Economic Freedom and Cryptocurrency Adoption
Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong has outlined three key priorities for his participation in the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Armstrong's first priority is to engage with world leaders on the principles of economic freedom and the widespread adoption of cryptocurrency. He aims to discuss how digital assets can modernize financial systems and promote greater economic participation.
Armstrong stated, “I’m talking to different world leaders about economic freedom and how crypto can update their financial system.” This initiative reflects his belief that cryptocurrency can serve as a catalyst for updating and improving existing financial infrastructures globally.
The 2026 WEF is themed “A Spirit of Dialogue.” Based on Armstrong's statements and a video he posted on X, he intends to foster extensive dialogue to advocate for what he describes as the future of finance, which he asserts is already present and is being built with the people in mind.
Insights from Davos 2025
In the previous year, 2025, the Coinbase chief noted that cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence were prominent topics of discussion at Davos, alongside discussions surrounding President Donald Trump. Armstrong reported that nearly every conversation he had with major market leaders focused on the Trump administration's cryptocurrency plans, particularly the proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
This Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was later established by President Trump in March 2025 through an executive order. Armstrong commented on the impact of these initiatives, writing on X, “President Trump is forcing everyone to up their game. Basically every conversation I had with major market leaders was focused on what the Trump Admin planned to do on crypto – eg, on a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve – and how they can avoid being left behind.”
During a panel discussion at the 2025 forum, Armstrong characterized the period as the “dawn of a new day” for cryptocurrency. He contrasted this with what he perceived as a less favorable environment under the previous administration. He told CNBC in Davos, “You have to remember: the last four years, we really felt like we were being attacked by this administration.”
Following these developments, Bitcoin experienced a significant surge, reaching an all-time high of over $126,198 in October 2025. However, it experienced a brief decline in the same month and has not surpassed $100,000 since November 2025.
Advancing Market Structure Legislation
Armstrong's second priority for Davos 2026 involves collaborating with bank CEOs to develop effective legislation that benefits all parties involved. He indicated his intention to continue working on market structure legislation and to meet with bank executives to explore mutually beneficial outcomes. He stated, “We’re going to continue to work on market structure legislation and meet with some of the bank CEOs to figure out how we can make this a win-win.”
The increasing use of stablecoins has prompted various jurisdictions, including the United States and Hong Kong, to introduce relevant legislation. Examples include the GENIUS Act in the US and the Stablecoin Ordinance in Hong Kong. Many other regions are also actively developing and implementing regulations for stablecoins.
Currently, the United States is progressing with more comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation known as the CLARITY Act. Some of the provisions within the CLARITY Act, along with those in the GENIUS Act, are of particular interest and concern to stakeholders like Armstrong and the CEOs of major banks. This shared interest underscores the importance of Armstrong's discussions with bank leaders to foster collaborative approaches.
Armstrong emphasized the potential for stablecoins to be a positive development for both banks and crypto companies, provided there is a level playing field. He noted that final legislative decisions would ultimately rest with the Senate and the current administration.
Promoting Tokenization for Capital Market Access
Armstrong's third priority centers on the concept of tokenization and its capacity to broaden access to investment opportunities. He highlighted that approximately 4 billion adults globally do not have access to brokerage services and quality investment options.
He stated, “There’s about 4 billion adults globally that are unbrokered. They don’t have access to any kind of high quality investments. This is the engine of wealth creation that everybody should have access to, and crypto’s gonna help make that happen.” This vision underscores his belief in cryptocurrency's role in democratizing wealth creation and financial empowerment.