Coinbase is expanding its derivatives business beyond cryptocurrencies with the launch of pre-IPO perpetual futures, allowing eligible international users to gain exposure to private companies before they go public. The first listing is tied to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, giving traders a new way to speculate on the company’s valuation ahead of a potential public offering. The move represents one of the most significant attempts yet to bring private market investing onto crypto-native trading rails.
The launch is part of Coinbase’s broader effort to expand beyond traditional crypto trading and create new financial products that operate around the clock. According to the company, the SpaceX contract is only the beginning, with additional pre-IPO perpetual futures planned for companies across technology, artificial intelligence, energy, and other sectors.
How the SpaceX Pre-IPO Contract Works
The new product allows eligible traders outside the United States to gain price exposure to SpaceX before the company officially lists on public markets. Unlike traditional stock ownership, the contracts do not represent actual shares of SpaceX. Instead, they function as perpetual futures contracts that track the company’s private market valuation.
The contracts are settled in USDC, trade 24 hours a day, and have no expiration date. Traders can open and close positions at any time while utilizing leverage of up to five times their collateral. Coinbase says that if SpaceX eventually goes public, positions will automatically transition into a standard SpaceX perpetual futures contract without requiring users to close or roll over their trades.
This structure mirrors the perpetual futures products that have become extremely popular throughout the crypto industry but applies them to private company valuations rather than cryptocurrencies.
Coinbase Expands Beyond Crypto Assets
The introduction of pre-IPO perpetual futures signals Coinbase’s growing ambitions to become a broader financial marketplace rather than simply a cryptocurrency exchange. Over the past year, the company has aggressively expanded its derivatives offerings, adding crypto perpetual futures, commodities products, and institutional trading services.
By bringing private company exposure onto blockchain-based trading infrastructure, Coinbase is attempting to address a market that has traditionally been accessible only to venture capital firms, private equity funds, and accredited investors. The company believes tokenized and synthetic financial products can help democratize access to investment opportunities that have historically been difficult for retail traders to access.
The launch also reflects growing demand for alternative ways to gain exposure to high-profile private companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic before they eventually reach public markets.
Why SpaceX Was Chosen First
SpaceX has become one of the most sought-after private companies in the world, with recent private market transactions valuing the company at well over $1 trillion. Investor interest has continued growing due to the success of its launch business, the rapid expansion of Starlink, and Elon Musk’s global profile.
The company’s long-rumored IPO has fueled intense speculation among investors eager to gain exposure before a public listing occurs. Coinbase appears to be capitalizing on that demand by creating a market that allows traders to express views on SpaceX’s valuation without waiting for an official IPO.
Several offshore platforms have already experimented with SpaceX-linked perpetual contracts, but Coinbase’s launch brings the concept to one of the largest and most established crypto exchanges in the industry.
