Coinbase wins Australia license, plans push into futures, options, and equities

Coinbase has secured an Australian financial services license and plans to deepen its presence in Australia, expanding into futures, options, stock trading, payments, and other traditional finance products.

According to Coinbase’s regional managing director for APAC, John O’Loghlen, the Australian financial services license will allow the exchange to initially offer crypto and equity perpetuals and later expand into futures, options, and other traditional financial products.

“We’re going to compete with traditional financial services on stock trading, payments and other TradFi products with the speed and execution of crypto,” O’Loghlen said.

With the new license, Coinbase will be required to meet the same standards that apply to traditional financial services providers. This includes having to comply with conduct, disclosure, governance, and consumer protection requirements.

O’Loghlen also praised Australia’s regulatory direction, pointing to its structured approach toward digital assets.

“Thoughtful regulation is good for customers, good for the industry and good for Australia’s ambition to be a leading digital economy in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

Australia is currently advancing the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, which has passed both houses of parliament on April 1 and is now awaiting royal assent before becoming law. The law will come into effect 12 months after assent.

Besides plans to broaden its offerings, Coinbase will also expand its local team with senior hires across legal, compliance, marketing, and operations, among others.

Last week, Coinbase also became the first crypto-native firm to receive conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, making it the first major U.S. crypto exchange to secure such a nod.