Coinbase Launches In-App DEX Trading for U.S. Users, Starting With Base-Native Tokens

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Coinbase is taking another big step as an all-in-one hub for crypto. The company has added decentralized exchange (DEX) trading directly into its main app, letting most U.S. customers trade on-chain without leaving the platform. New York users are excluded for now. The feature launches with Base-native tokens and could massively expand the number of tradable assets for Coinbase users.

Coinbase Allows Live Trading on Blockchain

Coinbase announced on Friday that it’s adding decentralized exchange (DEX) trading to its main app, giving users access to a much wider range of cryptocurrencies.

The feature is rolling out first to select U.S. customers, except those in New York, and could expand Coinbase’s offerings from about 300 tokens to potentially millions once assets are indexed on-chain.

Instead of sending assets to an outside platform, Coinbase users can now place trades that go straight to blockchain-based liquidity pools. Orders will be routed through DEX aggregators like 0x and 1inch, tapping into decentralized markets such as Uniswap and Aerodrome.

This means traders can swap a growing list of Base-native tokens, including projects like Virtuals AI Agents, Reserve Protocol, Centrifuge, SoSo Value, Auki Labs, and Super Champs. More tokens will be added in stages, with the goal of eventually covering the entire Base network.

DEX trading offers advantages that many crypto users acknowledge: faster listings for new tokens, self-custody of funds, and potentially lower fees. Coinbase will even sponsor network fees for now, making transactions simpler for those unfamiliar with on-chain gas costs.

Users can fund trades directly from their Coinbase balance and monitor portfolio performance inside the app.

Coinbase Takes a Big Web3 Push

Coinbase sees this move as part of its plan to become an “everything app” for crypto, one that supports both centralized and decentralized markets. By integrating DEX trading, it’s appealing to users who want more control and fewer intermediaries after events like the FTX collapse highlighted the risks of centralized custody.

While Coinbase will provide real-time risk and market data, it won’t review or approve tokens listed on external DEXs. Instead, it will rely on third-party vendors to flag potentially malicious assets and restrict access accordingly.

The launch could also benefit token creators, who will now reach Coinbase’s user base almost instantly after being indexed on-chain, bypassing the long wait for centralized listings. Future updates will expand DEX trading to other blockchains, such as Solana, and to more global markets.

Coinbase takes this step as DEX activity is booming. Data from DefiLlama shows daily decentralized exchange volume reaching $12.8 billion, far above Coinbase’s $3.5 billion in centralized trading, with monthly DEX totals surpassing $400 billion. By adding DEX access into its app, Coinbase is preparing itself to capture more of that growing market.