Overview
- Coinbase Canada CEO Eric Richmond told industry audiences that the firm wants to offer Canadians the same advanced products available in the U.S., including derivatives, decentralized finance services, and tokenized securities.
- Richmond argued regulators should codify existing practices into a single 'national instrument' so provincial securities commissions apply consistent rules rather than relying on temporary exemptions and case-by-case orders.
- Regulatory progress has removed some barriers, notably Canada’s new Stablecoin Act and the launch of Tetra Trust’s regulated CAD stablecoin CADD, but authorities have mostly issued consultative guidance and limited exemptive relief.
- Coinbase has secured a narrow international exemption to offer certain futures through its CFTC-regulated arm, but it still needs broader provincial and national approvals to roll those products out to general Canadian retail customers.
- For consumers, the patchwork regime means slower access to higher-yield services and other U.S. offerings today, and wider retail availability will depend on regulators formalizing custody, tokenization and capital rules across provinces.