Armstrong Lists 8 Priorities to Modernize Global Finance

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on May 24 published an eight-point agenda on X aimed at updating global finance. He described the items as “major areas where the financial system still needs an update.” The priorities he named were tokenized real-world assets, 24/7 global trading, stablecoins, artificial intelligence, regulation, expanded access, capital formation and sound money.

Armstrong said tokenization of real-world assets such as real estate, stocks, bonds and funds can enable faster settlement, fractional ownership and wider distribution by putting those assets on blockchains.

On continuous trading, he called for markets that operate around the clock with pooled global liquidity, broader access to asset types, leverage options and higher capital efficiency to allow trading outside traditional hours.

He identified stablecoins as a priority for near-instant, low-cost cross-border transfers and payments, including potential machine-to-machine payments by autonomous AI agents. He said deploying AI across finance can improve risk models, credit decisions, compliance and advisory services, leading to fewer fraud losses and broader access to financial guidance.

On regulation, Armstrong said rules should be risk-based and support competition and new products rather than impose a single standard across all firms. On access, he highlighted open protocols and self-custodial wallets as tools that can reduce intermediaries and make financial services available to people with smartphones.

The agenda included capital formation focused on lower-cost, turnkey fundraising options for entrepreneurs and small issuers. He described sound money as “a refuge from inflation, when discipline is lost in fiat money.” He closed the post with a call to complete the work, writing: “Jobs not done until we get these working for all. Will require lots of tech innovation and policy work to get there.”

Market data cited with the post show the tokenized real-world asset market exceeded $37.5 billion in May 2026. In April 2026, Coinbase Asset Management introduced a tokenized stablecoin credit strategy for qualified investors. Armstrong framed the list as unfinished work that will require both technical development and policy changes to broaden access and update market infrastructure.