Coinbase is making headlines once again as it prepares to end custody support for 49 digital assets on its institutional platform, Coinbase Prime, by the end of April. This significant move reflects a broader effort by the company to uphold what it describes as “quality standards” across its services, with the decision stemming from its most recent asset review.
The update came directly from the official Coinbase Institutional account on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We regularly evaluate the assets we support to ensure they continue to meet our standards,” the company stated, adding that following this evaluation, it would discontinue custody support for the 49 tokens in question.
Among the tokens affected are a mix of lesser-known and niche assets, including VideoCoin (VID), Coffee Token (CFT), Sentinel Protocol (UPP), Cellframe (CELL), Ideology (IDEA), Dorayaki (DORA), CPUCoin (CPU), SIREN (SI), Oraichain Token (ORAI), UniLend Finance (UFT), Telcoin (TEL), and E-RADIX (EXRD). These removals will apply across all jurisdictions where Coinbase Prime operates.
The move is a continuation of Coinbase’s efforts to position itself as a premier platform for institutional clients, with Coinbase Prime serving as a full-service brokerage offering trading, custody, and financing. By trimming down the number of supported assets, the company aims to ensure that it maintains only those tokens that meet its evolving criteria for reliability, demand, and regulatory alignment.
While 49 tokens are being phased out, Coinbase has simultaneously introduced new listings that demonstrate where its focus may be shifting. KernelDAO (KERNEL) and Wayfinder (PROMPT) are now available on the platform and through the Coinbase mobile apps, allowing users to engage in typical functions like buying, selling, converting, and storing.
In addition, Coinbase has announced upcoming trading suspensions for a few more assets. Gemini Dollar (GUSD) and GYEN (GYEN) will see their trading functions disabled on May 7, 2025, around 2:00 p.m. ET. These changes will impact users of Coinbase Simple and Advanced Trade, Coinbase Exchange, and Coinbase Prime. Likewise, Media Network (MEDIA) is set to be delisted on April 15 at the same time.
While some may view the mass delisting as a retreat from certain parts of the crypto ecosystem, others interpret it as a strategic pivot. Coinbase appears to be doubling down on offering a leaner, more curated selection of assets in response to the increasing complexity of regulatory scrutiny and institutional demands.
The evolving listings signal an intent not just to consolidate but also to adapt. As part of this adjustment, newer tokens like Definitive (EDGE), doginme (DOGINME), and Keyboard Cat (KEYCAT) have been added to the mobile app, suggesting that innovation and user interest remain a core part of Coinbase’s long-term vision.
With these shifts, Coinbase is making it clear: in an era of heightened compliance and shifting market dynamics, not every token will make the cut.
By Alejandro Silva Ramírez, Crypto Analyst & Columnist