Coinbase said on Wednesday it will start letting users trade stocks and event contracts tied to real-world outcomes, as the exchange expands beyond its crypto roots to compete more directly with rivals. Investment platforms have been diversifying into different asset classes to encourage customers to trade under one roof, as firms vie for a larger share of retail trading volume. Coinbase's expansion could help reduce the company's reliance on crypto trading, which has become increasingly competitive due to several new entrants, and push it deeper on to the turf of brokerages such as Robinhood and Interactive Brokers. ... (full story)