- Coinbase is a U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange.
- The launch comes amid a growing regulatory crackdown on the cryptocurrency industry in the United States.
- The new platform will let eligible users trade perpetual futures, with initial contracts offering up to 5x leverage.
Coinbase, a major cryptocurrency exchange headquartered in the United States, has introduced an international trading venue in response to increased regulatory pressure in the U.S. crypto market.
The expansion is part of Coinbase’s broader plan to “Go Deep, Go Broad” and accelerate its global growth strategy.
Targeting the global market
The Coinbase International Exchange will enable institutional clients in eligible jurisdictions outside the United States to trade perpetual futures contracts.
Perpetual futures have been a dominant product in crypto markets: in 2022 they represented roughly 75% of global cryptocurrency trading volume. These contracts support deep liquidity and give traders more flexibility in executing a variety of strategies.
In a company blog post, Coinbase explained:
“Building out a global perpetual futures exchange for digital assets will help support an updating of the financial system by making Coinbase’s trusted products and services more accessible to users of digital assets who live outside of the U.S. As more and more markets are moving forward with regulatory frameworks to become crypto hubs, we believe the moment is right to launch this international exchange.”
At launch, Coinbase International Exchange has listed perpetual futures for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). These initial contracts offer up to 5x leverage, with product availability limited to eligible institutional customers in supported jurisdictions.
The move positions Coinbase to serve demand from regions that have clarified or are developing regulatory frameworks for crypto derivatives. By focusing on perpetual futures—products that generate high liquidity and widespread trading volume—Coinbase aims to provide institutions outside the U.S. with access to standardized, regulated trading infrastructure.
Coinbase’s international exchange also reflects the firm’s effort to diversify its global footprint as regulatory scrutiny intensifies domestically. Offering derivative products in appropriate overseas markets allows the company to expand its product set while complying with local rules and targeting professional and institutional traders who require robust execution and risk management tools.
As the exchange rolls out services, it will likely continue to monitor regulatory developments across jurisdictions and adapt its offerings to meet both compliance requirements and client demand. For now, the initial focus on BTC and ETH perpetual contracts gives institutions familiar benchmarks and deep markets to trade, with leverage capped initially at five times notional exposure.