Why the UK matters
The UK is one of Coinbase's largest markets outside the US. The exchange has been investing heavily in its London presence, including a push for regulatory compliance under the Financial Conduct Authority. This stock-trading approval is the latest sign that Coinbase wants to be more than just a crypto exchange — it wants to be a full-service brokerage for retail investors.
For UK users, the appeal is clear: they can now hold US stocks and crypto in one account, without needing a separate brokerage. That could simplify portfolio management and reduce the friction of moving money between platforms. It also gives them access to major US companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla — names that are familiar to most retail traders.
What 24/5 trading means
Most US stock trading platforms operate from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, with limited after-hours access. Coinbase's 24/5 model extends that to nearly continuous trading during the business week. That's a big deal for international investors who don't want to trade during US market hours. A UK user can place a trade at 10 p.m. London time and get it executed immediately, rather than waiting for the next morning.
The five-day schedule — Sunday through Friday — still leaves weekends off, but it covers the bulk of global trading activity. Coinbase says the round-the-clock access should boost retail engagement, as users can trade whenever they want. For investors who have been heavy in crypto, the ability to add US stocks offers a hedge against crypto volatility.
From approval to launch
Coinbase now needs to finalize the technical integration and ensure its platform can handle the new trading pairs. The company hasn't specified a launch date, but the approval clears the main regulatory hurdle. UK users should expect the service to go live in the coming months, likely before the end of 2026.
The expansion comes as Coinbase faces slowing crypto trading volumes and looks for new revenue streams. Offering US stocks to UK users is a direct play for a slice of the traditional brokerage market — and a bet that
