Coinbase is one of the most popular and widely used cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It is a platform where users can buy, sell, and trade various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. The company was founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam and has since grown to become one of the largest and most successful cryptocurrency exchanges in the world.
Ownership Structure
Coinbase is a privately held company, which means that it is not publicly traded on any stock exchange. As a result, information about its ownership structure is not readily available to the public. However, we do know that Coinbase has raised significant funding over the years, which means that it has likely gone through multiple rounds of investment from various sources.
Investors
Some of the early investors in Coinbase include venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz, Greylock Partners, and Battery Ventures. These firms are known for investing in promising startups with high growth potential, and their investment in Coinbase is a testament to the potential they saw in the cryptocurrency industry.
More recently, Coinbase went public through a direct listing on the Nasdaq in April 2021. This means that the company did not issue any new shares but allowed existing shareholders to sell their shares to the public. The direct listing was a massive success, with Coinbase’s market capitalization briefly surpassing $100 billion.
Founders
Brian Armstrong, one of the co-founders of Coinbase, is currently the CEO of the company. He holds a significant stake in the company and is likely one of the largest shareholders. Fred Ehrsam, the other co-founder, left Coinbase in 2017 to start his own blockchain investment firm, but he is still believed to hold a small stake in the company.
Employees
Like many other startups, Coinbase also offers equity to its employees as a form of compensation. This means that some of the employees may also hold shares in the company. However, the exact distribution of shares among the employees is not publicly known.
Conclusion
In summary, while Coinbase is a privately held company, we know that it has received significant funding from venture capital firms over the years. Additionally, its co-founders, Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, are likely major shareholders in the company. With the recent direct listing, it is also possible that some employees and early investors may hold shares in the company. Nevertheless, the exact ownership structure of Coinbase remains unknown to the public.
