Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Announces Plans to Hire 1,000 Employees in the U.S. as Crypto Market Rebounds

Brian Armstrong stated that recent policy changes justify renewed expansion efforts in the U.S., while President's Working Group chief Hines affirmed that Trump is following through on his crypto commitments.

Key Takeaways:

• Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced plans to hire 1,000 employees in the U.S. by 2025, citing a shift in government sentiment toward crypto.
• Armstrong was among industry leaders present at the White House crypto summit on Friday.
• Bo Hines, head of Trump's crypto working group, told CoinDesk that the administration is eager to explore investment strategies to expand the government's newly established Bitcoin reserve.

As he left the White House crypto summit on Friday, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced plans to hire 1,000 employees in the U.S., citing the positive policy momentum in the early days of President Donald Trump's second term.

"It's only been, what, 50 days or something like that, and it's already created enough of a tailwind that we feel more confident in investing in the United States and growing our business here," Armstrong told CoinDesk, adding that the hiring would occur this year.

Coinbase witnessed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) drop its key enforcement case against the company, a major shift in regulatory pressure. The crypto exchange had been engaged in a costly legal battle over the SEC's authority to regulate digital assets. With the dispute now moving to Congress instead of continuing in court, Coinbase is no longer burdened by the legal fight draining its resources.

Armstrong attended the first-ever White House crypto summit, held in the State Dining Room, alongside regulators and senior Republican lawmakers. A key topic was Trump’s recent executive order establishing a U.S. Bitcoin (BTC) reserve—a move Armstrong fully supported.

"You can't really have a better holder of this asset than the United States government," he said, emphasizing Bitcoin’s growing role in the financial system and its place in diversified investment portfolios.

Coinbase played a major role in the 2024 election, investing tens of millions in the pro-crypto political action committee (PAC) Fairshake. Armstrong praised the PAC’s success in supporting crypto-friendly candidates and confirmed Coinbase would continue backing it.

Bo Hines, head of the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets, told CoinDesk that the summit reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to advancing the crypto industry.

"The president made a promise that he's going to make this country the crypto capital of the planet, and we're well on our way in delivering that promise," Hines said after the summit. The discussion on establishing a U.S. crypto reserve played a key role in the event.

Hines highlighted the enthusiasm at the summit, stating, "We were just with 30 or so of the greatest luminaries in the space, and I think everyone was tremendously pleased." Addressing concerns about the bitcoin reserve not yet incorporating new investments, he noted that the U.S. Treasury and Commerce secretaries have been tasked with exploring ways to acquire bitcoin without taxpayer burden, adding, "Both of them are excited to look into ways to do it."