CEO Brian Armstrong says AI boosts productivity, not job cuts
Over 40% of Coinbase’s software code is now generated by artificial intelligence, a figure that has more than doubled since April. CEO Brian Armstrong believes the percentage could climb to 50% as soon as next month.
“Obviously it needs to be reviewed and understood, and not all areas of the business can use AI-generated code. But we should be using it responsibly as much as we possibly can,” Armstrong said in a post on X.
From experimentation to adoption
Coinbase engineers are increasingly turning to AI-powered tools such as Copilot, Claude Code, and Cursor to speed up development. Armstrong highlighted that tasks once requiring months of work can now be completed by single engineers in just days.
This surge reflects Coinbase’s broader strategy to transform its workforce into “AI-Natives” rather than replace employees. The company employs around 4,200 people and continues to recruit aggressively, with nearly half of its 350 open roles tied to engineering and development.
The growing role of AI has fueled public fears about large-scale job losses. Some predictions have gone as far as forecasting a future global population collapse due to automation. But industry experts remain skeptical.
Researchers at PwC and U.S. AI policy leaders argue that such scenarios are exaggerated. “The AI job loss narrative is overhyped. In reality, AI is likely to enhance employee productivity rather than replace entire workforces,” noted one PwC analyst.
Hiring while innovating
Coinbase currently lists over 150 technical openings, including 93 backend engineering roles, many of which explicitly reference AI in their descriptions. Non-technical positions are fewer, with customer experience being the largest category.
AI and the crypto job market
While layoffs have slowed across the crypto sector, hiring remains cautious. According to industry recruiters, AI is drawing talent and investment that once flowed into blockchain startups. “Developers and entrepreneurs follow the money and excitement, and right now AI is soaking up both,” said CryptoJobsList founder Raman Shalupau.
For Coinbase, however, AI is not a threat but a catalyst — accelerating innovation and reshaping the way its engineers build the future of finance.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.