Bloomberg Talks Brian Armstrong Talks Future of Digital Assets
Jan 20, 2026
Brian Armstrong, Co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, dives into the future of digital assets, discussing how cryptocurrency regulation will transform investing access worldwide. He shares insights on meetings with world leaders at Davos, strategic withdrawals from draft bills, and the impact of stablecoins. Armstrong envisions tokenizing assets to democratize investments for millions globally and emphasizes the role of AI in enhancing Coinbase's services. With bold predictions for Bitcoin's future, he highlights his plans to bridge traditional finance and crypto.
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Crypto's Breakout Moment
- 2025 was a breakout year with regulatory clarity and large-scale stablecoin integrations.
- Brian Armstrong says crypto is being adopted rapidly by banks and emerging markets, marking a structural shift.
Reject Regulatory Capture
- Push back on legislation that enshrines incumbents and limits competition.
- Defend customers' rights publicly if draft bills contain 'red line' giveaways to TradFi, Armstrong advises.
100% Reserves Change The Risk Profile
- Coinbase argues stablecoin reward programs are not bank-like because they operate with 100% reserves.
- Armstrong says 100% reserves eliminate bank-run risk, so crypto firms need different regulation than banks.