Coinbase is pursuing approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer blockchain-based stock trading in the United States. This strategic move aims to position Coinbase as a competitor to established brokerages like Robinhood and Charles Schwab. Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that Coinbase is seeking a no-action letter or exemption from the SEC to proceed without enforcement risk. The approval would enable Coinbase to issue tokenized stocks, integrating traditional stock trading with blockchain technology. However, Grewal did not confirm whether a formal request has been submitted to the SEC or provide a timeline for the launch of this service.