Coinbase Derivatives and Nodal Clear to Integrate USDC as Collateral in U.S. Futures Markets by 2026

Coinbase Derivatives and Nodal Clear have announced a significant collaboration aimed at integrating the USDC stablecoin as collateral in regulated U.S. futures markets. This initiative, if approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is set to launch in 2026 and would mark the first instance where a stablecoin is formally accepted as collateral for margined futures in the U.S.

Under this plan, Coinbase Custody Trust would be responsible for holding the USDC, while Nodal Clear, a CFTC-regulated entity and part of the Deutsche Börse-owned EEX Group, would handle the clearing process. The two firms are actively working with U.S. regulators to bring this offering to market, highlighting their commitment to enhancing trading capabilities and improving operational efficiency through near-instant money movement.

Boris Ilyevsky, CEO of Coinbase Derivatives, emphasized the significance of this move, stating, “Our commitment to integrate USDC as collateral reflects our dedication to enhance trading capabilities for U.S. market participants, improve operational efficiency through almost instant money movement.” This integration is expected to further establish USDC as a “true cash equivalent,” a goal that Coinbase has been actively pursuing.

The USDC stablecoin, which is the second-largest behind Tether’s USDT, is also set to be integrated into Shopify over Base. This move follows Coinbase Derivatives’ previous partnership with Nodal Clear to facilitate the trading of BTC and ETH in the United States, further solidifying their position in the derivatives market.