Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has issued a 10-year prediction for cryptocurrency adoption, focusing on a future where users may not even be aware they are interacting with blockchain technology. In a recent statement, Armstrong emphasized that while he anticipates a significant increase in crypto usage over the next decade, the most crucial aspect is that "they may not know they're using crypto." He argued that mass adoption will not require users to understand complex underlying systems; instead, they will only need to "feel the benefits," and he stressed that "the best tech is often invisible," indicating a shift toward seamless user experiences where technical complexity disappears.
This prediction is closely tied to Coinbase's current strategy, with Armstrong noting that user experience will keep improving and layers of complexity will vanish over time. The vision was unveiled alongside the announcement of the new "Coinbase business platform," an all-in-one financial solution set to launch later this year. This platform is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to receive cryptocurrencies, manage assets, and earn yield on stablecoins in a simplified manner, reinforcing the focus on hiding technical details from end-users.
Armstrong's qualitative approach contrasts with other industry projections, such as those from the Cardano founder, who predicts a billion new users from big tech integration, and Raoul Pal, CEO of Real Vision, who forecasts four billion global crypto users by 2030. Current estimates, as of mid-2025, place the number of global crypto users between 580 and 660 million, highlighting the potential for growth Armstrong envisions through improved usability rather than sheer numbers.
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