Coinbase, a well-known crypto trading firm, recently revealed its plans to expand by opening a derivatives exchange in Bermuda called Coinbase International Exchange. In doing so, the publicly traded company aims to navigate the regulatory challenges currently faced in the United States. This new facility will initially offer traders the opportunity to bet on the prices of Bitcoin and Ether through perpetual futures contracts with up to 5x leverage, with all trades settling in the stablecoin USDC. Coinbase has already commenced the trading activities on this platform.
Entering the derivatives trading market is a strategic move for Coinbase as it represents one of the most popular sectors in the global crypto market, despite the hesitation that prevails within the United States. In this country, activities like these are regulated heavily, making it less accessible for crypto enthusiasts, as opposed to other countries with more crypto-friendly regulations.
Coinbase acknowledged their commitment to the U.S. in a blog post, saying, “Rest assured that Coinbase is committed to the U.S., but countries around the world are increasingly moving forward with responsible crypto-forward regulatory frameworks to strategically position themselves as crypto hubs.” The company also mentioned its dissatisfaction with the ongoing trend of regulation by enforcement in the U.S., which has led to a decline in crypto development in the country. Coinbase hopes that the U.S. will adopt a more progressive approach towards regulation, akin to other countries.
This sentiment shared by Coinbase appears to be forcing other U.S.-based crypto companies to look towards offshore opportunities as well. Gemini, for instance, also announced the launch of their own international crypto derivatives exchange on the same day.
While the future of cryptocurrency and regulations in the U.S. remains uncertain, the efforts made by companies like Coinbase and Gemini to explore international markets show that the demand for crypto derivatives trading is only growing. It raises the question of whether the U.S. will eventually revise its approach towards cryptocurrency regulations in order not to fall behind other crypto hubs. This shift could provide enormous benefits to both the industry and its stakeholders.
In conclusion, as Coinbase and Gemini venture into derivatives exchange markets outside the United States’ regulatory jurisdiction, their expansion efforts ideally will spark conversations about the efficacy of the current regulatory landscape in the country. It is crucial that innovation and progress in the cryptographic economy are not stifled by regulatory hindrances. The future of money and digital assets certainly holds vast potential, and it is up to the governing authorities to strike a balance between supervising and nurturing the growth of this still-emerging market.
Source: Coindesk
