B rian Armstrong is an American technology executive and investor who is the co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. With a background as a software engineer at companies like Airbnb, Armstrong recognized the potential of Bitcoin and digital currencies early on. In 2012, he co-founded Coinbase with Fred Ehrsam with the mission to make buying, selling, and storing cryptocurrency easy and accessible for the average person.

Under Armstrong's leadership, Coinbase grew from a small startup into a central player in the global crypto economy. The company provided a user-friendly on-ramp for millions of people to enter the world of digital assets, becoming the most popular platform for retail crypto investors in the U.S. He guided the company through the volatile boom and bust cycles of the crypto market and led it to a landmark direct listing on the NASDAQ in 2021, one of the first major crypto companies to go public. He remains one of the most influential and vocal advocates for the cryptocurrency industry.