Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the financial system still needs eight key improvements before the crypto-based currency can reach widespread use.
Summary
- Brian Armstrong said that finance still needs eight improvements across tokens, stablecoins, AI, access, and regulation.
- Coinbase recently expanded stablecoin tools, AI payments, and on-chain infrastructure across several products.
- Related reports show RWA tokens and stablecoin payments remain key areas for crypto growth in 2026.
His list included RWA tokens, 24/7 global trading, stablecoin payments, AI tools, wallets, easy capital formation, sound currency, and better regulation.
Armstrong said the system of the future will be global, self-service, and on-chain. He wrote that the work is not done until these programs help more users, adding, “The work is not done until we find that this works for everyone.”
RWA tokenization tops Coinbase CEO’s development list
Armstrong put real-world commodity tokens at the top of his list. He said real estate, stocks, bonds, and funds could move on the chain to support faster payments, wider distribution, and fractional ownership.
The comments come as tokenization remains a leading crypto theme in 2026. Related reports said that the RWA token market will grow by 263% year-on-year in 2025 and by nearly 30% in the first half of 2026.
Coinbase is also tying its community strategy to this change. In its Q1 2026 earnings call, the company said stablecoins surpassed $300 billion in market value, while real-world assets were expected to reach $16 trillion by 2030.
Stablecoins and AI payments are gaining ground
Armstrong also named next-generation payments as a necessary development. He pointed to near-instant, low-cost global transfers using stablecoins, including payments made by AI agents.
That view is similar to Coinbase’s recent work on machine payments. A related filing said Coinbase’s x402 protocol was native to Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, which allows AI agents to pay for services in USDC without human input. The report said that transactions last in Base for about 200 milliseconds.
A separate report said that Coinbase has launched Agentic.market, a marketplace where AI agents can find and buy services using USDC through x402. At the time of launch, the system had settled approximately 165 million transactions for more than 480,000 agents.
Control and access remain a central theme
Armstrong also called for innovation-friendly regulation. He said regulations should move from one-size-fits-all systems to risk-based models that support competition.
The point follows Coinbase’s support for the CLARITY Act. Related reports said that Armstrong supported the bill before it was released in the Senate, after lawmakers adjusted the language on stablecoin yields, DeFi, token shares, and the CFTC’s role in crypto markets.
The Senate Banking Committee later advanced the Clarification Act by a vote of 15 to 9. Related reports said Coinbase stock rose 8% after the vote, and the bill still needs a full Senate vote and reconciliation with the House version.
Meanwhile, Coinbase stock was trading at $184.99 at press time, down 4.43% over the past 24 hours, with a session range between $184.60 and $195.59, according to TradingView market data.
Coinbase expands stablecoin infrastructure
Armstrong also coined expanded access as part of financial development. He pointed to open contracts, a few middlemen, and wallets for users with smartphones.
Coinbase has moved in that direction by using new stablecoin tools. In a related filing, Coinbase and Flipcash have launched USDF, a Solana-based custom stablecoin fully backed by USDC. Coinbase said the product helps businesses issue stablecoins with a name without having to build a full custodial and payment system.
The broader message from Armstrong is clear: Coinbase sees the future of finance as fast, open, and automated. His post links tokens, stablecoins, AI, and regulations into a single roadmap for on-chain finance.
