coinbase's own system, without relying on external partners. While the company has previously expressed its intention to pursue this initiative, this marks the first official announcement.
Tokenized stocks are structured as blockchain-based tokens issued as actual stocks for trading. Their strengths include 24-hour trading and borderless accessibility. They are expected to attract global investment demand, allowing investors to invest in stock-like assets without having to open a securities account or undergo complex settlement procedures.
Prediction markets are a structure where people place bets in the form of tokens on the likelihood of a specific event. They can cover a wide range of topics, including election results, economic indicators, and sporting events. They are often called "collective intelligence markets" because the collective judgment of market participants is reflected in prices. Recent analysis in the United States suggests that prediction markets are more accurate than opinion polls.
This move is interpreted as an extension of Coinbase's strategy to evolve beyond a simple virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive financial platform. Coinbase has already expanded its business to include derivatives, staking, and on-chain payments, and tokenized stocks and prediction markets are considered key players blurring the lines between traditional and decentralized finance.
Industry insiders also speculate that Coinbase's official entry could accelerate institutional discussions on tokenized securities and prediction markets in general. Especially as the regulatory environment in the US gradually improves, the involvement of a major exchange is seen as a signal of increased market confidence.
Coinbase's announcement suggests a potential turning point for core Wall Street financial productsโstocks, derivatives, and predictionsโto migrate to blockchain. It remains to be seen whether competition for on-chain financial infrastructure will accelerate further.
