Coinbase Integrates DEX Trading to Expand DeFi Access for U.S. Users
Coinbase has introduced decentralized exchange (DEX) trading directly within its main app for U.S. users, excluding New York, as part of its ongoing strategy to become a comprehensive crypto platform.
The update enables users to place on-chain trades via leading aggregators like 0x and 1inch, tapping into liquidity from top decentralized protocols including Uniswap and Aerodrome. According to Max Branzburg, Coinbase’s VP of Product, the feature allows users to interact with DeFi markets without needing to move funds off the Coinbase platform.
Initially, the platform will support trading for a growing list of Base-native tokens, including assets from Virtuals AI Agents, Reserve Protocol’s decentralized tokenized funds (DTFs), SoSo Value’s index products, and tokens from Auki Labs and Super Champs.
DEX trading allows users to retain full custody of their assets while gaining access to a wider and more rapidly evolving range of tokens. Unlike centralized platforms, trades are settled directly on-chain, reducing counterparty risk—an increasingly important feature following the collapse of centralized exchange FTX in 2022.
The addition also positions Coinbase to compete more directly in the booming DeFi space. Data from DeFiLlama shows that DEX trading volume has surged during the current bull market, with daily volume hitting $12.8 billion—far outpacing Coinbase’s $3.5 billion. Monthly decentralized trading activity now exceeds $407 billion.
The move echoes the rising popularity of decentralized platforms like HyperLiquid, which has seen $11 billion in volume over the past month. Coinbase’s integration of DEX functionality gives users a non-custodial trading option without leaving its ecosystem—an important step in its goal of building a full-featured, Web3-enabled “everything app.”
