Coinbase's introduction of stock perpetual futures, settled in usdc, could increase demand and utility for the stablecoin, potentially leading to a modest positive price impact.
The increased utility and demand for usdc as a settlement asset in a new, high-leverage derivatives market is likely to be bullish for the stablecoin.
The impact will likely unfold over time as adoption of these new futures contracts grows among non-u.s. customers.
Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Coinbase introduces stock perpetual futures contracts for non-U.S. customers The contracts trade 24/7, are cash-settled in USDC and allow for up to 10-times leverage on single-stock contracts and 20-times on ETF products. By Francisco Rodrigues | Edited by Sheldon Reback Mar 20, 2026, 12:51 p.m. Make us preferred on Google Crypto exchange Coinbase is adding new products as part of its Everything Exchange strategy. (appshunter.io/Unsplash/Modified by CoinDesk) What to know : Coinbase said it's offering perpetual stock futures to non-U.S. traders, allowing them to take leveraged positions on large-cap companies including Apple, Microsoft and Tesla, as well as on ETFs tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes. The contracts trade 24/7, are cash-settled in USDC and allow for up to 10-times leverage on single-stock contracts and 20-times on ETF products. The move is part of Coinbase's push to become the "Everything Exchange," which has led it to expand its product offerings. Coinbase (COIN) said it began offering perpetual stock futures to eligible non-U.S. retail and institutional traders, extending its derivatives product line into U.S. equities. The contracts let traders take leveraged positions on a group of large-cap U.S. stocks, colloquially known as the Magnificent 7: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta and Tesla. Perpetual futures tied to the SPY and QQQ exchange-traded funds, which track the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices, are also available in some jurisdictions, the exchange said in a Friday blog post. Unlike standard futures contracts, perpetual futures have no expiry date. Coinbase's contracts are cash-settled in USDC, a dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Circle Internet (CRCL). Coinbase said traders can use up to 10-times leverage on single-stock contracts and up to 20-times on ETF products. Demand for round-the-clock equity exposure, it added, has been growing rapidly, and most of the offerings have been concentrated on decentralized platforms. The largest such decentralized platform is Hyperliquid, which earlier this week introduced S&P 500 perpetual futures contracts. The platform has become a hotbed for contracts tied to traditional financial instruments, including oil-linked contracts that are trading round-the-clock as war erupts in the Middle East. Coinbase also said the product uses the same risk engine that supports its crypto derivatives markets, with cross-margining across perpetual futures and spot positions. The move comes as the exchange expands the range of assets available on its platform as part of a bid to become the “ Everything Exchange .” Coinbase Crypto News Derivatives More For You Crypto market steadies as derivatives signal caution, macro pressure builds By Oliver Knight , Saksham Diwan | Edited by Sheldon Reback 2 hours ago BTC holds near $70,500 as derivatives turn defensive, macro risks weigh on sentiment and altcoins show pockets of strength. What to know : Open interest has stabilized and funding normalized, while options skew and backwardation signal rising demand for near-term downside protection. Oil below $100 briefly lifted risk assets, but falling equity futures highlight ongoing fragility across broader markets. QNT and FET lead gains, with the altcoin season index improving, even as majors remain rangebound. Read full story Latest Crypto News Iran war volatility is driving oil trading boom on Hyperliquid, says JPMorgan 6 minutes ago Bitcoin holds steady, with one analyst seeing the upside emerging 1 hour ago Crypto market steadies as derivatives signal caution, macro pressure builds 2 hours ago Ripple data reveals stablecoins are becoming the go-to tool for corporate treasury 4 hours ago Bitcoin’s price action looks dangerously similar to the pattern that sent it crashing to $60,000 5 hours ago Bitcoin jumps to $70,800 as oil retreats; ether and XRP lag 7 hours ago Top Stories Morgan Stanley sets MSBT ticker and $1 million seed capital for bitcoin ETF 7 hours ago Crypto markets – and the American people – deserve clarity 16 hours ago Crypto Clarity Act inches toward Senate hearing as lawmakers weigh legislative trades 14 hours ago Wall Street heavyweight Cantor among investment banks pitching FalconX for its potential IPO 17 hours ago As crypto trading platforms race to deploy AI agents, here's what a Nasdaq engineer is seeing 20 hours ago Bitcoin $20,000 put option is third most popular strike ahead of quarterly expiry 22 hours ago