Coinbase turns brands into stablecoin issuers with USDC-backed ‘Custom Stablecoins’

Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have been included in Coinbase's latest product expansion, which features US perpetual-style futures trading for various altcoins, marking a significant moment for meme coins in the regulated crypto derivatives market. This announcement was made via Coinbase's official channel on X, highlighting the platform's commitment to enhancing trading options for users.

Coinbase has appointed former UK Chancellor George Osborne to chair its advisory council, a move that follows his advisory role with the company since 2024. Osborne has been vocal about the UK government's insufficient digital asset regulations, highlighting the need for a more robust framework in the cryptocurrency sector.

Visa has expanded its payment settlement options by integrating the USDC stablecoin on the Solana blockchain, moving beyond its previous Ethereum-based initiatives. This shift signifies a growing trend towards the adoption of stablecoins in mainstream finance, with Visa already handling approximately $3.5 billion in annual stablecoin settlements.

Intuit has announced its intention to integrate Circle's stablecoin, USDC, into its financial platforms, enhancing the functionality and accessibility of its services. This partnership aims to leverage Circle's stablecoin infrastructure, potentially embedding it within Intuit's offerings to streamline transactions and improve user experience.

Coinbase is entering a new phase by integrating stocks and prediction markets into its platform, aiming to become the leading financial services app globally. This strategic move is set to be unveiled during a livestream event on December 17, 2025, showcasing its collaboration with Kalshi and other operators in the prediction market sector.

Fetch.ai has launched an AI-to-AI payment system that allows personal AIs to autonomously conduct transactions using USDC, FET, and Visa, marking a significant advancement in the integration of artificial intelligence with cryptocurrency transactions.

Coinbase shares have experienced a rise following positive analyst feedback regarding the company's ambitious expansion plans, which aim to broaden its reach across both new and traditional assets. This development marks a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency exchange as it adapts to evolving market demands.

Bitcoin and Ethereum prices have declined significantly, attributed to a wave of fear in the cryptocurrency market following BlackRock's transfer of 2,257 BTC and 74,973 ETH to Coinbase. This move raised concerns about potential sell-offs by the world's largest asset manager, coinciding with ETF outflows on December 16.