Coinbase will join the S&P 500 next week on Monday, May 19, marking a significant crypto market milestone. This historic addition, at the time of writing, makes Coinbase actually the first cryptocurrency company to be included in the prestigious index, representing a major step for institutional crypto adoption amid ongoing regulatory uncertainty in the digital asset space and industry.

Also Read: Trump’s Tariff Backfires After Fresh China Deal Secures Beijing Win: 5 Key Losses

How Coinbase’s S&P 500 Entry Impacts Crypto, Stocks, and Regulation

S&P Dow Jones Indices announced on Monday, May 12 that Coinbase would replace Discover Financial Services in the S&P 500. This Coinbase S&P 500 addition comes as Capital One Financial is, right now, acquiring Discover Financial, and the change will take effect before markets open next Monday.

Stock Performance Boost

Coinbase stock performance enjoyed the first fruits of the news with the shares up more than 8% in after hour sessions. During normal trading hours on Monday the stock had already risen by approximately 4%, as well as the stock closed at $207.22 just like many other major announcements have done in the back.

Coinbase tweeted about the milestone:

“As the saying goes… ‘First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you, then they fight you. Then they add you to the S&P 500.’ …or something like that.”

Institutional Adoption Milestone

The Coinbase S&P 500 inclusion is expected to accelerate institutional crypto adoption as index funds and ETFs that track the S&P 500 will now be required to purchase Coinbase shares, and this could create an immediate new source of demand.

S&P Dow Jones Indices stated in their announcement:

“Coinbase Global Inc. (NASD: COIN) will replace Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) in the S&P 500 effective prior to the opening of trading on Monday, May 19.”

Also Read: Bitcoin Fork Coming? Samson Mow’s 2025 Warning

Market Impact and Future Outlook

This regulatory milestone comes as Bitcoin recently surpassed $100,000, nearly reaching its record price from January 2025. The Coinbase S&P 500 entry signals growing institutional acceptance of crypto assets and may, in the coming months, pave the way for other crypto companies to follow a similar path.

The crypto market milestone of Coinbase joining the S&P 500 represents both a validation of the company’s growth and also a new chapter for cryptocurrency’s integration with traditional finance, despite persistent regulatory uncertainty that continues to affect the industry as a whole.

Also Read: Cardano (ADA) vs Dogecoin (DOGE): Which Crypto Will Hit An ATH First?