About Coinbase
What is Coinbase?
Coinbase is a publicly listed cryptocurrency platform, founded in 2012, whose stated mission is to increase economic freedom in the world. In its own words on the careers site: "We are builders and techno-optimists. We believe crypto is the most important technology to create more economic freedom in the world." It adds: "We believe in sound money, property rights, free trade, decentralization, and putting power back in the hands of the individual." The concrete goal it sets itself is to "help 1 billion people access an open financial system daily through our products." That spans consumer buying and selling, Coinbase One, the Base developer platform, payments, staking, and institutional products such as Prime and Exchange. US employees can also take the option of getting paid in digital currency.
Where will I work?
Coinbase's own cultural tenet is headed "Remote-first, not remote-only": "Most roles are remote-first, with in-office requirements noted when applicable. As a remote employee, you'll be asked to join periodic in-person events. We believe flexibility boosts productivity, while in-person collaboration drives innovation." Job ads sharpen it: "Coinbase is a remote-first, but not remote-only company. Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called 'surges.'" The live board bears this out — the clear majority of openings are remote roles in the USA, alongside remote roles in Canada, India, the UK, Brazil and Singapore, hybrid roles in London, Luxembourg and Bangalore, and a few office-based roles in Charlotte, New York and Dublin.
What is the Coinbase team like?
Unusually blunt about intensity. The careers page opens with "Working at Coinbase isn't for the faint of heart," and continues: "You will be pushed beyond what you think you're capable of. You will be surrounded by others who excel in their disciplines and expect the same from you. But for those who embrace the challenge, it can be the most impactful work of your career." The "Championship team" tenet spells out the deal: "We have high expectations for performance and delivering results, and thrive as a team of individual star performers. Outperformance is met with outsized reward. Unremarkable performance gets a generous severance package." A second tenet, "Apolitical", states that Coinbase does not "engage in social or political activism that is unrelated to our mission while at work." Applications are capped at three per candidate in any six-month period.
Work-Life Balance
Coinbase's published US benefits describe a "Generous Time off/Leave Policy". Worth knowing: Coinbase publishes no day count for it, and the word "unlimited" does not appear on its careers site or in any of its currently advertised roles. Alongside leave sit Volunteer Time Off and a wellness stipend. The bigger lever here is location — remote-first working with quarterly in-person surges, plus mobile and internet reimbursement. Coinbase publishes no four-day week, 32-hour week, compressed schedule or other reduced-hours option.
Perks and Benefits
- Medical, dental and vision plans with generous employee contributions, plus a company-funded Health Savings Account (US)
- Disability and Life Insurance (US)
- 401(k) plan with company match (US)
- Equity and bonus eligibility as part of total compensation
- Fertility Counseling and Benefits (US)
- Mobile/Internet Reimbursement
- Generous Time off/Leave Policy, plus Volunteer Time Off (US)
- Remote-first roles, with quarterly in-person "surge" working sessions