Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., has announced a date for its highly expected direct listing following approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- In a blog post published on Thursday (April 1, 2021), Coinbase revealed that the direct listing of its Class A common stock would go live on Nasdaq Global Select Market in less than two weeks from today. According to the crypto exchange giant, trading would start on April 14, under the ticker symbol “COIN.”
- Coinbase announced the date after the U.S. SEC approved the company’s proposal for a direct listing yesterday.
- Prior to the current development, the crypto exchange company was looking to go public in March. However, as reported by CryptoPotato, the company decided to move the date to April 2021.
- The postponement happened shortly after Coinbase agreed to pay a $6.5 million fine to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC accused the exchange of engaging in illegal wash trading practices for three years.
- With the date already announced, Coinbase could be the first crypto exchange to be listed on Nasdaq, which would be a major milestone for the entire cryptocurrency industry.
- Coinbase initially revealed plans back in December 2020 to go public with an initial public offering (IPO). But the U.S.-based crypto exchange giant changed direction, stating that it would go for a direct listing.
- Meanwhile, the company gave a caveat, stating:
“This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.”