More than 40% of the code running Coinbase’s systems is now written by artificial intelligence, according to CEO Brian Armstrong, who said he hopes to increase that figure to 50% by October.
In a post to X on Wednesday, Armstrong explained that while AI-generated code must still be carefully reviewed and cannot be applied to every part of the business, it is becoming an increasingly important tool in the company’s operations. “Obviously it needs to be reviewed and understood, and not all areas of the business can use AI-generated code. But we should be using it responsibly as much as we possibly can,” he said.
Earlier coverage: New Coinbase futures index to combine cryptocurrencies with leading tech equities.
The share of AI-written code at Coinbase has more than doubled since April, Armstrong noted, citing a chart showing the sharp rise in adoption.
Change in the percentage of Coinbase’s code that is AI-generated. Source: Brian Armstrong
His comments follow Coinbase’s recent announcement that one of its major priorities is to transform its staff into “AI-Natives.” The company emphasized that this strategy is not about replacing its 4,200 employees with AI, but about equipping them to use the technology effectively in their daily work.
The growing use of AI in the workplace has fueled concerns that many jobs could eventually be replaced by machines. The New York Post recently quoted a technology expert from Oklahoma who went so far as to predict that AI-driven job losses could trigger a collapse in the global population, shrinking it from 8 billion today to just 100 million by the year 2300.
However, others have pushed back against such dire forecasts. White House AI and crypto advisor David Sacks, along with researchers at Big Four accounting firm PwC, argue that the narrative of mass job losses is exaggerated. Instead, they suggest AI is more likely to increase worker productivity and transform how people perform their roles rather than eliminate them entirely.
AI adoption is making Coinbase’s operations more efficient
That perspective seems to match Coinbase’s strategy, as its engineers are now frequently relying on AI-powered coding tools such as Copilot, Claude Code, and Cursor to carry out their tasks.
“This has enabled profound success stories that weren’t possible 12 months ago, like single engineers refactoring, upgrading or building new codebases in days instead of months.”
Brian Armstrong recently revealed on John Collison’s “Cheeky Pint” podcast that he dismissed engineers who failed to provide a solid reason for not incorporating AI into their daily work. The move came just a week after he posted a mandate in one of Coinbase’s Slack channels instructing engineers to begin using AI tools in their workflows.
Coinbase hiring spree: over 150 developers and engineers sought
Coinbase is pressing ahead with an aggressive hiring push, particularly in engineering and development, according to the company’s careers page. Out of roughly 350 open positions, nearly half are targeted at hard-skilled technical professionals, underscoring the exchange’s heavy focus on expanding its technical capacity.
A large share of these roles—93 positions—are specifically back-end engineering jobs. Many of the listings highlight AI, either in the job title itself or early in the description, reflecting Coinbase’s increasing reliance on artificial intelligence to build and streamline its systems.
Outside of the technical side, customer experience stands out as the largest hiring area, with 56 openings, far more than any other non-technical department. The hiring wave suggests Coinbase is preparing for both deeper AI integration across its platform and stronger front-line support for its growing user base.
Layoffs ease in crypto sector, though job openings decline
Although large-scale layoffs have slowed in the crypto sector, recruiters say hiring has tightened considerably since 2022. Much of the slowdown is being attributed to artificial intelligence, which has been drawing both talent and investment away from crypto.
“Developers and entrepreneurs follow the money and excitement, and right now AI is soaking up both,” CryptoJobsList founder Raman Shalupau and researcher Stefi Kiemeney told Cointelegraph last month.