The US-based giant cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase continues to take steps to expand outside the US market. In this direction, the cryptocurrency exchange announced that it has taken an important step to start offering crypto-based derivatives in the European Region by moving to acquire a company with a Mifid II license.
Coinbase Acquires a Company Based in Southern Cyprus for MiFID License
Leading cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced that it is in the process of acquiring a MiFID-licensed company to offer crypto-based derivatives in the European Region. The cryptocurrency exchange stated in a blog post that the deal is subject to regulatory approval and could be completed by the end of 2024. The name of the company based in Southern Cyprus was not disclosed.
The license will enable Coinbase to offer crypto-based derivatives in the European Region. Currently, the cryptocurrency exchange only offers spot crypto trading in the region.
Coinbase stated, “Adding such a license to our international licenses will further support the strong interest we see in our derivatives offerings and will help us capture even more of the global cryptocurrency market, which is approximately 75% demanded by crypto-based derivatives.”
The cryptocurrency exchange added that the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and there is a long way to go before the deal is concluded.
Coinbase’s Expansion Outside the US Market
It was suggested in March 2023 that Coinbase could establish a new cryptocurrency exchange in another country to serve its global customers. The US-based cryptocurrency exchange is only subject to regulations in the US. Therefore, it was able to offer very limited services to its users.
At that time, Coinbase COO Emilie Choi stated, “Expanding globally will continue to be one of the most fundamental parts of our operations.” Since then, the cryptocurrency exchange has managed to obtain licenses in many jurisdictions outside the US and has been struggling to expand into the European Region for a while.
