Coinbase in Talks to Acquire Deribit As Crypto Market Thrives with Eased Regulations

The crypto industry is showing strong enthusiasm and activity, fueled by the Trump administration’s more relaxed regulatory approach. Notably, Coinbase (COIN), a leading U.S. exchange, is in advanced talks to acquire Deribit, a major global derivatives exchange, according to Bloomberg report. The companies have already informed Dubai regulators, where Deribit is licensed, about the ongoing discussions.

Deal Not Finalised Yet 

If Coinbase successfully acquires Deribit, it would take over Deribit’s operating license. While talks are still happening, no deal has been finalized yet. Earlier this year, Deribit’s value was estimated between $4 billion and $5 billion. This move would enhance Coinbase’s existing derivatives platform, which currently focuses on futures. In 2024, Deribit saw nearly $1.2 trillion in trading volume—almost double the previous year’s total.

Coinbase recently announced plans to offer 24/7 futures trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum to attract more investors to its platform. Coinbase (COIN), known for spot trading, aims to expand into the lucrative crypto derivatives market by acquiring Deribit, the largest platform for trading Bitcoin and Ether options. 

The ongoing talks align with Kraken, a competitor, which recently announced plans to acquire the derivatives platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, enabling it to offer U.S. crypto derivatives. Kraken also plans to go public by Q1 2026, according to Bloomberg.

Coinbase Seeks To Expand Its Derivatives Business

Coinbase is also expanding its derivatives business while it explores the acquisition of Deribit. On March 15, it filed with the CFTC to offer futures for Cardano (ADA) and Natural Gas (NGS). If approved, trading could begin by March 31. This comes after launching Solana (SOL) and Hedera (HBAR) futures.

Coinbase offers derivatives for 92 assets globally, with fewer available in the U.S., according to its 2024 report. In January, Robinhood jumped into the crypto futures game, aiming to challenge Coinbase. Meanwhile, CME Group, the world’s biggest derivatives exchange, saw a massive 300% surge in crypto derivatives trading, reaching around $10 billion in daily volume during Q4 2024.

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