Coinbase has introduced an AI-powered financial advisor, stock options trading, and access to pre-IPO markets, the company said. The new offerings mark a significant step beyond cryptocurrency trading as the exchange pushes to become a full-service financial platform.
The San Francisco-based firm is adding these features as part of a broader expansion into investing, derivatives, and banking services. The goal, according to the company, is to position Coinbase as an all-in-one destination for users who want to manage their money without juggling multiple apps.
The new AI advisor
The AI advisor is designed to help customers make investment decisions. Coinbase described it as a tool that can analyze market conditions and user preferences to suggest trades or portfolio allocations. Unlike a traditional robo-advisor, which relies on preset algorithms, the Coinbase version is built to adapt to individual behavior over time, the company said.
The feature is rolling out initially to a subset of users. Coinbase did not specify how the AI model was trained or what data it uses, but noted that it is separate from the company’s core custody and exchange services.
Stock options and pre-IPO access
Coinbase is also adding stock options trading, moving further into the territory of traditional brokerages. The product will allow users to buy and sell call and put contracts on stocks and exchange-traded funds. The company plans to offer options contracts on a range of major equities, though it did not provide a full list of what will be available at launch.
Alongside options, Coinbase is giving customers access to pre-IPO markets. That means users can trade shares in companies before they go public, a service typically reserved for institutional investors and wealthy individuals. Coinbase is opening it to a broader retail audience, though it did not detail the eligibility requirements or how share prices will be set for unlisted companies.
Derivatives and banking on the roadmap
The expansion does not stop with equities and AI. Coinbase said it plans to offer derivatives products and banking services in the future. The derivatives push could include futures and swaps, areas where Coinbase already has some infrastructure through its regulated futures exchange. Banking services, which the company has been exploring for years, would likely involve deposit accounts, lending, or payments tied to a user’s Coinbase balance.
Regulatory questions remain. Coinbase operates a licensed exchange in the U.S. and several other jurisdictions, but offering options, pre-IPO trading, and banking services will require approvals from multiple agencies. The company did not say whether it has already secured any new licenses or waivers for these products.
Coinbase has not disclosed a timeline for when all features will be available to all users. The AI advisor and stock options are being tested with a small group of customers, with broader rollout expected to follow pending feedback and regulatory checks.
