Deribit secures Dubai broker-dealer license via Coinbase

Deribit has secured a Broker-Dealer License from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), marking its second regulatory approval from the body in less than two years. Under this new license, Deribit’s spot buy, sell, and trade orders will route directly to the Coinbase Exchange for execution.

This integration provides Deribit’s professional trader base with access to Coinbase’s centralized order book, offering deeper liquidity than the platform previously maintained independently. The move is expected to facilitate an expansion of Deribit’s offerings beyond its traditional focus on Bitcoin and Ether derivatives, potentially introducing hundreds of additional assets to the platform. Customer funds can remain within the Deribit ecosystem while serving as collateral for derivatives trading.

The license follows Coinbase’s August 2025 acquisition of Deribit for approximately $2.9 billion. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong noted that the approval demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to embracing digital assets and modern finance.