Coinbase CEO Pushes Crypto Market Bill at Davos 2026 Summit

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said he will use this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos to keep pressure on U.S. lawmakers to pass a long-awaited crypto market structure bill. The comments came as Coinbase continues to lobby for clearer rules on digital assets, even after the company pulled support from a revised Senate draft. 

Armstrong framed the trip as a working session with global leaders and major banking executives, as Washington debates how to regulate stablecoins, tokenization, and decentralized finance.

Armstrong Takes the Market Structure Fight to Davos

Armstrong confirmed he plans to meet bank CEOs during the Davos meetings held from Jan. 19 to 23. He said those discussions will focus on resolving remaining conflicts and shaping legislation that works for both crypto firms and traditional finance. Besides pushing for new rules in the United States, Armstrong also said he wants to explain how crypto can modernize financial systems and expand access worldwide.

He argued that stablecoins could create opportunities for banks and crypto platforms if regulators apply the same standards across the industry. Consequently, Coinbase wants lawmakers to avoid rules that protect incumbents while limiting competition from newer financial technology.

Why Coinbase Walked Away From the Senate Draft

Coinbase stepped back after reviewing the Senate’s rewritten CLARITY Act language and raising several objections. The company flagged limits on tokenized equities, wider government access to DeFi transaction data, and an expanded role for the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, Coinbase warned that parts of the stablecoin framework could tilt the market toward large banks.

The stablecoin yield debate became the main flashpoint. The Senate draft proposed blocking platforms from paying yield for simply holding stablecoins. Banks supported the idea because they fear stablecoin rewards could pull deposits from savings accounts. However, the draft still allowed rewards tied to activity such as transactions, staking, or providing liquidity.

Tokenization and Politics Add Pressure

Armstrong also linked crypto policy to tokenization, which he described as a pathway to broader investment access. He said billions of adults still lack access to high-quality investment products. Hence, tokenized assets could widen participation in capital markets and reduce long-term inequality.

Coinbase now plans to bring feedback from Davos back to U.S. lawmakers and the administration. Significantly, the Senate Banking Committee has postponed its markup hearing, and it has not announced a new date. 

According to a Reuters report, president Donald Trump is also expected in Davos, which adds political weight to the week’s meetings. Moreover, the next few weeks may determine whether the United States delivers clear national crypto rules or continues falling behind other regions.