Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says nearly 4 billion adults around the world cannot invest in stocks or bonds, and he believes blockchain technology can fix this.
In a new policy paper released this week, Armstrong called these people “unbrokered”, meaning they are not unbanked, but they still have no access to capital markets. He says this is one of the biggest reasons global inequality keeps growing.
Capital Is Growing Faster Than Wages
Armstrong pointed to a major gap in income growth:
- Since 1987, labor income in the US rose 57 percent
- But capital income jumped 136 percent
This means people who already own assets are getting richer much faster than people who only earn salaries.
“Where you live matters more than how hard you work,” Armstrong said, giving examples of workers in Lagos or Jakarta who cannot invest in the same markets as wealthy investors in New York.
In many countries, fewer than 10 percent of adults invest in stocks or bonds.
Blockchain and Tokenization as the Solution
Armstrong says the problem comes from the old financial system, which has: High fees, Long settlement times, Minimum account sizes, and Complex regulations
These barriers make investing impossible for small savers.
His solution is tokenization, putting stocks and bonds on the blockchain so people can buy small fractions of global assets with low costs.
Coinbase says tokenized trading could cut investor costs by more than 30 percent and allow instant settlement.
“Everything Exchange” Plan
Armstrong wants Coinbase to become an “everything exchange”, where users can trade: Crypto, Stocks, Commodities, and Prediction markets
Coinbase has already started offering stock trading and plans to expand soon.
His goal is simple: “A farmer in a poor country should be able to own the same stocks as a hedge fund manager in New York.”
Crypto Laws and Banks in Conflict
At the same time, Armstrong is fighting US banks and lawmakers over crypto rules.
He recently pulled support from a new crypto bill because he said it gave too much power to traditional banks.
He accused banks of trying to block competition and said: “The bank lobbying groups are trying to ban their competition. That’s un-American.”
Armstrong also criticized banks for fractional reserve lending, saying they lend customer money without clear permission.
Big Vision Ahead
Armstrong still believes:
- Bitcoin could reach $1 million by 2030
- Up to 10 percent of global GDP could run on crypto systems by the end of the decade
And he says tokenization could finally let billions of people join the global wealth system.
For Armstrong, the mission is clear: “Investing should be as easy as sending a text message.”
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
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