Bank of America Upgrades Coinbase to 'Buy' on Base Prospects, Tokenization Tailwinds

Core Viewpoint - Bank of America analysts upgraded Coinbase to "Buy" from "Neutral," citing its leadership in tokenization and potential benefits from its blockchain network [1] Group 1: Product Developments - Coinbase recently launched Coinbase Tokenize, which offers asset managers services like issuance, custody, compliance, and access to a large client base [3] - The exchange's product offerings are expanding, including stock trading and prediction markets, which could enhance revenue streams [1][3] - Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 scaling network, Base, is being utilized to expand its blockchain infrastructure, supporting products like Bitcoin-backed lending [4] Group 2: Market Position and Growth Potential - Analysts believe Coinbase is uniquely positioned in the market as asset managers show interest in digital representations of securities, highlighting a non-consumer-facing product [2] - The growth areas for Coinbase's tokenization vision include stocks, ETFs, real estate, and private companies [3] - The potential launch of a native currency for Base could provide significant financial benefits to Coinbase, with analysts estimating it could raise billions of dollars [5][6] Group 3: Stock Performance - Coinbase shares were trading around $248, reflecting a 1% increase, but are approximately 40% below their July high of $444 [4] - Analysts noted an increase in the exchange's "product velocity," indicating a positive outlook for future performance [4]