Over 95% of Coinbase’s code is now written with AI
Coinbase says AI now helps write 95%–100% of its code, up from a February estimate of 40%. CEO Brian Armstrong said AI has sharply increased productivity and should be central to the company’s return to startup-like speed and focus. Head of platform Rob Witoff said nearly all employees use AI daily, but usage varies: cryptography remains heavily human-reviewed, while prototyping is largely automated. The shift has enabled smaller, more senior teams, with two to three people sometimes doing work that once needed 10 or more. Many engineers now run five to 10 AI agents at once, and Coinbase estimates these agents currently do the work of about 1,200 employees, with a possible jump to 100,000 by 2030. The company’s May layoffs hit junior roles especially, though cuts spanned the business.
