Coinbase 2026 push: stablecoins, Base and an everything exchange
Coinbase plans to prioritize stablecoins, its Ethereum layer-2 network Base, and the expansion of exchange products beyond cryptocurrencies through 2026, according to CEO Brian Armstrong in a New Year’s social media post.
Armstrong reiterated the company’s “everything exchange” strategy, which includes adding products such as prediction markets, equities, and commodities.
At a year-end conference in December, Coinbase launched stock trading and prediction markets as part of this push. The company also rebranded its wallet as an “everything app,” introducing social networking and onchain features.
Competitors are making similar moves. A recent report by Delphi Digital found that exchanges including Coinbase, OKX, and Binance are evolving into distribution layers for a wider range of digital services.
Advancing the “everything exchange” strategy
Coinbase executives described the rollout of stock trading on the main app as a milestone toward enabling 24/7 trading of stocks and ETFs alongside crypto from a single interface.
Coinbase also announced onchain prediction markets in partnership with Kalshi and indicated plans to offer 24/7 perpetual futures on both crypto and stocks.
These steps push crypto exchanges further into areas typically occupied by retail brokerages and derivatives platforms, rather than serving purely as crypto on‑ramps.
Stablecoins and payments form the second pillar of Coinbase’s 2026 plan. The firm positions stablecoins as core financial infrastructure for remittances, payroll, and settlements. Banks will demand interest‑bearing stablecoin products. Source: Brian Armstrong
Security and support concerns accompany the super app push
Parts of the vision have faced criticism. Base’s approach to creator coins drew backlash from some builders who questioned whether the network was capitalizing on short-lived viral trends, even as the team emphasizes creators as a major onboarding channel.
Jesse Pollak, Coinbase’s vice president of engineering, says SocialFi remains a priority.
Community responses have also raised long-standing concerns about security and customer support. In 2025, Coinbase disclosed that cybercriminals bribed overseas customer service agents to obtain customer data, prompting media scrutiny and renewed debate over outsourced support and data-heavy KYC practices.
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