Solana News Today: Coinbase Bolsters DEX Capabilities via Vector Acquisition to Fuel 'Everything Exchange' Vision

Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN) has agreed to acquire Vector, a Solana-based onchain trading platform, in a strategic move to bolster its decentralized exchange (DEX) capabilities and expand its presence in the fast-growing Solana ecosystem. The deal, expected to close by year-end, will integrate Vector's technology into Coinbase's consumer trading experience, enabling users to access broader onchain markets according to reports. Vector's infrastructure, which identifies new Solana assets instantly upon creation or launch, will enhance Coinbase's DEX trading integration, improving speed, liquidity, and access to a wider range of assets according to data.

The acquisition aligns with Coinbase's broader vision to become the "everything exchange," offering a one-stop-shop for trading onchain assets. As the company stated, "We're doubling down on ecosystems where users are building, trading, and experimenting the most-Solana being a big part of that story." Vector's technology will plug directly into Coinbase's DEX features, allowing users to trade assets on Solana's high-activity network, which has already seen $1 trillion in DEX volume in 2025 according to reports.

As part of the integration, Vector's mobile and desktop apps will be discontinued, while the Tensor Foundation-a community-governance group overseeing the Tensor NFT marketplace and native token-will remain independent according to reports. The Vector team, comprising 13 employees, will join Coinbase, marking the exchange's ninth acquisition in 2025 and underscoring its aggressive M&A strategy according to analysis. This follows recent purchases of Deribit ($2.9 billion), Echo ($375 million), and exploration of a BVNK acquisition (around $2 billion).

Coinbase's stock rose 0.6% in premarket trading, though Bitcoin's price volatility-dropping to $80,554 before recovering to $83,600-highlighted broader market challenges according to reports. The acquisition reflects Coinbase's focus on leveraging mature technologies to expand its asset offerings. "Companies are hitting a level of maturity where joining forces with Coinbase makes sense," said Max Branzburg, Coinbase's vice president of product management according to analysis.

The move also underscores Solana's rising prominence in the crypto landscape. PrimeXBT recently integrated Solana to enhance transaction speed and reduce costs according to reports, while Solana's ETF inflows have surged, with nearly $56 million flowing into US-listed SOL ETFs on Wednesday alone according to data. Despite these gains, Solana's price remains below key moving averages, and bearish sentiment persists amid declining futures open interest according to analysis.

Coinbase's expansion into Solana's ecosystem comes as it diversifies its onchain lending and staking offerings. Last week, it launched Ether-backed loans, allowing users to borrow up to $1 million in USDC against their ETH holdings according to reports. These initiatives align with the Trump administration's pro-crypto regulatory shifts, including the GENIUS Act's stablecoin rules according to analysis.