Coinbase CEO Sells $540 Million in Stock Amid Company Losses
Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, has sold over $540 million worth of the company's stock in the past year, surpassing Coinbase's net loss of $394 million for the first quarter of 2026. This significant sale occurred despite the company reporting a 40% decline in transaction revenue and a 57% drop in COIN stock value since July 2025.
According to SEC filings, Armstrong sold approximately 1.55 million shares of COIN between May 2025 and January 2026, with an average sale price of $349.58 per share—almost double the current levels. The largest transactions took place in June and July 2025 when Coinbase shares were trading above $350.
In contrast to Armstrong's stock sales, Coinbase reported a net loss of $394 million on revenues of $1.4 billion for the first quarter of 2026. This time last year, the company had posted a profit of $66 million due to a booming crypto market following Donald Trump's election victory.
Transaction revenues, which are crucial to Coinbase's business, fell by 40% year-over-year to less than $756 million. In response to these financial challenges, Coinbase announced a workforce reduction of about 14%, laying off approximately 700 employees.
