A new phase has begun in the crypto world — one of superstructures, not startups. Leading this wave is none other than Coinbase, the largest U.S.-based crypto exchange, which is set to become the first crypto company listed on the S&P 500 index.
This is more than symbolic — it’s a clear message: crypto finance is no longer marginal, it is now institutionally recognized on Wall Street.
But Coinbase is not stopping at prestige. In recent months, it has acted like an aggressive consolidator, with ambitions of vertical integration. The latest move: a $2.9 billion acquisition of Deribit, a Dutch crypto derivatives exchange — one of the largest deals in the industry’s history. This significantly strengthens Coinbase’s position in the high-level derivatives sector favored by institutional traders.
CEO Brian Armstrong made it clear: “We are looking for the right targets to expand our ecosystem.” These are not empty words — $10 billion in cash and equity has already been allocated for the mission. The goal: to build a global crypto holding encompassing spot trading, derivatives, custodial services, DeFi infrastructure, payment gateways — and possibly even a bank.
While others are still fighting for exchange listings or regulatory clarity, Coinbase is evolving into a full-scale fintech power. This is a long-term bet: if digital assets are here to stay, the infrastructure must be owned by those ready to take systemic responsibility.
What makes this even more notable is the timing. As other players retreat or collapse, Coinbase is scaling up.
This isn’t just expansion — it’s the birth of a crypto empire, with a ticker on Wall Street and a registered address in the U.S.
