CEO Brian Armstrong is already thinking of a few steps as Coinbase prepares to officially join the S&P 500 on May 19th.
While being included in the company's index is a major moment for the digital assets space, Armstrong's focus is on what's already coming later and how crypto is further embedded in everyday finance.
Therefore, his initial prediction is that cryptocurrency will become a normal part of retirement savings, such as the 401(k) plan. Digital assets are becoming more popular with both regular and professional investors, and he believes that they will become popular for diversifying their portfolios in the long term.
Two other thoughts:
1. Crypto is about to enter everyone's 401K
2. My goal is to get into the Coin50 index in 5-10 years and feel as good as this https://t.co/fxfk2tj6g8.– Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) May 12, 2025
The second idea is further ahead. Armstrong believes that in 5-10 years, adding to the Coinbase 50 index (Coin50) could be as meaningful as entering the S&P 500. Coin50 tracks the 50 largest and most liquid digital assets by market capitalization to ensure that it is a good investment, using both the basic qualifications and the market eligibility screen.
Meanwhile, Coinbase's entry into the S&P 500 marks the first step into the same sector for the crypto industry, including the S&P 500, which is widely seen as a key measure of the US majors such as Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla, and the overall economy.
The market responded positively to the news, with Coinbase stock rising 7% in off-the-shelf trading. The company reported a $200 million shortfall in revenue for the first quarter, but user activity remains strong. For example, the balance of USD coins (USDC) on the platform rose 49% over the same period.
Furthermore, the value has increased in the base native cryptocurrency. For example, DeGen spiked 100% in a day.
