The main topic is the launch of Coinbase's layer-2 blockchain Base's mainnet to the public on August 9. Key points include:
- Base has been operating on the testnet since late February and launched its "builder only phase" in mid-July.
- Users can start bridging their funds onchain to mint NFTs and experience Base.
- Base will kick off its Onchain Summer initiative, partnering with consumer brands like Coca-Cola and Atari.
- Base has seen over $68 million worth of ether bridged to the network and over $200 million in trading volume and transactions.
- The blockchain is partnering with Prop House to offer grants to builders building on Base.
- Onchain activity is growing quickly.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is acquiring a minority stake in Circle Internet Financial, dissolving their partnership and bringing the stablecoin USD Coin fully in-house, while also adding native support for USDC on six additional blockchains, bringing the total to 15.
Coinbase receives approval for futures trading in the US and the SEC is considering approving an Ethereum ETF, signaling progress in the crypto industry.
Coinbase may be misrepresenting itself as an exchange and could be violating state money transmitter licenses, according to allegations made by ChainArgos' CEO and General Counsel. The company argues that Coinbase is legally an over-the-counter (OTC) broker rather than an exchange operator, and it may be in violation of its licenses with its Ethereum platform, Base.
Coinbase's new Base blockchain, which operates as a layer-2 network atop Ethereum, has gained significant traction with its application Friend.tech attracting over 100,000 users and generating $25 million in fees, pushing its total value locked past $200 million and its transactions per second above Ethereum and rival layer-2 projects Arbitrum and Optimism.
Coinbase has released a plan called the "Base Neutrality Principles" to ensure decentralization and neutrality for its new blockchain, Base, without exerting control over it, in accordance with Optimism's vision for a "Superchain."
Coinbase is in talks with major Canadian banks to gain support for the crypto industry in Canada as it faces regulatory uncertainty in its home country, aiming to have the banks participate in the crypto economy in the near future.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared ten emerging ideas in the cryptocurrency space that excite him, including the creation of a CPI-linked stablecoin, on-chain reputation systems, on-chain advertising, and decentralized labor markets.
The Tokenized Asset Coalition, consisting of industry leaders such as Coinbase and Circle, aims to promote the tokenization of traditional financial assets on a blockchain to bring the "next trillion dollars of assets" on-chain through education, advocacy, and fostering adoption of public blockchains and decentralized finance.
Coinbase Global is expanding its digital asset lending services, which could have implications for its stock and the crypto economy.
The lack of clear crypto regulations in the US has caused significant issues for the industry, leading to collapses and a weakening of America's position as a financial hub, according to Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. He emphasizes the need for clear rules that recognize the innovation potential of the technology while protecting consumers. Armstrong also highlights the potential benefits of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and Coinbase's role as custodian in many ETF applications.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong predicts that cryptocurrencies will be a prominent topic in the 2024 US elections as the gap between current crypto policies and the needs of Americans becomes more apparent.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong revealed in an interview that the exchange is interested in developing the next generation of stablecoins, including the concept of flatcoin, which would be backed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or purchasing power rather than a fiat currency.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirms that the crypto exchange will integrate the Lightning Network, a move that will significantly speed up bitcoin transactions and make it a more viable payment option.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong urges the U.S. CFTC to avoid enforcement actions against decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, stating that they should be resolved in court to set a precedent.
Coinbase's layer 2 blockchain, Base, has experienced a surge in daily transactions, reaching an all-time high, with the increase mainly driven by a decentralized social network platform called Friend.tech.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong advocates for decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and suggests legal action to establish a legal precedent, while MakerDAO's founder believes decentralized stablecoins could dominate the crypto market, and Polygon CEO acknowledges the success of their $1 billion investment in zero-knowledge proof rollups. Additionally, market surveillance firm Solidus Labs reveals that decentralized exchanges have become a hotspot for wash trading, and a DeFi advocacy group petitions to stop a patent troll from targeting DeFi protocols. Despite a mixed week for the top 100 DeFi tokens, the total value locked into DeFi protocols remains above $49 billion.
Coinbase, the U.S. cryptocurrency exchange operator, may invest more elsewhere if the U.S. cannot get crypto regulation right, raising questions about whether the U.S. is still the primary hub for crypto innovation and development.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong believes that the crypto industry needs to enhance its lobbying efforts before the 2024 elections in order to address the unfair regulatory environment faced by US-based crypto firms.
Coinbase is looking to diversify its revenues, but for now, it remains heavily reliant on Bitcoin trading.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has objected to Celsius Network's reorganization plan, citing its ongoing lawsuit with Coinbase and concerns about the terms of a proposed deal between Celsius and Coinbase.
The U.S. SEC and Coinbase are in conflict over Celsius' request to use Coinbase as a distribution agent, with the SEC arguing that this would go beyond the scope of a distribution agent and involve brokerage and trading services; Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer questions why the SEC would object to a trusted US company taking on this role.
Coinbase's blockchain, Base, has quickly become a major player in the Ethereum-based layer-2 chain space, hosting numerous decentralized projects and seeing a high volume of transactions and new addresses, with the goal of bringing a billion users on-chain within this decade. The company aims to drive mainstream adoption by reducing costs, improving user experience, and developing better identity infrastructure, and believes that blockchain technology is moving from a speculative phase to one focused on utility for everyday people.
Coinbase is leading a major lobbying effort in Washington D.C. to garner support for new regulations in the cryptocurrency industry.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong criticizes JPMorgan's Chase UK for banning crypto-related transactions and urges UK officials to investigate, while the exchange continues its expansion in the UK amid legal issues in the US.
Decentralized social media platform Friend.tech, built on Coinbase's layer-2 protocol, has experienced significant growth in revenue and total value locked, proving critics wrong who predicted its failure.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is opposing Coinbase's motion to dismiss a lawsuit, arguing that the exchange knew the cryptocurrencies it sold were securities under the Howey test, while Coinbase maintains that the assets are not securities and are not within the SEC's jurisdiction.
Coinbase, the top US crypto exchange, is focusing on international markets due to regulatory uncertainty in the US and aims to bring a billion people into crypto.