While traveling to Davos for the World Economic Forum, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said an executive at one of the world’s top 10 banks told him that cryptocurrency is now their “top priority” and that they believe it “is here to stay.”
Posts shared by Armstrong on X highlight the shift in the way traditional financial institutions engage with cryptocurrencies. The comments underscore the growing urgency for traditional banks to adapt to cryptocurrency infrastructure, especially as global regulators move closer to crafting clearer rules for digital assets.
Just finished our week in Davos. I don’t like wearing a suit every day, but sometimes I have to!
Davos is a unique place – world leaders and CEOs (and many cryptocurrency companies!) gather in a small mountain town in Switzerland for a few days. This is a productive… pic.twitter.com/0lO5TqRhkL
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) January 24, 2026
Armstrong did not name specific banks or executives, but said many of the financial leaders he met at the week-long event were not only open to cryptocurrencies but were actively looking for ways to get into them. “Most of them are actually very supportive of cryptocurrencies and see it as an opportunity,” he wrote.
Cryptocurrencies represent both a challenge and an opportunity for banks that rely on traditional payment rails.
Read more: Bank of America CEO says stablecoins could drain trillions in bank deposits
Tokenization push
As stablecoins and tokenized assets gain momentum, so does the threat of disintermediation. It’s possible that global asset managers or fintechs could one day bypass traditional banks entirely and offer tokenized securities or stablecoin-based transfers directly—transferring value instantly without the need for clearing delays or middlemen (the core pillars of cryptocurrencies).
Tokenization is one of the most discussed trends in Davos, extending from stablecoins to stocks, credit and other financial products, Armstrong said.
He noted that an estimated 4 billion “brokerless” adults globally lack access to high-quality investments. He believes that tokenization can help close this gap.
“Some significant progress is expected in 2026,” he added.
Clear regulations
The Coinbase CEO also noted that political support for cryptocurrencies appears to be growing in the United States.
He cited the Trump administration’s push for cryptocurrency-focused legislation, such as the Clarity Act, which aims to provide a regulatory framework for digital assets. Armstrong did not mention his company’s last-minute decision to withdraw support for the Cryptocurrency Market Structure Act, and the hearing was subsequently postponed.
Read more: Here’s why Coinbase and others are unhappy with major crypto bill
Armstrong described the current administration as “the most advanced cryptocurrency government in the world” and said that as countries like China invest heavily in stablecoin infrastructure, pushing for clear rules is critical to keeping the United States competitive. Donald Trump also touched on this theme in his speech in Davos.
Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency
Armstrong also said that artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency are the two most discussed technologies in Davos.
Although the rise of artificial intelligence has taken the wind out of cryptocurrencies in capital markets, Armstrong stressed that the two are closely related. He said AI agents might default to using stablecoins for payments, bypassing traditional identity checks and banking restrictions entirely.
The infrastructure is already there and usage is growing rapidly,” he added.
The message from Armstrong’s Davos review was clear: Cryptocurrencies are no longer a fringe experiment. For at least some of the world’s largest financial institutions, it is now a strategic priority and potentially a matter of survival.
Read more: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong feuds with French central bank governor over yields and ‘Bitcoin standards’ at Davos forum