Glossary
Coinbase
The largest US-based crypto exchange — founded by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam in 2012, publicly listed on Nasdaq (COIN) in 2021, deeply integrated with US regulators.
Coinbase launched in 2012 and is the largest US-based crypto exchange by customer count and regulatory engagement. The company went public on Nasdaq via direct listing in April 2021 under the ticker COIN — the first major crypto-native company to do so.
Coinbase operates the exchange, Coinbase Wallet (self-custody), Base (Ethereum L2), Coinbase Prime (institutional), and Coinbase Custody. The company has been at the center of US regulatory crypto policy, including high-profile SEC litigation and extensive lobbying around crypto-friendly legislation.