Coinbase’s CEO unveils a bold plan to end failed lobbying, channeling tech money into pro-innovation candidates and rallying millions to reshape Washington’s future.
Coinbase Ends Decade of Failed Policy – Armstrong Reveals the Bold New Plan
Brian Armstrong, CEO of crypto exchange Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN), has emerged as a prominent advocate for reshaping how the tech industry engages with Washington D.C.
“Tech will continue to have lots of influence in DC as long as we keep supporting candidates who are pro-tech and pro-business, regardless of which party they are in,” Armstrong remarked in a post on social media platform X on Monday. The Coinbase boss added:
It sounds crazy, but most tech policy for the last decade was giving money to people who hated us, to try and ameliorate them.
“This totally failed (and should have been obvious in hindsight),” he opined. His comments responded to a post on X by Newlimit co-founder Blake Byers, who wrote: “Silicon Valley has flipped Wall Street for power in DC. Surprisingly, it happened with a Republican elect even though Democrats have held a massive majority in tech forever. This is a few years behind tech flipping Hollywood for cultural power but still much faster than I had expected.”
Armstrong’s stance reflects Silicon Valley’s growing frustration with traditional lobbying tactics that prioritize appeasing lawmakers over fostering long-term growth. His critique highlights a broader shift in the tech industry, where companies previously spread political donations across parties to mitigate regulatory pressure. As scrutiny around cryptocurrencies, AI, and emerging technologies increases, Armstrong advocates for selectively supporting candidates who champion innovation and economic growth, rather than engaging with politicians skeptical of the industry.
This approach is already taking shape through Coinbase’s “Stand with Crypto” initiative, a grassroots movement aimed at rallying voter support for crypto-friendly legislation. The campaign has drawn millions of supporters who are eager to see policies that nurture blockchain technology and digital assets, rather than stifle them with restrictive regulations.
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, the cryptocurrency industry has backed Donald Trump’s campaign due to his pro-crypto stance. Digital asset firms also made separate donations to his inauguration efforts. Ripple pledged $5 million in XRP to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, while Coinbase and Kraken each contributed $1 million.