During the 2026 Davos conference, Brian Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer of Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), reiterated his optimistic outlook that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) may achieve a market value of $1 million per coin by the year 2030. Addressing a broad audience, Armstrong also discussed the need for regulatory policies that encourage healthy competition between traditional financial institutions and emerging crypto platforms, rather than safeguarding established banking entities at the expense of innovation.
Advocacy for Fair Competition in Banking and Crypto Markets
Armstrong criticized a recent draft U.S. market structure bill, from which Coinbase withdrew its support. He contended that restrictions imposed on stablecoin reward mechanisms within the bill were protectionist, designed to inhibit competition rather than promote consumer benefits. Armstrong emphasized that customers should have the autonomy to earn higher yields by engaging with stablecoins and decentralized finance solutions.
He further argued that banks should respond by enhancing their own offerings rather than lobbying to curtail alternative financial products. According to Armstrong, stablecoins governed by the GENIUS Act maintain a backing ratio of one-to-one with short-term U.S. Treasury securities. This structure, he asserted, renders stablecoins less risky than the fractional-reserve banking practices where deposits are lent out without explicit depositor consent.
Cooperation with Banks and Defense Against Regulatory Lobbying
Armstrong indicated that Coinbase actively engages with banking executives to develop mutually beneficial solutions, describing these collaborations as "win-win" efforts. He highlighted that Coinbase currently supplies cryptocurrency infrastructure to a number of significant global banks. Armstrong characterized recent lobbying efforts by the banking sector as attempts to suppress competition rather than engage constructively in the evolving financial landscape.
Looking toward technological advancements in capital markets, Armstrong cited initiatives such as the New York Stock Exchange's entry into tokenized equities markets as indicative of blockchain technology's role in modernizing and streamlining financial operations.
Bitcoin Price Outlook and Coinbase’s Growth Trajectory
Despite the inherent price volatility of cryptocurrencies, Armstrong maintained confidence in Bitcoin's potential to reach $1 million by 2030. He revealed Coinbase's ambition to evolve into an "everything exchange" that extends beyond cryptocurrency trading to include tokenized equities, prediction markets, and AI-driven financial services. The integration of AI agents capable of conducting transactions through crypto wallets forms a key component of this strategic vision.
Armstrong concluded by stressing the broader significance of cryptocurrencies, viewing them as central to expanding access to global financial markets and spearheading financial system modernization.