Brian Armstrong founded and led Coinbase, one of the world's most important cryptocurrency exchanges.

Early Life and Education

Armstrong at Born in San Jose, California in 1983, he was drawn to technology and programming from an early age. He pursued his interests at Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he earned degrees in computer science and economics.

Early Career

Armstrong began his professional career after graduating from Rice University. He worked as a software engineer at IBM and later joined Airbnb as a software engineer and team leader. His time at Airbnb opened Armstrong’s eyes to the challenges posed by global payment systems and the potential for cryptocurrencies to change the financial landscape.

Enter the field of cryptocurrency

In 2010, Armstrong came across Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin white paper, which inspired his interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain. potential interest in chain technology. After recognizing the transformative potential of this emerging technology, Armstrong decided to dedicate his career to the advancement and adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Founded and led Coinbase

In 2012, Armstrong co-founded Coinbase with Fred Ehrsam. They aim to create a user-friendly platform for people to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies. Coinbase started out as a simple Bitcoin brokerage service and has since grown into a comprehensive platform offering a variety of cryptocurrency-related services.

Under Armstrong’s leadership, Coinbase’s focus on compliance and security set it apart from other exchanges at the time. This approach gave Coinbase the trust of users and regulators, accelerating its growth.

As CEO, Armstrong led Coinbase through multiple phases of expansion. The company added support for various cryptocurrencies, introduced new features like staking and lending, and even launched a platform for institutional investors called Coinbase Prime. Coinbase has also invested in and acquired numerous blockchain and cryptocurrency startups, further solidifying its position in the industry. You can find Coinbase Ventures’ portfolio here.

In 2021, Armstrong led Coinbase to become the first major U.S.-listed cryptocurrency exchange to list its shares on the Nasdaq stock exchange. This landmark event marks an important milestone for Coinbase and the broader cryptocurrency industry.