- Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong argues that crypto and AI are complementary, not competing, technologies.
- Armstrong believes AI’s rise makes crypto more important by creating demand for programmable, real-time digital money.
- Several crypto companies, including Bitcoin miners, have pivoted to AI and data centers, posting significant stock gains this year.
Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong has dismissed the notion that investors must choose between cryptocurrency and Artificial Intelligence. In a post on X, Armstrong said treating the two as competing themes reflects “zero-sum, scarcity thinking.”
Armstrong believes crypto is a general-purpose technology that should be considered infrastructure, similar to electricity or the internet. He stated that a strong AI megatrend does not detract from crypto; instead, “If anything, it makes crypto more important.”
The CEO explained that as Agentic Finance (AiFi) becomes more mainstream, AI agents will require their own financial infrastructure. These agents could potentially transact far more per day than all humans combined. Armstrong noted that AI agents cannot open a bank account or wait three days for a wire transfer.
“They need real time programmable money (and that’s crypto),” he said. Armstrong highlighted multiple responsibilities for AI agents, including holding funds, making payments, and engaging in trading. He also predicts they will eliminate tasks around tax planning, portfolio rebalancing, and bill pay.
Meanwhile, several crypto companies have pivoted from mining to AI. Keel Infrastructure Corp. completed its exit from Bitcoin mining to focus on data centers, while TeraWulf Inc. began winding down mining operations for AI opportunities. Hut 8 Corp. expanded its data-center strategy, and Cipher Digital Inc. pivoted to secure hyperscaler-backed contracts.
All these companies have posted gains this year while Bitcoin has declined about 25% in 2026. Hut 8 Corp. stock has gained nearly 140% year-to-date, while Keel Infrastructure Corp. has gained more than 81%. TeraWulf Inc. and Cipher Digital Inc. are up about 60% and 57%, respectively.
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