Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a partnership with Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine startup, to provide traders worldwide with real-time crypto market data.
The collaboration was announced on Thursday by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on X and is being rolled out in two official phases.
It aims to provide users, particularly those in emerging markets, including Africa, faster and more reliable access to real-time digital asset insights.
Coinbase outlines phases of the partnership
In Phase 1, market data from Coinbase, including the exchange’s proprietary COIN50 index, is now available on Perplexity’s new Comet browser.
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This tool allows users to explore crypto price action, token fundamentals, and broader market trends using real-time, AI-driven search capabilities.
“Crypto is going mainstream,” Armstrong posted on X, citing data from Perplexity that indicates users are now searching for cryptocurrency information just as frequently as they do for equities.
The second phase of the integration will deepen the connection between the two platforms. Coinbase’s real-time data will be embedded into Perplexity’s conversational AI, allowing users to screen tokens, analyze on-chain activity, and generate trading ideas using natural language queries.
This means users in Africa and elsewhere can soon ask an AI questions like “Which altcoins gained the most this week?” and get immediate, data-backed answers.
Armstrong described this deeper fusion of crypto and AI as part of a broader shift toward a decentralised digital economy. He believes such tools will reshape how traders and everyday users interact with blockchain technology.
“Enhanced crypto functionality will be a catalyst for AI to achieve another 10x unlock,” he said, adding that he is most excited to see crypto wallets fully integrated into LLMs one day.
In 2024, Coinbase executed its first crypto transaction managed entirely by AI bots, an early sign of how large language models (LLMs) could evolve into full-service financial agents.
Bridging the gap for African markets
Coinbase has steadily expanded its presence across Africa through strategic partnerships, including collaborating with African stablecoin exchange Yellow Card.
This has enabled access to USDC and other assets in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Cameroon, mainly through the Coinbase Wallet. While the full Coinbase App remains restricted in some regions due to regulatory hurdles, these wallet integrations are helping bridge the gap.
On the AI side, Perplexity AI’s tools are accessible across Africa, provided users have internet access. That means traders in Africa can tap into this new AI-powered crypto data pipeline without geographical limitations.
“The Perplexity team shared that just as many users are looking up crypto as equities, which is a cool stat,” Armstrong added. “Crypto is going mainstream.”
About Perplexity
Founded in 2022, Perplexity AI has quickly become a serious contender in the AI space. With over 10 million users and $900 million raised from investors like Nvidia and Databricks, the company recently launched Comet, its agent-powered web browser.
This new tool is now the home for Coinbase’s integrated market data.
The partnership is a step forward for traders globally. It offers information and empowerment, giving them the tools to compete and thrive in a rapidly evolving global digital economy.