Coinbase was founded in 2012 as a one-man startup with the goal of bringing cryptocurrencies to the mainstream. Since then, the company has grown into a Fortune 500 company, generating billions of dollars in revenue and serving as the industry's flagship brand. Currently, Coinbase is still largely controlled by one man. CEO Brian Armstrong holds a majority of the company's voting shares and is the undisputed leader in its strategic direction. But Mr. Armstrong does not act alone.
Coinbase's leadership team has been more stable than ever in recent years, helping the company move forward during the recent crypto winter and amid unprecedented regulatory challenges. As with many Silicon Valley companies, engineers enjoy special status at Coinbase, and winning Mr. Armstrong's attention and respect is difficult for those who don't build things. Nevertheless, as the list below shows, his seven most powerful people at Coinbase come from all parts of the company.
This list was inspired by a similar title five years ago and is based on Coinbase's official organizational chart, as well as over a decade of reporting on the company and interviews with multiple people close to its executives. It is also based on
Chief Operating Officer Emily Choi
Provided by Coinbase
Choi made his name in the corporate world as a longtime executive at LinkedIn, and when he joined Coinbase in 2018, he quickly made his mark on the company by overseeing dozens of acquisitions. She is a divisive figure among staff and her fellow executives, who fear her as a ruthless operator who amassed a “body count” of her former employees. But no one doubts her influence. Choi is a party to all the company's important decisions and has Armstrong's ear, trusting her to confide in him.
Alecia Haas Chief Financial Officer
Provided by Coinbase
Haas is Armstrong's other lieutenant, a more reserved man widely respected for his consistent ability. The former banker, who joined Coinbase in 2018, guided the company to its IPO, made her and other senior executives incredibly wealthy, and also served as the crypto company's chief financial officer. paved the way by defining what it is. This role is similar to, but very different from, her CFO in a traditional company. She likewise enjoys Armstrong's trust and confidence.
Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal
Provided by Coinbase
Grewal is a former federal judge with a background in social media who, before joining Coinbase, helped Facebook navigate the legal fallout from various privacy scandals. His extensive experience proved invaluable at Coinbase, where he arrived in 2020, when the SEC and other regulators launched a sweeping campaign against the crypto industry. Grewal, a dynamic executive who regularly travels around the country, has overseen high-stakes litigation between Coinbase and the Securities and Exchange Commission, some of which have reached the Supreme Court. The company predicts that the cryptocurrency industry will become more popular, and is helping to establish clear rules for the cryptocurrency industry.
Max Branzburg, Vice President and Director of Consumer Products
Provided by Coinbase
Brunsberg joined Coinbase in 2018 as a “classic Google guy” but was not a crypto native. Nevertheless, he quickly established himself as a formidable product executive, and those at the company credited him with keeping a once notoriously crashing retail platform running smoothly. Mr. Branzburg also has a reputation as a skilled political manager who listens to both Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Choi.
Greg Tusar, Head of Institutional Products
Provided by Coinbase
Tousard joined Coinbase in 2020 after decades of experience in the financial sector, including 13 years at Goldman Sachs, where he was a partner. He is considered the “brain of futures.” The new derivatives platform has already proven lucrative for Coinbase, and is essential to the company's long-standing need to diversify beyond retail-based revenue streams. Tusar stock could rise further as the crypto industry forges closer ties with Wall Street.
Shan Aggarwal, Vice President of Corporate and Business Development
Provided by Coinbase
Mr. Agarwal, a Coinbase executive who has kept a low profile, is well-liked by his colleagues and described as someone who punches above his weight. He joins the company from his venerable VC firm, Greycroft, and brings valuable experience to his current role helping manage partnerships, M&A, and Coinbase Ventures. Mr. Agarwal has also been instrumental in steering the company through the IPO process and is poised for further promotion.
bass engineer Jesse Pollack
Provided by Coinbase
Although Mr. Pollack does not have an executive title, he has a considerable amount of software at Coinbase thanks to his deep knowledge of cryptocurrencies and his role in launching the Base blockchain, one of the most successful products in cryptocurrencies in memory. Enjoying power. He has appeared alongside Armstrong at recent events and has a huge following among the crypto grassroots. Mr. Pollack is a slightly awkward crypto native who values product above all else. That quality of him can also describe his CEO in the early days of Coinbase.
Honorable mention
Other names that came up repeatedly during research for this article were: Brett Tejpole, has entered into a significant partnership with a new Bitcoin ETF issuer.chief marketing officer kate loucheHe is praised by his colleagues for being creative with limited budgets and achieving great results in a company where the value of PR and marketing is often neglected.and Chief Policy Officer Faryal Shirzad's knowledge of Washington DC has proven important in helping Coinbase build political influence.
