CEO of Coinbase on future crypto adoption: 'The best tech is often invisible'

Global cryptocurrency adoption continues to rise. Data compiled by Triple-A indicates that more than 560 million people owned cryptocurrency as of 2024. Projections from Boston Consulting Group estimate roughly one billion global users by 2030 if current growth trends persist. This trajectory reflects accelerating mainstream integration into consumer finance.

Abstracted wallets are outperforming traditional self-custody in terms of usability. As reported by Coinbase in its Moonshot case study, applications embedding Coinbase Onramp experienced a 25% increase in conversion rates. Additionally, a J.D. Power study found that average digital wallet satisfaction increased to 664 out of 1,000 as frictionless user experiences replaced manual seed-phrase management. These metrics highlight how simplification enhances retention.

Armstrong is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Coinbase; according to Coinbase’s investor-relations site, he has held this role since 2012 and previously worked at Airbnb and Deloitte. His leadership emphasizes product simplicity, regulatory alignment, and expanding global crypto access through secure, mainstream tools.

Coinbase was founded in 2012 with a mission to increase global economic freedom by building an open financial system; according to the company’s official About page, it now serves over 100 countries and offers brokerage, exchange, custody, wallet, and developer services. As a publicly listed firm, Coinbase supports both retail and institutional customers through its integrated crypto platform.