Coinbase Upgrades Prediction Suite With ‘Crypto Binaries’ and Parlay-Style Combos

• The cryptocurrency brokerage is adding combos or parlays to its prediction market offering
• It’s adding timed crypto trades to the mix
• Coinbase partners with Kalshi

Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN) today (June 16) announced an expansion of its prediction market platform, including the addition combination bets or “combos” — industry-speak for parlays.

The largest regulated cryptocurrency brokerage firm in the US, which entered the prediction markets arena earlier this year through a partnership with Kalshi, described demand for event contracts on its platform as “incredible” highlighted multi-asset parlays as part of a broader refresh of its trading suite.

Bundle multiple predictions into a single trade, across any category on the platform,” according to a Coinbase blog post. “That means combining trades on economic indicators alongside global political events or tapping into your read on sports game outcomes and player performance all in a single position.”

The prediction market industry’s pivot into multi-leg bets—popularly known as parlays in sports betting—is drawing heavy fire from regulators and critics.

They argue that regardless of the branding, these yes/no exchanges are simply pushing a veiled form of sports wagering. By introducing these combos, platforms are enticing retail traders with high-margin bet types that traditionally serve as the biggest moneymakers for mainstream sportsbooks.

Coinbase Additions Come at Pivotal Time

Coinbase’s enhancements to its prediction market offering, part of a broader sprucing up of its “super app” suite, arrives at an opportune because data confirm turnover on yes/no exchanges is booming. For example, Kalshi’s notional volume recently topped $100 billion on a lifetime basis while June 13 and 14 represent that operator’s biggest volume days on record.

News of parlays arriving on Coinbase is also relevant because volume data confirm the World Cup is having the expected effect of boosting prediction market activity.

Sports event contracts remain integral volume drivers for prediction markets and early results indicate the quadrennial soccer tournament is having the desired impact of luring new customers to yes/no exchanges.

Coinbase does not offer prediction derivatives in the state of Nevada.

Timed Crypto Trades May Appeal to Risk-Takers

Coinbase clients with high levels of risk tolerance now have access to what amount to be timed trades on various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Solana (SOL).

“This allows you to trade predictions on outcomes across 15-minute, hourly, daily, monthly, and annual intervals,” notes Coinbase.

Other crypto-centric prediction markets have found success by offering interval-based digital currency trades, but critics assert it’s just another former of gambling designed to entice unwitting speculators in search of quick riches.