Brian Armstrong: Trump changes the rules of the crypto industry
Trump’s crypto agenda dominates WEF discussions, says Coinbase CEO.
Conversations in the cryptocurrency industry are increasingly dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s bold plans to position the United States as a global hub for digital assets.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong revealed that nearly every discussion with industry leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos revolved around Trump’s ambitious crypto agenda, reports Cointelegraph.
“President Trump is forcing everyone to up their game,” Armstrong stated in a Jan. 24 post on X. He emphasized the widespread interest among executives in understanding Trump’s plans and ensuring they are not left behind in the rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Sparks Speculation
At the WEF, Trump reiterated his commitment to making the U.S. the “world capital of artificial intelligence and crypto,” marking one of his administration’s first major policy pronouncements since taking office. Armstrong cited Trump’s potential Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a key topic of discussion, though the president’s recent executive order stopped short of focusing solely on Bitcoin. Instead, it called for evaluating the creation of a “strategic national digital assets stockpile,” raising speculation about whether other cryptocurrencies might also be included.
Despite uncertainty, Armstrong noted a shared sense of urgency among market leaders and financial institutions to accelerate crypto investments. “We need crypto to update the entire global financial system to bring these benefits to everyone,” he added.
Traditional Finance and Regulatory Hurdles
While enthusiasm for crypto is growing, traditional financial institutions continue to face significant regulatory constraints. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon noted that his firm, like others, cannot directly own or trade Bitcoin due to existing regulations. “At the moment, from a regulatory perspective, we can’t own, we can’t principal, we can’t be involved with Bitcoin at all,” Solomon said, calling Bitcoin an “interesting speculative asset.”
Still, Armstrong expressed optimism, highlighting how financial institutions are “accelerating investments in crypto,” aiming to capitalize on the burgeoning opportunities created by the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly stance. With global leaders like Argentina’s President Javier Milei and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele also endorsing free-market approaches to crypto, the industry is bracing for an era of heightened competition and innovation.
As the global financial system teeters on the brink of transformation, the U.S., under Trump’s leadership, seems poised to take a central role in shaping the future of cryptocurrencies. Industry stakeholders, from institutional players to retail investors, are closely watching how these developments unfold.
Recently we wrote, that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has voiced strong support for the tokenization of stocks and bonds, arguing it could revolutionize the financial industry.
