Coinbase is strategically expanding its Web3 infrastructure through its recent acquisition of Liquifi, a specialized token management platform. This undisclosed deal marks Coinbase’s fourth acquisition in 2025, underscoring its ambition to offer a comprehensive suite of digital asset services and consolidate its market position.
Strategic Alignment and Operational Enhancements
Liquifi facilitates crucial functions for prominent Web3 entities like Uniswap Foundation and OP Labs. Its platform streamlines post-vesting token distributions, holder tracking, and automates tax withholdings, effectively serving as the “Carta” equivalent for crypto projects. The company had previously secured $5 million in a 2022 funding round led by Dragonfly. Notably, Coinbase publicly supported Liquifi through a December 2024 lawsuit initiated by competitor Toku, proceeding with the acquisition despite the legal challenge.
Akil Ibssa, Coinbase’s Corporate Development Director, stated the acquisition advances their vision for an end-to-end platform, guiding crypto projects from creation through exchange listing. This move directly counters competitors like Binance and OKX, which generate revenue via launchpad models prior to token market entry. Ibssa emphasized the necessity of streamlining token management for broader adoption: “creating tokens and managing cap tables is part of the cryptocurrency lifecycle. If we want to bring a billion people into Web3, this process must be simpler and less susceptible to compromise.”
Regulatory Environment as a Catalyst
The pro-cryptocurrency administration of US President Donald Trump is significantly influencing Coinbase’s strategic agility. While the Liquifi acquisition aligned with Coinbase’s long-term vision irrespective of regulatory shifts, Ibssa affirmed that the “regulatory certainty” under the current environment, contrasting with prior SEC stances led by Gary Gensler, enables more audacious strategic maneuvers and fosters increased investment in the digital asset economy.
Industry M&A and Global Expansion
Coinbase’s strategic growth unfolds amidst robust merger and acquisition activity across the broader fintech and digital asset sectors, as exemplified by Stripe’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge and the crypto wallet Privy earlier this year. Concurrently, Coinbase continues to expand its global reach, having recently secured a license to operate under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, further reinforcing its international operational capabilities.
Blockchain developer and writer, Daniel combines hands-on coding experience with accessible storytelling. He holds multiple blockchain certifications and authors technical explainers, protocol deep-dives, and developer tutorials to help readers navigate the intersection of code and finance.