TLDR
- Coinbase rolled out commission-free stock and ETF trading with 24/5 availability for U.S. customers beginning Feb. 24.
- COIN shares surged 13% on Wednesday, ranking as the S&P 500’s second-top gainer that session.
- This launch advances Coinbase’s “Everything Exchange” vision to evolve into a comprehensive financial platform.
- Robinhood (HOOD) climbed 4.6% while SoFi (SOFI) increased 3.8% following the announcement.
- Bitcoin rallied 6% over 24 hours to reach $67,923, providing additional momentum to crypto-related equities.
Shares of Coinbase Global (COIN) rocketed 13% higher on Wednesday following the company’s official rollout of stock and ETF trading capabilities to all eligible U.S. customers, securing its position as the S&P 500’s second-strongest performer that day.
The trading feature became available on Feb. 24, enabling U.S. users to trade stocks and ETFs alongside their cryptocurrency holdings on a unified platform, featuring zero-commission trades and 24-hour weekday market access.
Investors can purchase fractional shares starting from $1, while the system accommodates immediate funding through USD or USDC. Members of Coinbase One receive additional benefits through rewards on their USDC holdings.
Coinbase Capital Markets Corp. provides the securities offerings, while Apex Fintech Solutions manages clearing, custody, and trade execution services.
On X, CEO Brian Armstrong marked the occasion by stating: “Big moment — you can now trade stocks on Coinbase. The everything exchange is growing.”
Armstrong revealed the company’s future ambitions include offering tokenized equities — blockchain-based digital representations of traditional securities that settle through decentralized networks instead of conventional exchanges.
Coinbase simultaneously unveiled a strategic partnership with Yahoo Finance, which attracts more than 150 million monthly visitors worldwide. This integration creates a seamless pathway allowing users to transition from stock research on Yahoo Finance directly to trade execution on Coinbase with one click.
Everything Exchange Strategy
The “Everything Exchange” concept evolved into an official corporate strategy during late 2025. The framework encompasses three distinct tiers: trading operations, financial services offerings, and blockchain-based applications.
Coinbase has systematically pursued this vision — introducing prediction markets through Kalshi last December, launching a co-branded credit card with American Express in June, and completing the acquisition of Vector, an on-chain trading platform.
This comprehensive 24/5 stock and ETF deployment to all qualified U.S. customers represents the most recent milestone, expanding beyond the limited beta program initiated in December.
The company’s roadmap includes broadening its equity offerings in upcoming months, providing equity perpetuals for international traders through Coinbase Bermuda Ltd., and ultimately rolling out tokenized stock products.
Peers Catch a Lift
The announcement created positive momentum across the fintech sector. Robinhood (HOOD) shares advanced 4.6% while SoFi (SOFI) climbed 3.8% during Wednesday’s session.
Robinhood has pursued a complementary strategy from the opposite starting point — originally established as a stock trading platform before expanding into cryptocurrency, banking services, and prediction markets. The company already provides tokenized U.S. stocks with 24/5 trading in European markets.
Both COIN and HOOD maintain strong correlations with Bitcoin’s performance, which directly impacts their trading volumes and transaction-based revenues. Bitcoin has declined nearly 50% from its Oct. 6, 2025 all-time high of $126,196. During this identical timeframe, COIN decreased 54% while HOOD fell 47%.
On Wednesday, Bitcoin jumped 6% over a 24-hour period to $67,923, providing tailwinds for both stocks.
The ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF, which includes Coinbase and Robinhood within its three largest positions, rose 3.8% during the session. The fund remains down 22% year-to-date.
COIN gained 1.1% on Tuesday before posting its 13% surge on Wednesday.
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