- Coinbase will delist WBTC on December 19, 2024, due to unmet listing criteria.
- WBTC will be moved to limit-only mode, with withdrawals still accessible.
- Coinbase’s cbBTC, launched in September, has been gaining market share in wrapped Bitcoin.
Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has announced it will delist Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) from its platforms on December 19, 2024.
We regularly monitor the assets on our exchange to ensure they meet our listing standards. Based on our most recent review, Coinbase will suspend trading for wBTC (wBTC) on December 19, 2024, on or around 12pm ET.
— Coinbase Assets 🛡️ (@CoinbaseAssets) November 19, 2024
The decision will affect all Coinbase services, including Coinbase.com, Coinbase Exchange, and Coinbase Prime, and comes amid ongoing assessments of the exchange’s listing standards.
As part of the transition, WBTC order books have been switched to limit-only mode. This allows users to place, cancel, and match limit orders but restricts other trading functionalities.
We have moved our wBTC order books to limit-only mode. Limit orders can be placed and canceled, and matches may occur.
If you have any questions regarding this update, please visit: https://t.co/aZsdyDqkAS
— Coinbase Assets 🛡️ (@CoinbaseAssets) November 19, 2024
Despite the suspension of trading, Coinbase assured users that WBTC holdings would remain accessible, and withdrawals could be made at any time.
WBTC doesn’t meet Coinbase listing criteria
In its statement, Coinbase noted that the move was a result of its latest review, which suggested Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) no longer meets its listing criteria.
While no specific reasons were disclosed, the announcement emphasizes Coinbase’s commitment to maintaining regulatory compliance and providing high-quality assets for trading.
Notably, the delisting comes just months after Coinbase launched its own wrapped Bitcoin token, Coinbase Wrapped Bitcoin (cbBTC).
Introduced in September 2024, cbBTC is an ERC-20 token fully backed 1:1 by Bitcoin held in Coinbase’s custody. It offers integration with decentralized applications (dApps) across networks like Ethereum, Base, and Solana.
CbBTC has quickly gained traction, reaching a market capitalization of $1.3 billion and a circulating supply of over 15,000 tokens. The majority of cbBTC tokens—82%—are on Coinbase’s Base network, with the rest distributed across Ethereum and Solana.
The rising popularity of cbBTC positions it as a strong competitor to WBTC in the DeFi ecosystem.
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) team surprised by the move
In response the WBTC team has expressed surprise and disappointment over Coinbase’s decision to delist the asset, reaffirming their dedication to compliance, transparency, and decentralization.
In a statement, they emphasized the robust governance, secure custody processes, and regulatory adherence of their product, positioning WBTC as the most decentralized wrapped BTC solution available.
We regret and are surprised by Coinbase’s decision to delist WBTC. As the core team behind Wrapped BTC, we have always been committed to providing the community with the most compliant, transparent, and decentralized BTC tokenization product.
Over the years, WBTC has established…
— WBTC (@WrappedBTC) November 19, 2024
The WBTC team urged Coinbase to reconsider its decision, offering to provide additional information or clarification to resolve any concerns.
