Coinbase Acquires The Clearing Company to Bolster 'Everything Exchange' Push

Coinbase (COIN) has agreed to acquire The Clearing Company, a startup specializing in prediction markets, in a strategic move to accelerate its ambition to become an all-in-one trading platform.

The terms of the deal, announced Monday, were not disclosed. The acquisition, expected to close in January, brings a specialized team with experience building event-based trading systems, including veterans from major platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi.

This move comes just one week after Coinbase launched its own prediction market feature, allowing users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events. It's a clear signal of intent to capture a significant share of a rapidly growing sector. According to Dune Analytics data, the weekly notional volume in prediction markets is now topping <mark>$4 billion</mark>.

The acquisition is a key part of Coinbase's strategy to position itself as the “Everything Exchange,” a platform offering not just cryptocurrencies but also perpetual futures, stocks, and now, a deeper push into prediction markets. This puts Coinbase in more direct competition with rivals like Robinhood, Kraken, and Gemini, which have already begun diversifying their offerings.

San Francisco-based The Clearing Company raised <mark>$15 million</mark> in a seed round in August, led by Union Square Ventures with participation from Coinbase's own investment arm, Coinbase Ventures. Last month, the startup applied for a license from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to operate a clearinghouse.