web3: Deribit Obtains Dubai License and Integrates Coinbase Liquidity

CoinWorld reported:

After obtaining a new license in Dubai, Deribit has begun further integrating its spot trading operations with Coinbase's trading infrastructure. Customers on the Deribit platform can now have some of their spot orders executed by Coinbase Exchange, expanding the range of assets covered by spot products.

Spot Orders Integrated with Coinbase
Deribit has received a brokerage license issued by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). With this approval, Deribit can route spot orders on its platform to be matched and executed by Coinbase Exchange.

Previously, Deribit had been providing spot trading under VARA's exchange service license since January 2025. The new license serves to connect the existing spot services with Coinbase's centralized order book.

Expanded Range of Tradable Assets
With the order execution now integrated with Coinbase Exchange, Deribit customers will also have access to hundreds of additional assets listed on Coinbase. Deeper liquidity typically means better trading conditions, and the bid-ask spread is expected to narrow.

The article mentions that assets purchased through the upgraded spot products can also be used as collateral for Deribit derivatives trading, subject to regulatory approval. This further enhances the linkage between the platform's spot and derivatives offerings.

Continued Expansion of Dubai License Coverage
Deribit stated that the upgraded spot services will be available to retail, qualified investors, and institutional investors. Meanwhile, the platform's existing proprietary spot order book will remain, albeit with a smaller number of covered assets, and can serve as a backup execution channel.

This license also further strengthens Deribit's regulatory framework in Dubai. The exchange had previously obtained VARA's approval for its derivatives business and has been operating under VARA's supervision with Dubai as its global headquarters since early 2025.

From a business integration perspective, this is another example of how the capabilities of Coinbase and Deribit are beginning to materialize at the product level following their collaboration. Deribit provides the derivatives platform and customer access, while Coinbase complements it with spot liquidity and execution capabilities.