Coinbase CEO Touts Bipartisan Crypto Case as Deribit Integration Starts

Brian Armstrong said 80% of Americans feel the financial system is not working for them. The Coinbase chief executive made the claim in a POLITICO interview, citing fees and slow payments as primary frustrations. Unequal access compounds the problem. Crypto can act as a democratizing force by giving more people a stake in financial services, he argued.

Support for crypto now cuts across party lines, Armstrong said. Democrats view the industry through access and inclusion. Republicans focus on national security and dollar strength. Both sides want to keep financial innovation in the United States, he argued. Armstrong also defended stablecoin rewards, saying banks should compete if customers can earn more on digital dollars. His comments came during a wider debate over crypto bills and banking rules. The role of private companies in payment markets is also at issue.

The policy pitch runs alongside an aggressive expansion. Coinbase closed its $2.9 billion acquisition of Deribit in August 2025. The deal gave the exchange a dominant position in crypto options and added futures and perpetuals trading. Deribit reported more than $185 billion in trading volume in July 2025. Open interest stood at roughly $60 billion at the time, Coinbase said.

Armstrong said the company will keep looking at acquisition targets. "We are always looking at M&A opportunities," he said. The company has a large balance sheet and a public stock that can help fund deals. He added that Coinbase would not "swing at every pitch." Coinbase later opened regulated access to Deribit options for eligible U.S. institutions through Coinbase Financial Markets. The rollout gave institutions a route into global crypto derivatives without offshore workarounds.

Beyond derivatives, Coinbase has bought LiquiFi, a token management platform used for vesting and compliance. The exchange also acquired The Clearing Company, which supports prediction markets. Those moves show Coinbase wants to support token projects before listing and expand into event contracts and stock trading. AI-linked payments are another expansion area. The message from Armstrong: Coinbase wants clearer rules, broader product access, and more ways to compete with banks and offshore venues.

For traders, the risk is execution. Integrating Deribit and managing regulatory checks are immediate challenges. The bigger test is whether new products add volume without piling on risk. Armstrong acknowledged the exchange will stay selective. "We are always looking at M&A opportunities," he said, adding that Coinbase would not "swing at every pitch."