Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong’s Unconventional Earnings Call
During Coinbase’s third quarter earnings call, CEO Brian Armstrong made a surprising admission. At the end of the call, Armstrong confessed that he had been distracted by tracking a prediction market on what would be said during the next earnings call. He even went on to blurt out words like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Blockchain, Staking, and Web3 to ensure that they were mentioned before the call ended.
The Mention Markets Phenomenon
Armstrong’s seemingly random outburst of words was actually a nod to users participating in “mention markets” on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. These users had wagered bets on whether certain words would be spoken during the call. By uttering these words, Armstrong inadvertently allowed some of these bets to pay off.
According to Bloomberg, a total of $84,000 had been bet on the specific words mentioned during Coinbase’s earnings call. While Armstrong’s actions may have helped some users make money, it also shed light on how easily these markets can be manipulated when executives like him are aware of them.
Criticism and Controversy
Some industry experts, like Jeff Dorman, CIO at digital assets investment firm Arca, criticized Armstrong’s actions. Dorman expressed his disapproval on X, stating that manipulating a market openly was neither cute nor clever. He emphasized the importance of building credibility in the crypto industry and how such actions could undermine those efforts.
Polymarket, one of the platforms involved in the mention markets, described Armstrong’s comments as “diabolical work,” reflecting the mixed reactions within the industry.
Coinbase’s Involvement in Prediction Markets
Interestingly, Coinbase itself is venturing into supporting prediction markets through its Everything Exchange, as highlighted by Armstrong during the earnings call. The company has also invested in platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. Despite this, a Coinbase spokesperson clarified that employees are prohibited from participating in prediction markets or related activities involving the company.
Armstrong’s Response
As Armstrong’s remarks gained attention, he took to X to explain that the incident was spontaneous and fun, triggered by a link shared within the team chat. His nonchalant response contrasted with the scrutiny his actions had received.
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