Forbes: 7 Influential Figures at Coinbase

Original Title: “7 people with power at Coinbase”

Author: Jeff John Roberts, Forbes

Translation: Luffy, Foresight News

Coinbase was founded in 2012 as a company created by individuals with the goal of bringing cryptocurrency into the mainstream. Today, it has grown into a Fortune 500 company with revenues in the billions and has become a flagship brand in the crypto industry. Coinbase is still controlled by one person: CEO Brian Armstrong, who holds the majority of the company's voting shares and is the undisputed leader in strategic direction. However, Armstrong is not alone.

In recent years, Coinbase's leadership team has been more stable than ever, helping the company move forward amid the recent cryptocurrency winter and unprecedented regulatory challenges. Like many Silicon Valley companies, engineers hold a special status at Coinbase, and for those who do not create products, winning Armstrong's attention and respect is a challenge. Nevertheless, as the list below shows, the seven people wielding the most power at Coinbase come from various corners of the company.

This list is inspired by a similar list from five years ago, which is based not only on Coinbase's official organizational chart but also on over a decade of research reports on the company and interviews with several individuals close to the executive level.

Chief Operating Officer Emilie Choi

Choi has held executive positions at LinkedIn for many years and has made a name for herself in the business world. Since joining Coinbase in 2018, she has quickly made her mark on the company, managing dozens of acquisition cases. Employees and other executives have mixed opinions about Choi; some worry that she is a cold and ruthless manipulator who has fired many former employees, but no one doubts her influence. Choi is involved in all major decisions at the company, and Armstrong often seeks her advice, trusting her and confiding in her.

Chief Financial Officer Alesia Haas

Haas is another senior aide to Armstrong, known for her reserved demeanor and respected for her solid capabilities. A former banker, she joined Coinbase in 2018 and led the company through its IPO, making her and other executives very wealthy. She has defined what it means to be a CFO at a cryptocurrency company, a role similar to that of a CFO at a traditional company but with significant differences. She has also earned Armstrong's trust and confidence.

Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal

Grewal is a social media-savvy former federal judge who helped Facebook navigate various legal issues related to privacy scandals before joining Coinbase. His extensive experience has proven invaluable at Coinbase. When he joined in 2020, the SEC and other regulatory bodies were beginning to take a scorched-earth approach to the cryptocurrency industry. Grewal is a tireless executive who travels across the country, overseeing high-stakes litigation between Coinbase and the SEC, with some predicting these cases will reach the Supreme Court and drive legislative progress in the cryptocurrency industry.

Vice President and Head of Consumer Products Max Branzburg

Branzburg joined Coinbase in 2018 as a "typical Google person," a non-native of the cryptocurrency field. Nevertheless, he quickly became an impressive product executive, with company employees praising him for keeping the once-infamous retail platform running smoothly. Branzburg is also known for his savvy political maneuvering, and both Armstrong and Choi seek his input.

Head of Institutional Products Greg Tusar

Tusar joined Coinbase in 2020, bringing decades of experience in finance, including 13 years at Goldman Sachs as a partner. He is regarded as the "brains behind futures," and this new derivatives platform has brought substantial profits to Coinbase, serving as a key to the company's long-standing need for diversified revenue sources beyond retail.

Vice President of Corporate and Business Development Shan Aggarwal

Aggarwal is a low-profile executive at Coinbase, well-liked by colleagues and known for his exceptional abilities. He left the prominent venture capital firm Greycroft to join Coinbase, where his experience has been invaluable in managing partnerships, mergers, and Coinbase Ventures. Aggarwal also played a significant role in leading the company through its IPO and is expected to advance further.

Base Engineer Jesse Pollak

Pollak does not hold an executive title, but due to his deep understanding of cryptocurrency and his role in launching the Base blockchain (one of the most successful products in the cryptocurrency space in recent years), he wields considerable soft power at Coinbase. He recently attended events alongside Armstrong and has a large following in the cryptocurrency field. Pollak is a somewhat awkward cryptocurrency native who is most concerned with products, qualities that could also describe Coinbase's early CEO.