Brian: Think of us like a bank Regulators: OK Brian: Wait. No. Not like that
Brian Armstrong
Brian Armstrong7.2.2025
If you think of Coinbase like a bank, we now hold about $0.42T in assets for our customers, which would make us 21st largest bank in the US by total assets, and growing. If you think of us more like a brokerage, we'd be the 8th largest brokerage today by AUM. If you think of us like a payments company…TBH i'm not sure where we rank on that list. There are various ways to measure it, but there were about $30T in total stablecoin payments last year (not all of those were goods and services though). The point is, with crypto the line between these categories is blurring. There are many legacy reasons these are separate in the traditional financial system - and not all of them are good reasons. Why does the money you spend lose value instead of growing in value like an investment? Why does your checking account not earn yield like a savings account (or better yet, like short term treasuries)? Many people use Coinbase to invest, but also to spend, get a loan, etc. In the updated financial system, you will have a single primary financial account which serves all these functions. A greater % of global GDP will run on more efficient crypto rails over time. We'll have sound money, lower friction transactions, and greater economic freedom for all.
58