New York, Jan 3, 2026, 11:02 ET — Market closed
- Coinbase shares were last up 4.6% at $236.53 in Friday’s session.
- CEO Brian Armstrong laid out three 2026 priorities spanning multi-asset trading, stablecoin payments, and onchain adoption.
- Traders are watching U.S. crypto market-structure talks and next week’s key U.S. data releases.
Coinbase Global (COIN.O) shares rose 4.6% to $236.53 in Friday’s session after CEO Brian Armstrong laid out a 2026 plan to build what he called an “everything exchange” that stretches beyond cryptocurrencies. 1
The update matters because Coinbase’s results often track crypto market activity, which can swing sharply with prices and risk appetite. Investors have been looking for signs the company can add steadier growth lines, especially in payments and regulated products.
It also lands as U.S. lawmakers weigh new rules for digital assets and after Washington set a federal framework for payment stablecoins last year. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to hold a steady value, typically by pegging to the U.S. dollar. 2
Armstrong’s post listed three priorities: expanding trading across asset classes, scaling stablecoins and payments, and pushing more activity “onchain” — recorded on a blockchain — through Coinbase’s Base network and developer tools. 3
He said the expanded exchange vision includes markets across spot trading and derivatives, such as futures and options. Spot trading is buying or selling for immediate settlement, while derivatives are contracts whose value depends on an underlying asset.
Coinbase institutional strategy chief John D’Agostino, discussing the pending Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, or CLARITY Act, said, “I completely understand why this is taking longer,” in a CNBC interview on Friday. 4
The CLARITY Act aims to establish a U.S. regulatory framework for “digital commodities,” according to the bill’s summary on Congress.gov, a shift the industry says it needs to broaden regulated offerings. 5
Coinbase’s push into equities and other markets would put it in more direct competition with retail trading platforms such as Robinhood (HOOD.O), whose shares rose 1.9% in Friday’s session.
Bitcoin was up about 0.7% at around $89,932 on Saturday. Coinbase shares often move with crypto prices because higher market activity can lift trading volumes across exchanges.
Before next session: traders will watch weekend crypto moves for signs of a gap at Monday’s open. Coinbase traded between $226.03 and $238.47 on Friday, levels that chart watchers often treat as near-term support and resistance.
Macro data is also on the radar after the holiday lull. The U.S. employment report for December is due Jan. 9, followed by the December consumer price index on Jan. 13, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ release schedule. 6
Further out, the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27-28, a key marker for rate expectations that tend to ripple through high-volatility assets, including cryptocurrencies. 7
On the company calendar, Coinbase has not confirmed a date for its next earnings report; Wall Street Horizon lists Feb. 19 after the close as unconfirmed. Investors are likely to watch for updates on product rollouts tied to Armstrong’s three priorities and for any progress on U.S. market-structure legislation. 8
