Coinbase CEO Says Finance Needs Eight Major Upgrades

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has laid out an eight-point agenda for modernising global finance, arguing the system still falls short on several fronts ranging from asset tokenization and stablecoin payments to artificial intelligence and regulatory reform.

Eight Areas Still Needing an Update

Armstrong described the items as "major areas where the financial system still needs an update," naming tokenized real-world assets, 24/7 global trading, stablecoins, artificial intelligence, regulation, expanded access, capital formation, and sound money.

On tokenization, Armstrong said putting real-world assets such as real estate, stocks, bonds, and funds on blockchains could enable faster settlement, fractional ownership, and wider distribution. On continuous trading, he called for markets that operate around the clock with pooled global liquidity, broader access to asset types, and higher capital efficiency.

He identified stablecoins as a priority for near-instant, low-cost cross-border transfers, including potential machine-to-machine payments by autonomous AI agents. AI-powered risk, credit, compliance, and financial advice formed the fourth area, which Armstrong tied to better decisions, less fraud, and broader access to capital and guidance.

On regulation, Armstrong argued that rules should be risk-based and support competition and new products rather than impose a single standard across all firms. On access, he highlighted open protocols and self-custodial wallets as tools that can reduce intermediaries and make financial services available to people with smartphones.

The agenda also included capital formation focused on lower-cost, turnkey fundraising options for entrepreneurs, and sound money, which Armstrong described as "a refuge from inflation, when discipline is lost in fiat money."

Context: A Growing Onchain Finance Push

The tokenized real-world asset market has reached approximately $33.78 billion as of May 2026, according to Value The Markets, while Coinbase Asset Management launched a tokenized stablecoin credit strategy for qualified investors in April 2026. Armstrong's comments reflect a broader push to pull traditional financial infrastructure onchain.

He closed the post with a call to action: "Jobs not done until we get these working for all. Will require lots of tech innovation and policy work to get there."

Sources:
Coinbase CEO Lists 8 Areas Where Global Finance Still Needs an Update - Bitcoin.com News
The Rise of Tokenized Real-World Assets: A $33.78 Billion Milestone - Value The Markets