Brian Armstrong

Coinbase: regulated-on-ramp + custody business model

Brian Armstrong is co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, the largest regulated cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. He pursued compliance-first positioning when most crypto venues avoided regulation, securing money-transmitter licences across US states and launching institutional custody to attract corporate and fund capital. Coinbase listed directly on NASDAQ in 2021, validating the model of making crypto accessible within existing financial guardrails.