Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong appeared on a new podcast episode with Kevin, diving into the raw realities of building a crypto company.
Key topics covered:
- Building through market downturns and challenging periods
- Founder mental health struggles and personal challenges
- Managing burnout in high-pressure environments
- Staying committed to company mission during tough times
- Light moments including discussion about being bald
The candid conversation offers rare insights into the personal side of leading one of crypto's biggest companies through volatile times.
A new @brian_armstrong podcast just dropped with @KevinWSHPod. They went deep: โ Building through hard times โ Founder struggles โ Managing burnout โ Staying true to the mission Oh, and being bald.
๐ฏ Coinbase's First Token Sale Wraps Up
**Coinbase's inaugural token sale concludes successfully** The $MON (Monad) token sale on Coinbase has officially wrapped up, marking a milestone for the exchange's new token sales platform. **Key results:** - 85,800 participants from 70+ countries - $269 million committed - 1.43x oversubscribed - 99% of participants will receive their full allocation The sale, which launched on November 17, was notable for including US users - a significant development in token sales accessibility. **What's next:** - Token allocations coming soon - Platform designed to prioritize genuine supporters over speculators This marks Coinbase's entry into structured token launches, emphasizing fair distribution over traditional first-come-first-served models.
๐ฅ Coinbase Acquires Vector
**Coinbase is acquiring Vector**, a Solana meme coin application, to enhance its on-chain trading capabilities. Key details: - Only Vector is being acquired by Coinbase - **Tensor Foundation remains independent** - Tensor NFT marketplace stays separate from Coinbase - Native token also remains unaffiliated This move expands Coinbase's support for the **Solana trading ecosystem** while maintaining clear boundaries between the acquired platform and existing Tensor infrastructure. [Read full details](https://www.coinbase.com/blog/Coinbase-to-acquire-Vector-expanding-support-for-the-Solana-trading-ecosystem)
Coinbase Launches ETH-Backed USDC Loans via Morpho on Base
**Coinbase now offers ETH-backed loans** allowing users to borrow USDC against their Ethereum holdings without selling. **Key Features:** - Powered by Morpho protocol - Built on Base network - Available to US users (excluding New York) - **Staked ETH (cbETH) loans coming soon** **How it works:** Users can unlock liquidity from their ETH holdings by using them as collateral for USDC loans, maintaining their crypto exposure while accessing cash. **Important considerations:** - Variable interest rates - Risk of collateral liquidation - Terms subject to market conditions This follows Coinbase's recent launch of Bitcoin-backed loans, expanding their DeFi lending offerings. [Learn more](http://coinbase.com/blog/now-get-a-USDC-loan-without-selling-your-crypto) | [Get started](http://coinbase.com/borrow)
Coinbase Announces Major System Update and Product Reveals for December 17
**Coinbase is preparing for a significant system update** scheduled for December 17 at 2PM PT, promising major product announcements and key business updates. The exchange describes this as **"a new era of Coinbase beginning"** and will broadcast the event live. Users can learn more and add the event to their calendars at [coinbase.com/events](https://www.coinbase.com/events). This follows Coinbase's pattern of scheduled system upgrades, including a previous temporary offline period in October 2024 that affected all trading and transfer services across their platforms.