Coinbase may shift some operations overseas without U.S. crypto legislation, CEO says
Brian Armstrong said the exchange wants to keep most of its operations in the United States, but warned that delays in crypto legislation could push capital, startups and users toward jurisdictions with clearer rules.
Coinbase may move part of its operations overseas if the United States fails to implement comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation, CEO Brian Armstrong said in an interview on Capitol Hill. He said the company wants to keep most of its operations in the U.S., but that depends on a clear and durable legal framework that remains predictable across administrations and allows companies, investors and users to make long-term plans. Armstrong said crypto bills under discussion in Congress are critical for the industry and warned that delays could keep driving capital, startups and users to markets with clearer rules, potentially weakening U.S. competitiveness in financial technology. His comments come as the European Union's MiCA regime and clearer digital-asset frameworks in places including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Hong Kong continue to influence where crypto companies expand, with Coinbase also pursuing licenses in multiple countries as part of its international growth plans.
- MiCA: The European Union's regulatory framework for crypto-assets and related service providers.
- regulatory framework: A set of laws and rules that defines how an industry is supervised and allowed to operate.
- digital assets: Assets issued or represented electronically, including crypto-related tokens and similar instruments.