A new acquisition for Coinbase
Coinbase has announced its ninth acquisition of 2025 with the purchase of Vector, a Solana-based social trading platform focused on meme coins. The deal, which is expected to close by the end of the year, marks a significant expansion of Coinbase’s on-chain trading capabilities. Financial terms were not disclosed, though a company spokesperson confirmed the transaction would not materially impact Coinbase’s financial position. Vector’s 13-person team will be absorbed into Coinbase’s consumer trading division.
However, the Vector standalone mobile and desktop applications will be shut down as the technology is integrated into Coinbase’s existing platform. Notably, Vector was created by the team behind Tensor, a prominent Solana NFT marketplace. Whilst Coinbase will acquire Vector’s technology and personnel, the Tensor NFT marketplace and its TNSR token will remain independent under the Tensor Foundation. This separation ensures Coinbase maintains no affiliation with the NFT marketplace or its native token.
Max Branzburg, Coinbase’s vice president of product management, explained that the acquisition aims to accelerate support for newly issued Solana assets and improve order routing. Currently, Coinbase only allows users to trade tokens through decentralised exchanges built on Base, its own blockchain. With Vector’s technology, Coinbase will expand access to Solana’s thriving ecosystem, which has seen cumulative DEX volume surpass $1 trillion in 2025. The acquisition reflects Coinbase’s ambition to build an « everything exchange » that provides faster token access and improved execution across multiple blockchains.
A strategic push into high-velocity meme coin markets
This acquisition underscores Coinbase’s aggressive 2025 growth strategy, which has seen the company complete nine deals throughout the year. Earlier major acquisitions include Deribit, a crypto derivatives exchange purchased for $2.9 billion, and Echo, an initial coin offering platform bought for $375 million. Coinbase also explored acquiring stablecoin company BVNK for approximately $2 billion, though both parties ultimately called off that deal in November. The Vector acquisition specifically targets the booming meme coin and social trading sectors. Vector’s platform allows users to identify new assets immediately upon launch and provides social features that enable traders to follow others’ investments and strategies. This mobile-centric approach aligns with the fast-paced nature of Solana’s meme coin market, where tokens can appear and gain traction within minutes.
For Coinbase users, the integration promises quicker access to newly launched Solana tokens and more efficient trading execution within a single platform. This eliminates the need for multiple applications and separate wallets when pursuing new coin launches or engaging in copy-trading strategies. The timing is particularly strategic given Solana’s explosive growth in 2025. The blockchain has become a hub for meme coin activity, with traders seeking instant access to tokens and community-driven content. By acquiring Vector, Coinbase positions itself to capture this high-activity segment whilst expanding its reach beyond Base. Branzburg noted that the company is « doubling down on Solana » and plans further integrations as it continues building out its on-chain trading infrastructure. This move also signals Coinbase’s intention to compete more aggressively with decentralised platforms and other exchanges that have already established strong presences in the Solana ecosystem.
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