Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong says crypto is entering a new phase where Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) serves as digital gold while stablecoins, tokenized assets and AI-powered commerce become the primary drivers of blockchain adoption.

Bitcoin’s Role Has Changed

Speaking on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s podcast on July 16, Armstrong argued that the industry’s biggest opportunity is no longer speculative trading but rebuilding the global financial system on blockchain rails.

Armstrong acknowledged that Bitcoin’s original vision as peer-to-peer electronic cash has largely evolved.

“I think it’s fair to say at this point that Bitcoin has succeeded as a store of value,” Armstrong said. “It has become digital gold.”

Stablecoins, meanwhile, have increasingly filled the role of blockchain-based payment infrastructure.

Armstrong said stablecoins represent one of crypto’s fastest-growing use cases.

They combine near-instant settlement with low transaction costs and global accessibility.

That is why he expects stablecoins, not Bitcoin, to power everyday payments, remittances and AI-driven transactions, ideal for machine-to-machine commerce.

Ethereum, Solana And Base Could Benefit

WBitcoin remains crypto’s primary store-of-value asset, but Armstrong sees utility-focused blockchains such as Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) and Coinbase-incubated Base as networks where payments, decentralized finance, tokenized assets and AI applications are being built.

Base and Solana are leading candidates for crypto’s “utility layer,” where developers are building lending, payments and capital formation products on-chain rather than simply launching speculative tokens.

Why Regulation Still Matters

Armstrong said clearer crypto regulation has accelerated institutional participation in major markets and expressed optimism that U.S. lawmakers could advance comprehensive market-structure legislation in the coming months.

He also argued that countries should develop regulated versions of their own fiat-backed stablecoins rather than relying exclusively on U.S. dollar-denominated digital assets.

Looking ahead, he believes the next phase of crypto adoption will be driven less by trading and more by real-world financial infrastructure, AI-powered commerce and the tokenization of global assets.

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