Coinbase CEO encourages banks to incorporate crypto infrastructure but cautions against regulatory capture, which would harm Americans and kill competition.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong would like conventional banks to integrate cryptocurrency infrastructure now. His message is directed at both large and small institutions. The pressure is mounting on financial giants, and this is the push.
At first glance, Armstrong’s position seems friendly. He mentions that banks that adopt crypto would win BIG, and that Coinbase has already developed the means to do it.
Major Banks Already Using Coinbase Infrastructure
Brian Armstrong on X remarks that Coinbase has created a full-scale developer platform. These services are already offered by JPMorgan, PNC, and Citi and work on a white-label basis. Armstrong identifies this technology as the solution under http://cdp.coinbase.com, and several banks have adopted this technology. Business units of these institutions are enthusiastic.
I’m all for banks integrating crypto infrastructure (big banks, community banks, etc). They should win big by adopting crypto as well.
We actually built a whole developer platform https://t.co/tX4FRODd7H that sells this to banks like JPM, PNC, Citi, and a bunch more in a white…
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) January 17, 2026
Source: brian_armstrong
The CEO was receptive to a wide range of crypto integration frameworks. He also mentioned a little about compliant decentralized finance systems, and observed that Coinbase has also developed products in this space.
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Policy Arms Fighting What Commercial Teams Build
Armstrong pinpoints a very significant contradiction in the banking institutions. Commercial functions are actively pursuing smart crypto integrations, and policy functions are actively fighting crypto competitors. Bank trade groups are trying to murder crypto competition, setting up unfair market conditions, as he tweeted on X. American consumers are at risk of regulatory capture.
Competitive, level playing fields have to be respected by banks. Armstrong underscores this fact by stating that competition is advantageous to the financial system as a whole.
The corporate executive issues warnings of malicious lobbying procedures. Integration with crypto is essential in banks, irrespective of the provider, and numerous institutions understand this fact.
There is urgency in the message to the consumers in America by Armstrong. Regulatory barriers to crypto innovation by banks are detrimental to common individuals. Competition leads to improved services and reduced prices.
The cryptocurrency executive considers banks as possible partners. Their implementation would expedite mainstream acceptance of crypto, and the system to facilitate flawless integration is already in place.