Coinbase was founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, headquartered in San Francisco (though later adopted a remote-first approach). It became the first major cryptocurrency company to go public in the United States of America (USA).
Key developments:
- 2012: Founded in San Francisco
- 2015: First regulated Bitcoin exchange in the US
- 2017: First crypto unicorn
- 2021: Direct listing on NASDAQ
- 2023: Received various regulatory approvals globally
Ownership:
- Publicly traded company (NASDAQ: COIN)
- Major shareholders include:
- Vanguard Group
- ARK Investment Management
- Institutional investors
- Brian Armstrong (CEO)
Key services:
- Cryptocurrency exchange platform
- Institutional custody services
- Staking services
- NFT marketplace
- Institutional prime brokerage
The company has evolved from a Bitcoin-only exchange to a diversified crypto financial services company, playing a significant role in mainstream crypto adoption and regulatory compliance in the US market.