New York, Jan 28, 2026, 14:38 EST — Regular session
- Coinbase shares edged up roughly 0.2% in afternoon trading, holding steady for the day
- The UK watchdog has banned a Coinbase ad campaign themed around the cost of living, citing issues with its crypto risk messaging
- Traders are focused on regulatory cues and Coinbase’s earnings report due Feb. 12
Shares of Coinbase Global (COIN.O) nudged up 0.2% to $211.24 Wednesday afternoon, following a UK ad watchdog’s ban on a Coinbase campaign that exploited cost-of-living concerns. The move underscores ongoing regulatory crackdowns on crypto marketing. 1
The timing is crucial as Coinbase pushes to boost activity on its app by adding products that resemble a traditional brokerage. Last month, it started introducing stock trading and “prediction markets” — event contracts that trade like markets and settle based on real-world outcomes — alongside its crypto offerings. 2
Regulatory scrutiny is tightening around event markets. The Coalition for Prediction Markets—backed by Coinbase, Kalshi, and Robinhood—took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post on Wednesday, urging Congress to collaborate with the industry to “keep prediction markets safe and transparent,” according to Business Insider. The ad highlights that “CFTC regulated prediction markets (already) ban insider trading,” while a coalition spokesperson described the campaign as the “opening salvo” of a planned seven-figure effort. 3
Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority flagged Coinbase’s ads as irresponsible, claiming they implied crypto was a fix for “prevalent financial concerns” while minimizing the risks, the Guardian reported. Coinbase pushed back, saying it “fundamentally disagree[d]” with the decision and framed the campaign as a critique of the financial system—not a simple solution, the report added. 4
Crypto prices edged higher. Bitcoin climbed roughly 1.3%, hitting around $89,294. Ether gained about 1.1%.
Coinbase is pushing deeper into event contracts and stock trading to cut its dependence on crypto transaction fees, which can fluctuate wildly with market moods. “We aim to offer the greatest variety of contracts available on one platform,” Max Branzburg, head of consumer and business products at Coinbase, said last month, outlining the company’s move beyond just crypto. 5
Politics remains a key factor. The top pro-crypto super PAC, Fairshake, enters the 2026 midterms sitting on over $193 million in cash, Axios reported. That total includes a hefty $25 million donation from Coinbase. 6
That growth isn’t without risks. Stricter advertising rules in key markets or a mix of event contract regulations might delay product launches and hike compliance expenses. Plus, a steep drop in crypto prices could quickly sap trading volumes.
Coinbase is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings on Feb. 12, after the market closes. The company will hold a webcast at 2:30 p.m. PT. 7
