Coinbase Australia has officially launched licensed perpetual contracts for certified wholesale customers, expanding its local offerings beyond spot crypto trading and stablecoins into regulated digital asset derivatives. The new product suite provides eligible institutional and wholesale traders with up to 50x leverage across 150 contracts spanning cryptocurrency, equity, and commodity assets.
Available via the Coinbase Advanced platform, the rollout represents the company’s first commercial product release under its Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). Access is strictly restricted to certified wholesale investors who pass Coinbase’s suitability and eligibility checks.
Features and Liquidity Integration
According to Coinbase’s announcement, the perpetual contracts suite provides professional-grade tools designed to support portfolio hedging, volatility speculation, and capital efficiency.
- Leverage and Assets: Up to 50x leverage on more than 150 perpetual contracts covering cryptocurrencies, equities, and commodities.
- Collateral & Order Books: Support for over 40 collateral assets backed by global order book liquidity.
- Platform Integration: 24/7 liquidity, real-time settlement, API connectivity, and a “one-tap” workflow enabling traders to shift seamlessly between spot positions and perpetual contracts.
Regulatory Framework and AFSL Mandate
Coinbase Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 654 922 442) holds AFSL No. 569752 issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The entity is also registered with AUSTRAC as a virtual asset service provider and remittance service provider.
The licence was granted in April 2026 and included authorization for retail and wholesale financial services. The perpetual contracts are the first product launched under that licence. The AFSL places Coinbase Australia under conduct, disclosure, governance, and consumer protection requirements aligned with traditional financial services providers in Australia.
The launch occurs against the backdrop of the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026, which passed Parliament in early April and brings digital asset platforms under Australia’s financial services licensing regime starting in April 2027.
“The launch represents a significant leap in our Australian product suite, moving beyond spot crypto and stablecoins to provide locally licenced perpetual trading for crypto, equity and commodity assets,” Coinbase stated.
The company added that as the Australian crypto market matures, traders are seeking more than spot buying, and that the contracts enable wholesale investors to hedge portfolios, speculate on volatility, and deploy capital-efficient strategies. Coinbase also described the release as part of building its “Everything Exchange” offering in Australia and a signal of long-term commitment to the region.
Risk Disclosures and Suitability Requirements
Coinbase emphasized that derivatives trading carries substantial financial risk, including the potential loss of a customer’s entire account balance. The company noted that all promotional and educational materials are general in nature and do not take into account individual financial goals or risk profiles.
Wholesale participants are required to review the applicable Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD), and Financial Services Guide (FSG) before initiating trading.
Also Read: Coinbase to Suspend Six Non-USD Trading Pairs After Review
