Coinbase Launches Prediction Markets Nationwide as Exchange Deepens Policy Push in Washington

Written By:   Author Thumbnail Dirk van Haaster
Author Thumbnail
Dirk van Haaster
Dirk van Haaster is a Web3 copywriter. Before joining DeFi Rate in 2025, he spent several years writing about blockchain projects, token ecosystems, and crypto news, with a strong focus on news and marketing content. He ...
Read Full Profile

Coinbase has rolled out prediction markets to users across all 50 US states. This is a major expansion of event-based trading on one of the country’s largest crypto platforms. Moreover, it is intensifying competition with established players such as Kalshi and Polymarket.

The company announced that prediction markets are now fully live in the United States, allowing users to trade on real-world outcomes spanning sports, politics, culture, and current events directly within the Coinbase app.

The feature appears under a new “Predict” tab, positioning outcome-based contracts alongside crypto, derivatives, and other financial products.
“Out: odds set by the house. In: price set by the crowd,” Coinbase said in a post announcing the launch, framing prediction markets as a shift away from traditional bookmaker-style models.

Out: Odds set by the house.

In: Price set by the crowd.

Now there’s a new way to trade your takes.

Prediction markets are live in all 50 states on Coinbase.

Trade any real-world outcomes across sports, politics, culture and more. pic.twitter.com/CIjz9T9pjX— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) January 28, 2026

Event contracts offered through a regulated entity

Coinbase said listed futures and swaps tied to prediction markets are offered through Coinbase Financial Markets (CFM), a National Futures Association member firm. The company emphasized that prediction contracts are fully regulated and carry substantial risk. It stated that contracts pay out only if the specified event occurs and that traders may lose their entire investment.

This follows Coinbase’s recent efforts to increase its product suite beyond spot crypto trading. The exchange races to position itself as a multi-asset platform offering exposure to equities, derivatives, and now event-based markets within a single interface.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong amplified the launch by reposting the company’s announcement on X, describing prediction markets as a powerful tool for information discovery.

“Prediction markets are the ultimate form of truth seeking,” Armstrong wrote. “When there’s skin in the game, the output is far more reliable. Everything else is biased by someone’s agenda.”

Armstrong added that he believes prediction markets will be viewed historically as a breakthrough in how societies aggregate information. The same applies to how society assesses real-world probabilities.

Prediction markets are the ultimate form of truth seeking. When there’s skin in the game, the output is far more reliable. Everything else is biased by someone’s agenda. I think we’ll look back at prediction markets as a breakthrough in how we discover truth in the world.… https://t.co/TJQPiHBP5g— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) January 28, 2026

Policy engagement in Washington intensifies

The product launch coincides with Coinbase’s increasing involvement in crypto policy discussions in Washington. According to a source familiar with the matter, Coinbase will be represented at a White House meeting scheduled for Feb. 2nd. The meeting will bring together crypto industry groups and banking lobbyists to discuss the future of US crypto market structure legislation.

It is expected to focus heavily on stablecoin yield, an issue that previously led Coinbase to withdraw support for a proposed bill earlier this month. Other crypto-side participants confirmed to attend include the Digital Chamber, the Blockchain Association, and the Crypto Council for Innovation.
Reuters first reported details of the meeting.

Prediction markets move toward the mainstream

By launching prediction markets nationwide, Coinbase signals that event-based trading is part of its vision for an expanded financial platform. The exchange has described its strategy as building a unified destination where users can trade across asset classes under a regulated framework.

The timing is notable as regulators, policymakers, and market participants continue to debate how prediction markets should be treated under US law. This mainly concerns where commodities regulation intersects with state-level gambling statutes.

Whether this bet pays off for Coinbase may depend as much on regulatory outcomes as on user adoption. But with prediction markets now live across all 50 states, Coinbase has firmly entered the race to define the future of event-based trading.

About The Author
Dirk Van Haaster Journalist
Dirk van Haaster
Dirk van Haaster is a Web3 copywriter. Before joining DeFi Rate in 2025, he spent several years writing about blockchain projects, token ecosystems, and crypto news, with a strong focus on news and marketing content. He has previously worked as a commercial content writer at BeInCrypto. Dirk holds a BSc in International Business and an MSc in Strategic Management (cum laude) from Erasmus University Rotterdam.Since 2020, Dirk has been working in Web3 content, collaborating closely with founders, and marketing teams. When he’s not working, Dirk enjoys biohacking and learning about general health optimization.