Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong argued that crypto has already expanded financial access globally by bringing dollar-based payments, decentralized credit, stock exposure and an alternative store of wealth to people outside traditional financial systems.
Armstrong Highlights Crypto’s Financial Access
On Sunday, in a post on X, Armstrong said "Crypto doesn’t get enough credit for the financial access it’s already unlocked for the world," highlighting stablecoins, decentralized finance, tokenized stocks and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC).
"Stablecoins brought the dollar onchain," he said, arguing that "anyone, anywhere" can own a low-inflation currency and send it "24/7 for a fraction of a cent."
He also said decentralized finance, or DeFi, "gives anyone access to credit," potentially allowing people without traditional banking relationships to participate in financial services.
Armstrong further pointed to tokenized stocks, saying they could allow "4B unbrokered people" to gain exposure to the U.S. stock market.
On Bitcoin, Coinbase CEO said the cryptocurrency provides "a store of wealth that can’t be inflated away," referring to its fixed supply.
"There’s more to do of course, but don’t forget about how far we’ve come," Armstrong said.
Crypto doesn't get enough credit for the financial access it's already unlocked for the world.
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) August 9, 2026
– Stablecoins brought the dollar onchain. Anyone, anywhere can own a low inflation currency, and send it 24/7 for a fraction of a cent.
– DeFi gives anyone access to credit.
-…
Crypto Adoption Expands Beyond Bitcoin
The crypto industry had increasingly shifted toward stablecoins, payment infrastructure and institutional adoption rather than Bitcoin as a purely speculative asset.
Earlier, Lawmakers had debated giving crypto and fintech firms direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment system, while stablecoins had gained traction in emerging markets for savings, remittances and cross-border payments.
In the Philippines, Coins.Ph CEO Wei Zhou said working adults were using stablecoins as "dollarized savings" because traditional dollar accounts were difficult to access.
Institutional investors had also increasingly used Bitcoin through diversified products, options and structured strategies.
Kraken Co-CEO Dave Ripley said institutions were exploring crypto rails to modernize traditional finance through stablecoins and tokenized equities, while Bitwise advisor Jeff Park said financial products were allowing Bitcoin to generate potential income beyond simple ownership.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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