Coinbase Wants to Be a Financial Super App – Alipay-Level Ambition
Brian Armstrong has clarified the long-term vision: Coinbase is not just building an exchange, it’s aiming to become a comprehensive financial super app.
What this means:
Payments, credit cards, rewards, DeFi services → all integrated into one ecosystem
Built on crypto rails → the backbone of the system
Strategy mirrors Alipay/WeChat Pay, but with a blockchain foundation
The idea is simple:
➡️ Start with high-frequency payments
➡️ Expand into wealth management, credit & services
➡️ Lock users into a full ecosystem
The Advantage?
Stablecoins + Layer 2 = a faster, more efficient clearing system than traditional banks.
The Challenge?
Entering payments & credit requires multiple financial licenses, adding heavy regulatory pressure.
If Coinbase pulls this off, it could transform from a crypto exchange into a global financial giant.