Brian Armstrong, born in San Jose, California, is the co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. With a background in economics and computer science, Armstrong has led Coinbase since its inception in 2012, growing the platform significantly and taking it public in April 2021.

Who is Brian Armstrong?

Brian Armstrong, born in San Jose, California, attended Bellarmine College Preparatory and later earned a dual bachelor's degree in economics and computer science from Rice University in 2005, followed by a master's degree in computer science in 2006.

Before co-founding Coinbase in 2012 with Fred Ehrsam, Armstrong gained experience as a developer at IBM, a consultant at Deloitte, and a software engineer at Airbnb. His time at Airbnb exposed him to the challenges of international payment systems, sparking his interest in cryptocurrencies. Armstrong's vision for Coinbase is to create a global, open financial system that drives innovation and freedom.

Under his leadership, Coinbase went public in a direct offering on Nasdaq in 2021, reaching a market capitalization of $100 billion.

Work History

• Coinbase: CEO & Co-Founder (June 2012 - Present)
• Airbnb: Technical Product Manager (May 2011 - June 2012)
• UniversityTutor: CEO & Founder (August 2003 - May 2012)
• Deloitte & Touche: Consultant - Enterprise Risk Management (July 2005 - November 2005)
• IBM: Intern Team Lead (June 2003 - September 2003)

Education History

Brian Armstrong pursued his higher education at Rice University, where he initially obtained a dual bachelor's degree in computer science and economics in 2005. Following his undergraduate studies, Armstrong continued at Rice University to earn a master's degree in computer science, completing the program in 2006. This strong educational foundation in both economics and computer science would later play a crucial role in his career and the founding of Coinbase.

When did Brian Armstrong join Coinbase?

As the co-founder of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong took on the role of CEO from the very beginning, starting in June 2012. Since then, Armstrong has been leading the company for nearly a decade, guiding it through significant growth and its public listing on Nasdaq in 2021.