- More than 40% of Coinbase’s code is currently AI-generated, which is more than twice the proportion from April, as CEO Brian Armstrong aims for 50% by October.
- Armstrong notes that engineers who opposed embracing AI were sidelined, whereas those utilizing tools like Copilot, Claude Code, and Cursor have completed projects at unmatched speed.
- Despite concerns about AI, Coinbase is growing its staff, with almost half of the 350 job vacancies related to engineering and AI-specific positions.
According to CEO Brian Armstrong, over 40% of the code lines that support Coinbase’s systems are now produced by artificial intelligence, with this percentage more than doubling since April. Armstrong disclosed the figures on X, mentioning his goal for AI-generated code to attain 50% by October.
“Obviously it needs to be reviewed and understood, and not all areas of the business can use AI-generated code. But we should be using it responsibly as much as we possibly can,” Armstrong wrote.
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A graph attached to his post illustrated that AI-generated lines of code increased consistently from under 20% in April to over 40% by early September.
Building an “AI-Native” workforce
The declaration follows closely after Coinbase indicated that a key focus is evolving its staff into “AI-Natives,” implying it plans to retain the majority of its 4,200 workers rather than substitute them with AI. Rather, the organization views AI as a catalyst for productivity, especially in software development.
Coinbase developers are progressively utilizing tools such as Copilot, Claude Code, and Cursor, allowing individual engineers to refactor or create complete codebases in days instead of months. Armstrong stated on the “Cheeky Pint” podcast that engineers who resisted adopting AI were dismissed for not justifying their refusal.
Hiring push amid AI shift
Despite worries that AI adoption might reduce workforce numbers, Coinbase is growing its engineering team. Almost half of the 350 job openings available are for engineering or development positions, including 93 roles related to back-end engineering. Numerous job descriptions explicitly mention AI.
Customer experience positions represent the next largest segment with 56 vacancies, highlighting Coinbase’s simultaneous emphasis on expanding user support alongside engineering development.
Crypto hiring landscape tightens
Although the speed of significant layoffs in the crypto sector has decreased, recruiters indicate that recruitment is still quiet in comparison to the 2021 bull market. Industry professionals highlight AI as a reason attracting both talent and funding away from blockchain initiatives. “Entrepreneurs and developers chase opportunities and enthusiasm, and at the moment, AI is capturing both,” stated CryptoJobsList creator Raman Shalupau and researcher Stefi Kiemeney in August.
Still, Armstrong believes AI will strengthen Coinbase’s competitive edge. “This has enabled profound success stories that weren’t possible 12 months ago,” he said, citing engineers able to deliver projects at unprecedented speed.
