Brian Armstrong

New Capabilities

Owns Deribit after the 2025 acquisition

Kraken now lets traders bet on Bitcoin and Ether prices without touching a single coin. On July 20, 2026, the exchange launched cash-settled options on its Kraken Pro platform, settled entirely in US dollars.

Updated Jul 20

Money Moves

Leading workforce reduction; presenting Q1 2026 results

Coinbase, the largest US-listed cryptocurrency exchange, posted Q1 2026 revenue of roughly $1.5 billion on May 7—down about 26% from a year earlier. Two days before the print, Chief Executive Brian Armstrong confirmed the company is eliminating roughly 700 jobs, or 14% of staff, citing lower trading volumes and softer token prices through the quarter.

Updated May 31

Rule Changes

Led industry opposition to Crenshaw

Caroline Crenshaw walked out of the SEC on January 2, 2026, leaving the agency with three commissioners—all Republicans—for the first time in nearly two decades. She was the lone vote against Bitcoin ETFs, the single dissent on 13 crypto approvals, and the industry's most consistent obstacle. Her departure didn't just tilt the commission. It erased the opposition.

Updated May 19