Coinbase has secured a UK MiFID license, allowing UK users to trade derivatives and equities alongside crypto on a single platform. The approval builds on the company’s existing e-money license and crypto registration. Institutional investors will gain access to perpetual futures for crypto, equities, and commodities, while retail customers can now trade equities for the first time. Coinbase describes this as a move toward its “everything exchange” model, aiming to reduce financial fragmentation. The license is specific to the UK market, with a full crypto regulatory framework expected in October 2027. Approximately 7 million UK adults own crypto, per the Financial Conduct Authority.
Coinbase has secured a UK MiFID license, widening its product plans beyond crypto. The approval will allow UK users to trade derivatives and equities through one platform, according to the announcement.
The authorization applies to the company’s UK entity, which already holds an e-money license and crypto registration. The new approval adds investment services to its existing regulated position in the country.
This license would enable Coinbase to provide traditional financial products. Institutional investors and experienced traders would get access to derivatives, including crypto, equity, and commodity perpetual futures. Retail customers would be able to trade equities for the very first time.
Coinbase stated that this license changes the possibilities for UK customers on the platform. Among the possibilities included are derivatives and equities, while tokenized real assets would be added in the future.
The license is specific for the UK market. Users would gain access to crypto, derivatives, and equities via the same login credentials. The company justified its decision as part of an initiative to reduce financial fragmentation.
The fully developed crypto regulatory framework for the UK market would come into force in October 2027. Coinbase noted that the license allows users to access regulated investment products ahead of the framework’s implementation.
The Financial Conduct Authority found that around 7 million UK adults own crypto. A quarter of those who do not own crypto would be encouraged to join the market if it were properly regulated, as stated in the announcement.
A post on X from Pulse Alpha shared: “Coinbase secures UK MiFID license, paving way for derivatives and equities trading alongside crypto in the UK.” Coinbase called the license a move toward its “everything exchange” model, centered on a one-login access system for various financial services including cryptocurrency trading, savings, lending, derivatives, stocks, stablecoin payments, and eventually tokenized real-world assets.
