TLDR
- Coinbase rolled out commission-free stock and ETF trading with 24/5 availability for American investors on Feb. 24.
- Shares of COIN surged 13% on Wednesday, ranking as the S&P 500’s second-strongest performer.
- This initiative advances Coinbase’s ambition to build an “Everything Exchange” and become a premier financial platform.
- Competitor stocks also rallied: Robinhood (HOOD) climbed 4.6% while SoFi (SOFI) increased 3.8%.
- Bitcoin’s 6% surge to $67,923 within 24 hours provided additional momentum for cryptocurrency-related equities.
Shares of Coinbase Global (COIN) rallied 13% during Wednesday’s trading session following the company’s official introduction of stock and ETF trading capabilities for all American customers, securing its position as the S&P 500’s second-strongest performer that day.
The trading feature became accessible on Feb. 24, enabling American investors to purchase and sell stocks and exchange-traded funds alongside their cryptocurrency holdings on a unified platform, with zero-commission pricing and round-the-clock weekday availability.
Investors can start with fractional shares for as little as $1, while the system accommodates immediate funding through USD or USDC. Additionally, Coinbase One subscribers receive rewards on their USDC holdings.
The securities offerings come through Coinbase Capital Markets Corp., while Apex Fintech Solutions manages clearing, custody, and trade execution responsibilities.
Chief Executive Brian Armstrong revealed the launch on X, stating: “Big moment — you can now trade stocks on Coinbase. The everything exchange is growing.”
Armstrong revealed the company’s long-range ambition includes offering tokenized equities — blockchain-based digital representations of traditional securities that settle through distributed ledger technology instead of conventional exchange infrastructure.
Coinbase simultaneously revealed a strategic alliance with Yahoo Finance, a platform attracting more than 150 million worldwide monthly users. This collaboration enables seamless transitions from stock research on Yahoo Finance directly to trade execution on Coinbase through a single interaction.
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 products, and blockchain-native applications.
Coinbase has been systematically pursuing this objective — introducing prediction markets through Kalshi in December, unveiling a credit card partnership with American Express last June, and completing the acquisition of Vector, an on-chain trading platform.
The comprehensive 24/5 stock and ETF availability for all qualified American customers represents the newest milestone, building upon a restricted beta program initiated in December.
The company’s roadmap includes expanding its equity selection in upcoming months, providing equity perpetuals for international traders through Coinbase Bermuda Ltd., and ultimately launching tokenized stock offerings.
Peers Catch a Lift
The announcement created positive momentum across the fintech sector. Robinhood (HOOD) shares advanced 4.6% while SoFi (SOFI) stock appreciated 3.8% on Wednesday.
Robinhood is pursuing a comparable convergence strategy from the opposite starting point — originating as a stock trading platform before expanding into cryptocurrency, banking services, and prediction markets. Throughout Europe, the company currently provides tokenized American equities with 24/5 trading availability.
Both COIN and HOOD maintain strong correlations with Bitcoin’s valuation, which influences trading activity and transaction-based income. Bitcoin has declined nearly 50% from its Oct. 6, 2025 high of $126,196. During this identical timeframe, COIN decreased 54% while HOOD retreated 47%.
On Wednesday, Bitcoin appreciated 6% over 24 hours reaching $67,923, providing upward pressure for both equities.
The ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF, which includes Coinbase and Robinhood within its three largest positions, advanced 3.8% during the session. The fund remains down 22% for the year-to-date period.
COIN had gained 1.1% on Tuesday before Wednesday’s additional 13% advance.
