Coinbase debuts ‘Coin50’ index, bringing stock market standards to crypto
Right now, the Coin50 has Bitcoin making up 50%, with Ethereum at 28%, Solana at 6%, XRP at 3%, Dogecoin at 2%, and 45 other tokens filling out the rest
Reportedly, the index pulls in the top 50 crypto assets by market cap, giving investors a real look at the market’s performance without the noise of individual price swings. It’s Coinbase’s big move to bring a more organized view of crypto to the masses, especially as big institutions keep dipping their toes further into the market.
What is the goal?
Greg Tusar, Coinbase’s Head of Institutional Products, is betting that the Coin50 will become the go-to benchmark for crypto. “What we’re trying to do is establish a benchmark that is not specific to any asset,” he said.
Instead of watching Bitcoin alone, he wants people to gauge the whole market. Bitcoin might still hold the crown, but according to Tusar, it’s time for a broader picture that captures the full scope of crypto assets.
Right now, the Coin50 has Bitcoin making up 50%, with Ethereum at 28%, Solana at 6%, XRP at 3%, Dogecoin at 2%, and 45 other tokens filling out the rest.
The tool; is also designed as an investment product — but only for folks outside the U.S., thanks to regulatory hurdles. It’s set up as a “perpetual future,” which, unlike regular futures, has no expiry date.
U.S. regulations don’t allow this kind of derivative trading onshore, so Coinbase keeps it off-limits for American traders. But Tusar claims that the main goal isn’t just for trading.
He wants the index to help people spot trends, see the bigger picture, and get a sense of market movement — without just staring at Bitcoin’s price as a stand-in for everything.
Moving beyond Bitcoin’s shadow
Why does this matter? Because Bitcoin alone just doesn’t cut it anymore. “I think Bitcoin is used as that benchmark, simply because there isn’t anything else to put in its place,” Tusar admitted.
The Coin50 brings in more players, painting a broader picture of where the crypto market really stands. The way Coinbase sees it, as the market matures, Bitcoin’s dominance will likely shrink, making it less of a reliable indicator for the entire market.
