Coinbase Global Inc. has made four buys so far this year, building on three deals in 2024. The latest is the token management platform Liquifi, announced this week.
Aklil Ibssa, head of corporate development at Coinbase, would not share the deal value. Liquifi last raised $5 million in a 2022 seed round led by Dragonfly, with backers such as Katie Haun and Balaji Srinivasan.
Strengthening Token Services
According to the report by Fortune, Liquifi helps projects track stake ownership, handle vesting schedules, and manage tax withholding on token distributions. Its services are used by groups such as the Uniswap Foundation, OP Labs, Ethena, and Zora.
“Token creation and cap table management is part of the process,” Ibssa told Fortune. He added that simplifying this workflow is key to bringing one billion people on chain.
Legal Disputes and Support
Last December, a rival named Toku sued Liquifi, accusing it of conspiring with an ex‑employee to steal confidential files. Liquifi denies those claims.
Coinbase has pledged to support the firm in its defence. “We’re ten toes deep with Liquifi and in their corner,” Ibssa said. He stressed that Coinbase performed thorough due diligence before closing the acquisition.
Biggest Deal Yet
Earlier this spring, Coinbase closed its landmark purchase of Deribit, a crypto derivatives exchange, for $2.9 billion. This deal is the largest ever in the 16‑year history of the industry.
Coinbase also acquired Spindl, a crypto‑based ad company, and brought in the team behind Iron Fish, a privacy‑focused blockchain project. Together, these moves extend Coinbase’s reach beyond simple trading.
Fintech Rivals Joining In
Coinbase is not alone in a spree of fintech takeovers. Stripe paid $1.1 billion to buy Bridge, a stablecoin startup, in February. In June, Stripe added Privy, a crypto wallet provider, to its portfolio at an undisclosed price.
These deals underscore a broader push by payments firms to integrate digital assets into their services.
Also Read: Coinbase Reportedly Helped the US Secret Service to Seize $225M in Stolen Cryptocurrency
Toward an End‑to‑End Platform
With Liquifi on board, Coinbase edges closer to offering a full life cycle for new tokens. Competitors like Binance and OKX already run “launchpads” that let projects create and list tokens, earning fees early on.
Liquifi is not a launchpad, but it fills a vital gap in token governance and compliance. “It gets us one step closer to that end‑to‑end platform,” Ibssa said.
Navigating U.S. Regulation
Ibssa said the firm would have pursued Liquifi even under stricter rules. He noted that the current administration’s clearer stance on crypto gives Coinbase the confidence to make bolder moves. “Regulatory clarity allows us to take bigger swings,” he said.
First Regulated Perpetual Futures
In addition to acquisitions, Coinbase is launching U.S.‑based perpetual‑style futures contracts on July 21. These products will trade on the Coinbase Derivatives Exchange and mark the first regulated perpetual futures available to American users.
Until now, traders had to rely on offshore platforms that handle over 90 % of the world’s crypto derivatives volume. The new offerings promise to bring those markets onshore under clear oversight.
Market Impact
Industry observers say Coinbase’s strategy strengthens its position as a one‑stop shop for institutions and retail investors. By adding token management and on‑shore derivatives, the exchange widens its appeal and builds resilience against regulatory shifts.
As more products and services come under U.S. rules, market participants can expect greater transparency and risk controls.
Also Read: Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest Offloads $43.8 Million In Coinbase Shares As The Stock Approaches Its ATH