Coinbase CEO Says Financial System Needs Eight Upgrades Including RWA Tokenization

• Brian Armstrong says finance needs eight upgrades including RWA tokenization and 24/7 trading.
• Coinbase CEO says stablecoins can support near-instant and low-cost global payments.
• Armstrong says AI can improve risk, credit, compliance, fraud checks, and financial advice.
• Self-custody wallets and open protocols could expand access to anyone with a smartphone.

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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the global financial system still needs major upgrades before it can serve users more efficiently. He listed eight areas that need change, including real-world asset tokenization, 24/7 global trading, stablecoin payments, AI-powered finance, self-custody wallets, and clearer regulation. Armstrong said the next version of finance will be more global, more onchain, and more automated.

RWA Tokenization And 24/7 Trading Lead The List

Armstrong said real-world asset tokenization is one major upgrade still needed. This includes putting real estate, stocks, bonds, funds, and other assets onchain.

Tokenization can support faster settlement and wider distribution. It can also allow fractional ownership, which may give more people access to large asset classes.

Coinbase CEO: Financial System Needs Eight Upgrades Including RWA Tokenization

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the financial system still needs to complete eight major upgrades, including RWA tokenization, 24/7 global trading, stablecoin payments, AI-driven financial services,… pic.twitter.com/VUD9sozkfC

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) May 25, 2026

He also pointed to 24/7 global trading as a needed change. Traditional markets still operate on limited schedules and regional systems.

Armstrong said future markets should pool global liquidity across assets and users. This could improve capital efficiency and create broader market access.

Stablecoin Payments And AI Finance Gain Focus

Armstrong also named stablecoin payments as a core upgrade. Stablecoins can support near-instant and low-cost transfers across borders.

He said these systems may also support agentic payments. This refers to payments made by automated systems or AI agents.

Major areas where the financial system still needs an update:

1. Tokenization of real-world assets – Real estate, stocks, bonds, funds, etc. onchain for instant settlement, fractional ownership & massive distribution.

2. 24/7 Global trading – Pooled global liquidity, every…

— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) May 24, 2026

AI-powered financial services were also included in his list. Armstrong said AI can improve risk analysis, credit decisions, compliance checks, and financial advice.

He argued that better technology could reduce fraud and widen access to capital. It could also give more users access to strong financial guidance.

Regulation And Self Custody Remain Key Priorities

Armstrong said innovation-friendly regulation is needed for the next financial system. He called for risk-based rules instead of one-size-fits-all frameworks.

He said better regulation should support innovation and competition. At the same time, it should help protect users and markets.

Expanded access was another priority in his list. Armstrong pointed to open protocols and self-custody wallets as important tools.

He said these systems can reduce reliance on middlemen. They can also expand financial access to anyone with a smartphone.

Capital Formation And Sound Money Complete The Roadmap

Armstrong said capital formation also needs to become easier and cheaper. He said people should have simple tools to raise funds for strong ideas.

Lower barriers could increase the number of startups. It could also help more builders access early capital.

He also included sound money as part of the financial upgrade path. Armstrong described it as a refuge from inflation when fiat discipline weakens.

He said the work is not complete until these systems serve everyone. He added that progress will require both technology development and policy work.