History of Coinbase
Coinbase was founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam with the goal of making cryptocurrency accessible to everyone. Armstrong, a former engineer at Airbnb, created the platform to provide a secure and easy way for individuals to buy, sell, and store Bitcoin. Initially focused on Bitcoin, Coinbase quickly expanded to offer other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Litecoin, and more, becoming one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges worldwide.
In 2013, Coinbase received significant investment from prominent firms like Union Square Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz, enabling it to expand its services further. Over the years, Coinbase introduced a variety of features to improve user experience, such as the Coinbase Wallet and Coinbase Pro for more experienced traders. The company also focused on regulatory compliance, which helped it gain trust from both users and governments.
In April 2021, Coinbase went public through a direct listing on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol COIN, marking a major milestone in the company's growth. The public debut was seen as a significant moment for the broader cryptocurrency industry, as it brought cryptocurrency into the mainstream financial conversation. Since then, Coinbase has continued to grow, offering more cryptocurrencies, financial products, and expanding into international markets.