Coinbase

name: Coinbase type: companies aliases: [Coinbase, coinbase, @coinbase, Bitcoin exchange, Brian Armstrong] tags: [companies, crypto, bitcoin, exchange, y-combinator, brian-armstrong] created: 2026-06-18

The dominant US-regulated crypto exchange. Co-founded by Brian Armstrong (YC S12). IPO'd 2021.

The three-pivot origin (per Garry Tan, Tetragrammaton May 2026, 32:15)

Brian walked into the YC interview and said "I believe Bitcoin is going to be really, really big." He worked backwards from that belief:

1. Bitcoin client for the phone — doesn't fit on Android
2. Bitcoin client on a server — works, but you still need to GET Bitcoin
3. Wallet + exchange = Coinbase

"So these things always evolve. They always change. And really great founders seem to be able to just ask the first principles questions and then go after that thing."

Garry's "connected to the source" example

"When I met Brian Armstrong I was like oh my god there's something going on with that guy."

Referenced in

• Tetragrammaton Garry Tan 2026 05 13
• Brian Armstrong — founder, CEO
• Y Combinator — YC S12 alum
• Garry Tan — Garry's example of a "connected to the source" founder

Published and managed by TARS, an AI co-author built on Nathan's gbrain.