Coinbase has grown beyond its role as a crypto exchange and is now establishing itself as a key player in the broader financial sector in the United States.
On Feb. 6, CEO Brian Armstrong said that the platform is evolving beyond crypto trading, positioning itself at the intersection of banking, brokerage, and payments. He shared that Coinbase now holds around $420 billion in customer assets, which would make it the 21st-largest bank in the US based on total assets if it were a traditional financial institution.
Armstrong also noted that if Coinbase were classified as a brokerage, it would rank eighth largest by assets under management.
Additionally, Armstrong highlighted Coinbase’s growing role in payments. While he did not specify an exact ranking, he referenced the $30 trillion in stablecoin transactions processed last year, noting that a portion of these payments facilitated goods and services.
Armstrong stressed that these metrics show that crypto is dissolving traditional financial boundaries by allowing individuals to invest, spend, and borrow using a single platform.
He envisions a future where a unified financial system powered by crypto enhances efficiency, reduces transaction friction, and expands economic freedom.
He concluded:
“In the updated financial system, you will have a single primary financial account which serves all these functions. A greater % of global GDP will run on more efficient crypto rails over time. We’ll have sound money, lower friction transactions, and greater economic freedom for all.”
Coinbase’s growth
Coinbase’s rapid ascent cemented its dominant position in the US crypto market.
The platform controls about 60% of the country’s crypto trading volume and plays a key role in the growing Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) market. It currently serves as the custodian for nine of the 12 approved Bitcoin ETFs.
Beyond trading, Coinbase is gaining traction within government agencies. The US Marshals Service selected Coinbase Prime to provide custody and trading services for seized digital assets.
The exchange is also at the forefront of crypto advocacy. It has supported pro-crypto candidates through contributions to the Fairshake Super PAC and has led legal efforts to challenge restrictive regulations that hinder the crypto industry growth in the US.
Outside the US, Coinbase continues to secure regulatory approvals in major markets. The platform recently obtained full authorization in the UK and Argentina.
It also acquired a Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) license, allowing it to offer financial products such as contracts for differences (CFDs) across the European Economic Area. This move strengthens Coinbase’s ability to operate under Europe’s stringent Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
At the same time, Coinbase continues to expand its product ecosystem. The company recently launched cbBTC, a wrapped Bitcoin product, and Base, its layer-2 blockchain network. Both products rank among the fastest-growing in the crypto space, thanks to the increasing demand for decentralized solutions.
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