Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said crypto has become a bipartisan issue in Washington as voters and lawmakers question the current financial system.
Summary
- Armstrong frames crypto as financial access as Coinbase expands products through acquisitions and regulated derivatives.
- Deribit gives Coinbase a broader trading stack as more acquisition targets remain under review globally.
- The remarks place policy, stablecoin rewards, and mergers at the center of Coinbase’s growth strategy.
In a POLITICO interview, he said “there’s something like 80% of Americans” who feel the system is not working for them.
Armstrong cited fees, slow payments, and unequal access as reasons for public frustration. He said crypto can act as a “democratizing force” by giving more people access to financial services.
The Coinbase chief said support for crypto now cuts across party lines. He said Democrats often view the industry through access and inclusion, while Republicans focus on national security, dollar strength, and keeping financial innovation in the United States.
He also defended stablecoin rewards and said banks should compete if customers can earn more on digital dollars. His comments came during a wider debate over crypto bills, banking rules, and the role of private companies in payment markets.
Deribit deal shapes growth plan
Armstrong’s policy comments came as Coinbase continues to expand through acquisitions. Bloomberg reported that he said Coinbase will keep looking at merger and acquisition targets after its $2.9 billion agreement to buy Deribit.
“We are always looking at M&A opportunities,” Armstrong said. He added that Coinbase has a “large balance sheet” and a public stock that can help fund deals. He also said the company would not “swing at every pitch.”
Coinbase closed the Deribit acquisition in August 2025. The deal gave the exchange a major position in crypto options and added to its futures and perpetuals business.
Deribit reported more than $185 billion in July 2025 volume before the deal closed. Coinbase said the platform also held about $60 billion in open interest at the time.
Broader product push continues
As crypto.news reported, Coinbase later opened regulated access to Deribit options for eligible U.S. institutions through Coinbase Financial Markets. The rollout gave institutions a route into global crypto derivatives without offshore workarounds.
Previously, crypto.news explored Coinbase’s purchase of LiquiFi, a token management platform used for vesting, cap table tracking, and compliance workflows. The deal showed that Coinbase wants to support token projects before they reach an exchange listing.
In a previous article, crypto.news discussed Coinbase’s acquisition of The Clearing Company as it expanded prediction markets. The exchange has also moved into event contracts, stock trading, and AI-linked payments as part of its wider platform plan.
Armstrong’s message links those business moves with a policy pitch. Coinbase wants clearer rules, broader product access, and more ways to compete with banks and offshore crypto venues.
The push also reflects a market where large exchanges seek new revenue lines beyond spot trading fees. Derivatives, stablecoins, event markets, and token services can help Coinbase serve retail users, institutions, developers, and businesses from one account.
For Coinbase, the next test is execution. The exchange must integrate Deribit, manage regulatory checks, and prove that new products can bring volume without adding too much risk.
The deal hunt may continue, but Armstrong said Coinbase will stay selective. That leaves investors watching whether the exchange buys more global platforms, product tools, or infrastructure companies in the next phase, especially outside the United States, where crypto derivatives demand remains large.
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