Coinbase Brings Wall Street Closer To UK Crypto Users

Commission-Free US Stocks, Now in a Crypto App

Coinbase has begun rolling out access to nearly 4,000 US stocks for eligible UK users, offering commission-free trading 24 hours a day, five days a week, with fractional shares starting at £1 and the option to fund trades in either pounds or USDC. The launch consolidates crypto, fiat, and equities inside a single app, removing the need for a separate brokerage account.

The pitch is straightforward: users can hold crypto, fiat, and US stocks in a single interface, funding positions instantly in GBP or drawing on existing USDC stablecoin balances. Coinbase cited its own survey data showing UK retail investors trail their US counterparts in equity market participation, positioning the app as a way to close that gap.

The product is conventional stock trading, not tokenized equities. Real shares are custodied by Apex Clearing Corporation, which also handles the equities infrastructure for Coinbase's US product. Apex Fintech Solutions announced its collaboration with Coinbase, through Coinbase Capital Markets Corp., to power the stock trading capabilities of the Everything Exchange platform, providing clearing, custody, and execution services for equities.

Part of a Bigger Strategic Push

The UK rollout is the latest step in Coinbase's effort to become what it calls an "everything exchange," a single app spanning crypto, stocks, derivatives, prediction markets, payments, and savings, competing directly with brokerages, banks, and fintech apps.

The regulatory groundwork was laid in early July, when Coinbase received UK authorisation to provide investment services via a MiFID license, allowing it to offer traditional financial instruments such as equities and derivatives rather than only crypto. The MiFID license is separate from the upcoming crypto-specific gateway, which is why the exchange can offer regulated equities and derivatives now rather than waiting for 2027.

Keith Grose, Coinbase's UK chief executive, announced the step in a company blog post. The stock trading feature follows savings accounts and crypto-backed borrowing products already available to UK users, with Coinbase describing it as the largest expansion of its UK product suite to date.

Sources:
The Block: Coinbase launches 24/5 US stock trading for UK users
Business Wire: Apex Fintech Solutions powers Coinbase Everything Exchange infrastructure
Decrypt: Coinbase wins UK license to offer stocks and derivatives alongside crypto