Coinbase: Pushing for Stocks on the Blockchain

The crypto world is buzzing with news that Coinbase is pushing for a big change. They want to offer something called "tokenized equities" to their customers. This means turning regular stocks into digital tokens, like cryptocurrencies. Instead of owning actual shares, investors would own tokens that stand in for those shares. This idea isn't just a whim. It's a major focus for Coinbase. The idea behind tokenized equities is that they could make trading cheaper, faster, and even possible 24/7. But there are hurdles. Some experts point out that there aren't enough rules or standards in place yet. The World Economic Forum even highlighted this as a big challenge. Right now, tokenized equities aren't available in the U. S. But other companies are already testing the waters. For instance, Kraken is launching something similar in other markets. To make this happen in the U. S. , Coinbase needs a green light from the SEC. They're hoping for something called a "no action letter, " which would basically give them the okay to move forward without fear of legal trouble. Getting this approval would be a game-changer. It would let Coinbase compete directly with big names like Robinhood and Charles Schwab. Plus, it could open up a whole new way of trading stocks. This move comes as the U. S. is rethinking its crypto policies. The current administration has been more open to the industry, dropping lawsuits against big crypto companies and setting up new rules. But there's a catch. Coinbase isn't registered as a broker-dealer, which is usually required for trading securities. The SEC even sued them in 2023 for this reason. So, getting the green light for tokenized equities would be a significant step. It would show that the SEC is serious about embracing new technologies and could boost confidence in the crypto world.