Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has set an aggressive target for AI-generated code on the platform, aiming to increase it from the current 40% to over 50% by October 2025. He has mandated all engineers to adopt AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor, threatening termination for those who resist.
Armstrong recently acquired enterprise licenses for both GitHub Copilot and Cursor, requiring all engineers to onboard with these tools by the end of a given week. Those who failed to comply without valid justification were reportedly fired after a Saturday meeting where Armstrong personally questioned each resistant employee.
The CEO acknowledged that AI-generated code must be "reviewed and understood" and not all business areas can use it, but emphasized using it "responsibly as much as we possibly can." This push reflects a broader industry trend where 92% of developers at large companies already use AI coding tools, with 70% reporting competitive advantages.
This strategic shift comes as Coinbase evolves from a cryptocurrency trading platform into a broader decentralized finance hub, with Armstrong believing AI is essential for maintaining competitive edge, streamlining development, and accelerating product cycles.