Coinbase Reveals 2026 Vision: Building the World’s Top Financial App

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has outlined the company’s ambitious 2026 roadmap. The exchange aims to become the world’s leading financial application. Armstrong shared three core priorities on the social media platform X.

Here are our top priorities for 2026 at Coinbase:

1) Grow the everything exchange globally (crypto, equities, prediction markets, commodities – across spot, futures, and options)

2) Scale stablecoins and payments

3) Bring the world onchain through @CoinbaseDev, @base chain,…

— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) January 1, 2026

The first priority targets global expansion of what Armstrong calls the “everything exchange.” This includes crypto, equities, prediction markets, and commodities. Trading will span spot, futures, and options markets.

Stablecoin scaling and payments form the second pillar of the strategy. The third focuses on blockchain adoption through Coinbase Developer, Base chain, and the Base app. Armstrong noted major investments in product quality and automation across all three areas.

The announcement follows a rapid string of acquisitions and product launches. Coinbase has closed ten deals in 2025 alone. The company’s aggressive expansion strategy now encompasses multiple asset classes beyond cryptocurrency.

Coinbase Prediction Market Acquisition Accelerates Strategy

Coinbase agreed to acquire The Clearing Company on December 23. The deal deepens the exchange’s push into event-based trading. It marks the tenth acquisition announcement this year.

The Clearing Company was founded by Toni Gemayel earlier in 2025. Gemayel previously led growth at both Polymarket and Kalshi. The startup secured $15 million in seed funding in August, with Coinbase Ventures among the investors.

The transaction combines cash and Coinbase stock. A company spokesperson described the deal value as immaterial. Closing is expected in January following standard conditions.

Nearly the entire Clearing Company team will join Coinbase. The startup employed approximately 10 people building an onchain, regulated prediction markets platform.

Gemayel expressed enthusiasm about reaching larger audiences through Coinbase’s infrastructure. He emphasized that prediction markets thrive when market structure meets real distribution.

Max Branzburg, Coinbase’s vice president of product management, explained the strategic rationale. He stated that more of the financial system is moving onchain. Prediction markets represent a significant part of that shift.

The acquisition follows Coinbase’s prediction markets launch in mid-December. Users can now trade on elections, economic data, and sports outcomes. Coinbase initially sourced liquidity from Kalshi at launch.

Stock Trading and Developer Tools Enter the Mix

Coinbase unveiled stock trading and event market contracts on December 18. The expansion moves the crypto exchange into traditional equities and advanced derivatives. CEO Armstrong positioned the rollout as transforming Coinbase into a comprehensive financial platform.

Stock trading.

Rolling out on Coinbase in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/tTcjpvVyXc

— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) December 17, 2025

The exchange launched Coinbase Tokenize alongside these products. This institutional stack supports real-world asset tokenization. Armstrong called stock trading a first step toward tokenized equities.

Armstrong noted that prediction markets serve multiple purposes beyond trading. He told CNBC that perhaps 1% of users trade these products as an asset class. The remaining 99% use them to gauge sentiment on various events.

Coinbase Business is now available to eligible customers in the United States and Singapore. The company rolled out an expanded API suite covering custody, payments, trading, and stablecoins. Custom stablecoins for companies seeking branded payment rails are also available.

Armstrong’s broader thesis positions crypto as an upgrade cycle for the entire financial system. He suggested every major asset class will eventually move onchain. This includes prediction markets, equities, commodities, and real estate.

The strategic focus centers on retention and diversification. Coinbase wants its crypto-native audience to remain on the platform across all asset classes. This becomes crucial when crypto volumes decline.

Earlier 2025 acquisitions include Roam, Spindl, Iron Fish, Deribit, Opyn Markets, Liquifi, Sensible, Echo, and Vector.fun. The company plans to expand offerings over time, including additional platforms and market types.