Coinbase has appointed former United Kingdom chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne to chair its internal advisory council, deepening the crypto exchange’s engagement with policymakers as it expands beyond its core trading business.
The appointment, first reported by Reuters, formalizes Osborne’s role after he began advising Coinbase in 2024, a period marked by the company’s legal and regulatory battles with US authorities. Coinbase said the move reflects its intention to strengthen dialogue with governments and regulators outside the United States at a time when global crypto rules are taking shape.
Osborne confirmed his new role in a public statement on Thursday, describing the position as an opportunity to better understand how blockchain technology could broaden participation in the financial system. He said that during his time advising Coinbase, he had seen the potential for crypto and blockchain to extend ownership to people historically excluded from traditional finance.
Osborne’s views on digital assets have been visible in the UK policy debate. In an opinion piece published by the Financial Times in August, he argued that Britain was losing ground to other jurisdictions in developing clear and competitive crypto regulations. One of his key concerns was the slow progress around pound sterling stablecoins, which he warned could weaken the global relevance of the British currency if dollar backed stablecoins continue to dominate international markets.
Coinbase has not disclosed whether Osborne’s appointment will involve direct lobbying activities. However, the company has increasingly positioned itself as a bridge between crypto markets and traditional financial systems, particularly in regions where regulatory clarity is still evolving.
Coinbase expands beyond crypto trading
The decision to elevate Osborne comes as Coinbase accelerates its push to become a broader financial services platform. In recent months, the company has expanded through acquisitions and new product launches aimed at blending digital assets with traditional markets.
Coinbase recently agreed to acquire crypto derivatives exchange Deribit, strengthening its presence in the global derivatives market. The exchange has also announced plans to integrate tokenized stock trading and prediction markets, positioning itself as an all in one financial application rather than a pure crypto exchange.
Tokenized stocks and exchange traded funds allow assets to be traded around the clock and potentially used as collateral within crypto based applications. Coinbase has partnered with Kalshi to power its prediction markets offering, which will allow users to trade event based contracts within the platform.
Looking further ahead, Coinbase has said it plans to launch perpetual futures tied to both crypto assets and stocks in 2026. These products, which do not have an expiry date, are expected to offer leverage of up to 50 times and continuous trading access, subject to regulatory approval.
With George Osborne now leading its advisory council, Coinbase appears to be reinforcing its strategy of aligning policy expertise with product expansion. As governments worldwide move closer to defining long term rules for digital assets, the company is betting that experienced political voices will help it navigate regulatory complexity while pursuing growth beyond crypto alone.
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