Coinbase Global, Inc. is a U.S.-based company that operates one of the largest cryptocurrency exchange platforms. Founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam and headquartered in San Francisco, Coinbase provides technology and infrastructure to buy, sell, store and use a broad range of digital assets. The company became a public company through a direct listing on the NASDAQ in April 2021 and offers services tailored to both retail and institutional customers.
Coinbase’s product portfolio includes its consumer trading platform, a self-custody mobile wallet, and institutional services such as custody, prime brokerage and execution tools. Additional offerings include merchant payment solutions, debit card products in supported regions, educational programs that reward users for learning about digital assets, and staking and lending-related services where permitted. The company also operates products aimed at institutional compliance, reporting and secure asset management to support professional counterparties and digital-asset service providers.
In addition to its commercial services, Coinbase has played a role in broader crypto infrastructure and standards, including participation in efforts around the USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin through the Centre consortium. The firm serves customers across many countries worldwide and maintains a focus on regulatory engagement and licensing where required by local authorities. Coinbase is led by co-founder and chief executive Brian Armstrong and has grown its executive team to manage product, compliance and institutional lines of business as the company has expanded its global footprint.