Coinbase Sets December 17 Launch for Prediction Markets and Tokenized Equities as Institutional Push Deepens With Standard Chartered

New products, tighter regulation, and a global banking alliance signal Coinbase’s next phase

TL;DR

• Coinbase plans to unveil prediction markets and tokenized equities on Dec. 17, expanding beyond crypto trading into regulated event markets and onchain representations of stocks.
• The company is deepening institutional infrastructure through an expanded partnership with Standard Chartered, covering custody, trading, staking, and lending.
• Both moves underscore Coinbase’s strategy to bridge traditional finance and digital assets under tighter regulatory scrutiny.

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Coinbase is preparing to significantly broaden its product lineup with a planned rollout of prediction markets and tokenized equities scheduled for Dec. 17, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. The initiative, which has not yet been formally detailed by the company, is expected to be revealed during a livestream that Coinbase has teased as a “new era” of product launches. Screenshots and interface previews circulating on social media suggest the new features will be embedded directly into Coinbase’s existing platform, positioning the exchange to compete more directly with retail trading apps and regulated event-based markets while keeping users inside a single ecosystem.

Prediction markets would allow users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events, a sector that has seen sharp growth in recent months as volumes across regulated and onchain platforms surged toward multi-billion-dollar weekly levels. Early indications point to Coinbase working with Kalshi, a U.S.-regulated prediction market operator, rather than building a standalone, unregulated alternative. That approach would align Coinbase with a growing coalition of firms—including other exchanges and trading platforms—advocating for federally overseen prediction markets as states move to restrict or ban certain types of event betting, particularly around elections.

Alongside prediction markets, Coinbase is expected to introduce tokenized equities, offering digital representations of traditional stocks that can be traded onchain. People familiar with the plans have indicated the product is being developed in-house rather than through a white-label provider, suggesting Coinbase wants full control over the technology, compliance framework, and revenue model. Tokenized equities remain a regulatory gray area in the U.S., where securities laws still apply regardless of whether an asset is represented digitally, and the launch is likely to draw close attention from regulators already scrutinizing crypto platforms’ expansion into traditional financial products.

Coinbase has declined to confirm specific details ahead of the Dec. 17 event, with a spokesperson urging users to tune into the livestream to see what new products the company is shipping. The timing is notable as competitors such as Gemini have secured approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to offer regulated prediction markets, while platforms like Robinhood and eToro continue to blur the line between crypto and equity trading. Coinbase’s move appears designed to keep pace with those shifts while leveraging its scale and compliance posture.

Parallel to the retail-facing product expansion, Coinbase is also strengthening its institutional strategy through an expanded partnership with Standard Chartered, announced in mid-December. The collaboration builds on an existing relationship in Singapore and is aimed at delivering a broader suite of institutional digital asset services, including trading, custody, prime services, staking, and lending. Standard Chartered provides banking connectivity and fiat rails, enabling near-instant settlement and real-time transfers that are critical for institutional clients managing large positions.

Executives from both companies framed the partnership as a step toward more mature, well-governed digital asset markets. Standard Chartered emphasized its role as a global bank supporting clients as the sector develops under tighter compliance and risk-management standards, while Coinbase Institutional leadership pointed to the need for bank-grade infrastructure that allows institutions to access and manage digital assets with confidence. The expanded cooperation is expected to support Coinbase’s international growth and deepen its reach among asset managers, hedge funds, and corporate clients seeking regulated exposure to crypto markets.

This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.