Coinbase Acquires Deribit in Record $2.9B Crypto Deal, Expanding Global Reach

Editorial Team

Last updated 14-05-2025

2 min

Coinbase has acquired UAE-based Deribit for a landmark $2,9 billion deal.

They will pay $700 million in cash and issue approximately 11 million Class A shares.

Deribit is a significant player in the global crypto derivatives market, with trillions traded.

This acquisition strengthens Coinbase's position in the growing derivatives sector internationally.

It underscores how mainstream cryptocurrency has become, with major investments by key players.

Cryptocurrency giant Coinbase has sealed a landmark deal, snapping up UAE-based derivatives exchange Deribit for a whopping $2.9 billion. To put that into perspective, it's the priciest deal the crypto sector has seen so far—a true blockbuster by anyone's standards.

According to Coinbase's official announcement, they'll cough up $700 million in cash and chuck in around 11 million Class A shares of their own common stock to sweeten the pot. All being well—and subject to regulatory approval—the deal is expected to officially wrap up by the end of the year.

Deribit is no minnow either—it's one of the big hitters on the global scene when it comes to crypto derivatives trading. In fact, its trading volume smashed the roughly trillion-dollar mark in 2024 alone. Currently, Deribit has an eye-watering $30 billion worth of open contracts being traded on its platform. Its specialist niche in crypto-focused options trading has brought in heavyweight institutional clients, adding bags of credibility and a rock-solid reputation in compliance matters.

For Coinbase, this strategic move comes as part of a broader effort to step up its game and strengthen its global presence—in particular, the rapidly expanding but competitive derivatives sector. As things stand, Coinbase’s slice of the derivatives market is still quite modest compared to some rivals like Binance. So acquiring Deribit—a platform that's already cracked the institutional market and boasts a solid track record—seems like a savvy strategic step forward.

Now, I don't know if you're anything like me—someone who occasionally scrolls Arageek with a cuppa in hand—but news like this is fascinating. Huge acquisitions like these show how mainstream crypto is becoming, especially when big names are throwing billions into the pot with increasing confidence. Who knows, maybe in a few years' time we'll remember the Deribit takeover as a historick deal, reshaping how investors approach digital assets entirely.

But of course, only time will tell. What’s clear today, though, is that Coinbase is making a determined effort to bulk up its international offerings—suggesting there's plenty more to come from one of America's crypto giants.

🚀 Got exciting news to share?

If you're a startup founder, VC, or PR agency with big updates—funding rounds, product launches 📢, or company milestones 🎉 — AraGeek English wants to hear from you!