When Shift Happens Podcast

E148: Coinbase Founder: How I Built The Largest Crypto Exchange to $100 Billion in 9 years

20 Nov 2025

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Brian Armstrong built Coinbase from when Bitcoin was $6 to a $100 billion public company - surviving government attacks, multiple 90% market crashes, and 13 years of chaos.THE SHIFT NEWSLETTER💡Go beyond the mic - subscribe to The Shift, my new weekly newsletter where I share the uncut stories, raw takes, and behind-the-scenes notes from When Shift Happens: https://www.kevinfollonier.com/crypto-web3-newsletter___________PARTNERS🚀 Jupiter is the most used Decentralized Exchange in Crypto and the largest DEX by volume on Solana: https://jup.ag/🅿️ Paradex is building the future of open finance — an intuitive, permissionless trading platform giving users full control, ultra-low costs, fast execution, and access to global markets in one place. Money Badgers Genesis NFT drops in Q4 — limited spots 👉 https://app.paradex.trade/wl/resilientrogueqv💳 KAST lets you manage and spend stablecoins or crypto with a Visa Card or Apple Pay. Live in 100+ countries: https://go.kast.xyz/VqVO/SHIFT🔓 Trezor offers the safest cold-storage wallets for crypto and true financial independence. Buy with 10% off (promo code in video): https://trezor.io/?transaction_id=1026f18ed46409e495c6db4bff90ab&offer_id=133&affiliate_id=35356🌱 Bitwise Asset Management manages $15B+ across 30+ crypto investment products — ETFs, index funds, alpha, staking, and more. https://bitwiseinvestments.com/💧 Sui is a next-gen Layer 1 making digital asset ownership fast, private, and secure. https://sui.io/🧩 Story makes IP and real-world data programmable, enforceable, and monetizable. https://www.story.foundation★ Forza!, Coinsilium’s Gibraltar-based Bitcoin treasury arm. Coinsilium trades on AQUIS (COIN) and OTCQB (CINGF). https://www.coinsilium.com/🔘 Mantle Network combines Ethereum-level security with low fees and fast transactions via its layer-2 tech. Stake ETH for mETH and join a transparent, community-governed ecosystem. https://www.mantle.xyz___________Follow Brian Armstrong• Twitter: https://x.com/brian_armstrong• Twitter: https://x.com/Coinbase• Website: www.coinbase.comFOLLOW WHEN SHIFT HAPPENSTwitter (X): https://x.com/KevinWSHPod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfollonier/DISCLAIMERThe info contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial, legal, or tax advice. The content of this video is solely the opinions of the speakers who are not a licensed financial advisor or registered investment advisor. Trading cryptocurrencies poses considerable risk of loss. The speakers do not guarantee any particular outcome.0:00 Introduction1:31 Please Subscribe1:57 You Need Security?3:45 Who Are You5:21 More About Being An Introverted Kid6:33 What Gave Brian The Chip On The Shoulder11:38 Our Trusted Partners12:31 How Much Of Your Mission Is Driven By Your Past15:25 The Baldness Story17:24 Turning Bald Into A Superpower21:30 Brian's Thoughts On Solo Founders25:26 How Did Your Co-Founder Leaving Make You Feel29:24 Another Tough Moment In The History Of Coinbase 33:00 Our Valued Sponsors34:15 How Brian Got Fascinated By Bitcoin & Blockchain37:02 How Long Did It Take To Go All In44:16 The Role Of Privacy Creating More Economic Freedom47:23 Coinbase Explained To Your Mom52:05 Trying To Help But Running Into Unreasonable People56:40 Lasting So Long Through Wall After Wall, How?1:02:06 Big Things That Needed To Change Before Burnout1:05:53 What Do The Audience Not Know About Being Brian1:10:10 Gaining Self Irrational Beliefs1:11:53 Something Brian Can’t Do1:15:21 How Brian Felt On The IPO Day & The Day After1:20:27 Do You Look Back At Many Milestones1:21:56 When Is The Job Done For Brian1:23:48 Having A Minimalist Lifestyle1:33:09 The Role Of Centralized Exchanges1:35:26 Endgame For Coinbase1:36:00 Are You Happy1:43:06 The Voice In Your Head Is Saying?1:45:03 One Lesson To Takeaway1:46:20 A Belief Brian Has That Most Don’t

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13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

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When Shift Happens Podcast

E148: Coinbase Founder: How I Built The Largest Crypto Exchange to $100 Billion in 9 years

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

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