Coinbase Taps Egyptian-Founded Kemet for Institutional Crypto Derivatives Push

In a move signaling growing institutional interest in crypto derivatives, Coinbase has partnered with New York-based startup Kemet to simplify access to its advanced trading products. The deal will enable clients to access Coinbase’s four global venues—Coinbase Exchange, Coinbase Derivatives Exchange, Coinbase International Exchange, and Deribit—through a single platform.

Kemet, founded by Ash Ashmawy while at the American University in Cairo, provides institutional-grade crypto infrastructure solutions. This partnership builds on Kemet’s mission to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital asset markets.

The move comes as African cryptocurrency adoption continues to surge, with $182.1 billion in value received across key markets like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia between July 2024 and June 2025—a 72% increase from the previous year. While retail crypto usage is widespread, institutional-grade derivatives trading remains limited due to regulatory hurdles and infrastructure gaps.

“Coinbase has effectively combined options, perpetuals, dated futures, and spot trading all under one single household and one name,” Ashmawy explained to TechCabal. “This means they’ll want to unlock very advanced institutional experiences on top of their stack, and we’re happy to be chosen as a partner to build these experiences.”

With this integration, Kemet will leverage its technology to offer Coinbase clients streamlined access to complex derivative strategies while ensuring regulatory compliance across different jurisdictions. The partnership represents a significant step toward expanding institutional participation in the African crypto market.