Coinbase Bets Big on AI, Aims to Rewrite Half Its Code by 2025

Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the United States, is accelerating its integration of artificial intelligence into software development, with artificial intelligence already accounting for 40% of daily code generation at the company. CEO Brian Armstrong has set a goal to increase this figure to over 50% by October 2025, reflecting a broader shift in the tech industry toward AI-assisted coding [1].

Armstrong emphasized the importance of using AI responsibly and acknowledged that not all areas of the business can leverage AI-generated code. Nevertheless, he remains committed to maximizing its use where appropriate. This strategic move is part of Coinbase's internal push to transform its workforce into "AI-natives," a term the company uses to describe developers who are proficient in leveraging AI tools to accelerate development [4].

The CEO’s stance is in line with broader industry trends. As of June 2025, 94% of tech companies had employees using AI coding assistants, with increased productivity and faster time to market cited as the primary benefits. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google have reported similar AI integration levels, with Microsoft citing that up to 30% of its code is now AI-generated, and Google reporting over 25% [3].

Coinbase is using tools such as Cursor and GitHub Copilot to facilitate this shift. These tools help generate and refine code, allowing developers to focus on higher-level tasks. The company has also implemented a repository sensitivity matrix in collaboration with its security and privacy teams to mitigate potential risks, including increased bug occurrences [4].

However, Armstrong’s aggressive push for AI adoption has not been without controversy. Last month, he admitted to firing employees who resisted using AI coding tools. While he acknowledged that the approach was “heavy-handed” and unpopular among some staff, he defended it as necessary to drive the company forward and ensure all employees engaged with the technology. Armstrong stated that even he, as CEO, uses AI tools extensively in his work [4].

Coinbase’s AI strategy also intersects with the growing trend of “vibe coding,” a practice described by computer scientist Andrej Karpathy. Vibe coding involves minimal human oversight of code, where developers accept AI suggestions and adapt to error messages without deep understanding. While Karpathy noted this approach is more suitable for casual or throwaway projects, it highlights the evolving relationship between developers and AI tools [2].

Armstrong’s vision for AI at Coinbase is part of a larger organizational effort to adopt and integrate large language models (LLMs) across the business. Teams that have adopted LLMs more quickly are reported to be making progress in front-end development, unit testing, and working with less-sensitive data backends. This shift has been supported by the company’s decision to train its developers in the use of AI-powered tools, including internal integrations and a suite of AI-driven code editors [3].

The company’s approach aims to balance rapid AI adoption with necessary safeguards to maintain code quality and customer safety. While AI is seen as a powerful enabler in software development, Coinbase remains cautious about its risks, particularly in areas where human expertise is still critical. The firm’s metrics, including token usage and the proportion of AI-generated code, are closely monitored to ensure alignment with its strategic objectives [4].

Source:

[1] Brian Armstrong Wants Half of Coinbase Code To Be AI (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brian-armstrong-wants-half-coinbase-105348015.html)

[2] Brian Armstrong: “40% of Daily Code Written at Coinbase is AI ... (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brian-armstrong-40-daily-code-133424336.html)

[3] Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says 40% of code at the ... (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/coinbase-ceo-brian-armstrong-says-40-of-code-at-the-company-is-written-by-ai-but-his-goal-is-to-/articleshow/123702202.cms)

[4] Brian Armstrong says about 40% of Coinbase's daily code ... (https://www.theblock.co/post/369460/brian-armstrong-coinbase-ai)