Coinbase CEO Argues Against Shifting from Crypto to AI, Calls Crypto Essential Infrastructure

ChainCatcher report: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong responded on Twitter to the view that “if you’re in crypto, switch to AI,” calling it a flawed mindset and a zero-sum way of thinking. Armstrong emphasized that cryptocurrency is a general-purpose technology, an infrastructure like electricity or the internet—it does not compete with the next big trend, because it underpins it. It’s “both/and,” not “either/or.” The rise of AI as a major trend does not diminish the importance of cryptocurrency; on the contrary, it makes cryptocurrency even more essential. AI agents require their own financial infrastructure, and their daily transaction volume will eventually far exceed the combined total of all human transactions. They cannot open bank accounts, wait three days for wire transfers, or be confined to a single country. They need programmable money that works in real time—and that’s exactly what cryptocurrency provides. Agents need to hold funds and make payments autonomously. Coinbase pioneered the x402 protocol, Base, and USDC, which now support the vast majority of agent payments. Agents will also participate in trading and act as financial advisors, raising or borrowing capital for new projects underway. They will also eliminate the burdensome tasks of tax planning, portfolio rebalancing, and bill payments for users.