Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has weighed in on the rising meme coin trend, drawing comparisons to early internet fads like animated GIFs. While he warns against illegal activities in the sector, he also supports a free-market approach, allowing users to make their own investment choices. At the same time, speculation is growing around Coinbase’s involvement with FROC token , following new tutorials and updates from the exchange. Armstrong recently shared his perspective on meme coins on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that, apart from a few test trades, he does not actively invest in them. However, he acknowledged their potential, suggesting that as the market matures, meme coins could serve broader purposes. He compared meme coins to digital trends that initially seemed trivial but later gained value. “Even Bitcoin is somewhat of a meme coin (one could argue so is the US dollar, once it was disconnected from gold),” Armstrong stated. He believes the industry is moving toward a future where nearly everything—posts, images, videos, songs, asset classes, identities, and even votes—will be tokenized and stored on the blockchain. While urging open-mindedness about meme coins, Armstrong also addressed their risks. He highlighted the growing issue of insider trading , mentioning LIBRA token , which has faced criticism and legal action. He warned that such activities are illegal and carry serious consequences. “In every crypto cycle, there is a get-rich-quick crowd that comes and goes, learning this lesson the hard way. Don’t break the law! And don’t try to get rich quick,” he cautioned. Armstrong reaffirmed Coinbase’s commitment to market freedom. “If our customers want it, and it’s legal, we aim to let them make that choice for themselves,” he said. However, he clarified that Coinbase’s role is to provide accurate, unbiased information rather than promote specific tokens. While fraudulent coins would be removed, low-quality ones could remain, with community reviews guiding users. Speculation about Coinbase’s role in the meme coin market intensified after a new tutorial appeared online. On X, some users pointed out that the tutorial was posted just as Coinbase added CLANKER to its roadmap. “Coinbase drops a meme coin and 24 hours later Armstrong posts his thoughts about meme coins and their current state,” one user noted. Claudia Haddad, a project manager at Coinbase, recently shared a guide on bringing token data on-chain, using FROC as an example. The Coinbase Wallet X account also reposted this tutorial, further fueling speculation. Despite this, Coinbase has not officially endorsed the FROC token. Yet, some users remain skeptical about the company’s intentions. “A Coinbase-created meme, thrown out on their socials, waiting for degens to run with it. There is close to no chance they did this unintentionally, and they’ll push this, just as Binance did for Test,” one user posted. The situation echoes Binance’s experience earlier this month when a tutorial featuring the TST token unexpectedly drove up its price. Binance’s former CEO later clarified that it was not an official launch but merely an educational example. With Armstrong’s comments and Coinbase’s recent actions, the debate over meme coins’ future—and the exchange’s role in shaping it—continues.
