In 2024, cryptocurrency executives shocked the industry by becoming some of the largest insider stock sellers. With multi-million-dollar sales and high-profile names involved, the move has raised more than just eyebrows.
SEC filings revealed that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong 
Brian Armstrong
Brian Armstrong is the CEO of Coinbase Global, the biggest bitcoin exchange in the US. He is a former software developer for Airbnb. In 2012, Brian teamed up with Fred Ehrsam and launched Coinbase in San Francisco. Even though co-founder Fred Ehrsam left the company in 2017, he remains a board member and owns 6% of the business.
On April 14, 2021, Coinbase went public through a direct offering on the Nasdaq. Soon it momentarily hit $100 billion in market capitalization. About 19% of company shares are owned by Armstrong.
Quick Facts
Full name
Brian Armstrong
Birth
January 25, 1983 in San Jose, California, U.S.
Education
Bachelor of Arts/Economics, Master of Arts/Science, Rice University
Nationality
American
Martial Status
Married
Net Worth
$11.9B (Refer for real-time)
He supports the need for clear regulations and policies for cryptocurrency trading and decentralized transactions. Brian has collaborated with diplomats to formulate the policies. He continues to contribute to the crypto community and blockchain technology.
Brian Armstrong: Timeline of events
2010: Discovered Bitcoin – Read the Bitcoin whitepaper and became interested in decentralized finance.
2012: Co-Founded Coinbase – Launched Coinbase with Fred Ehrsam to simplify Bitcoin buying and selling.
2015: Expanded Coinbase Services – Introduced Coinbase Exchange and support for multiple cryptocurrencies.
2017: Led Coinbase Through Crypto Boom – Scaled operations as Bitcoin surged to $20,000, making Coinbase a top exchange.
2021: Coinbase IPO on NASDAQ – Took Coinbase public (COIN) at a $86B valuation, marking a major crypto milestone.
2022: Advocated for Crypto Regulation – Engaged with lawmakers to promote clear crypto regulations in the U.S.
2023: Launched Coinbase’s Layer-2 ‘Base’ – Introduced Base, a Layer-2 blockchain to improve Ethereum scalability.
2024: Pushing for Global Crypto Adoption, Married to Angela Meng.
Year
Award/Notable Work
Details
2012
Co-Founded Coinbase
Built one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.
2017
Fortune 40 Under 40 – Technology
Recognized for leadership in the crypto industry.
2021
Coinbase IPO on NASDAQ
Took Coinbase public with an $86B valuation, a first for a major crypto company.
2021
Time 100 Most Influential People
Listed for his impact on mainstream crypto adoption.
2023
Launched Coinbase’s Layer-2 ‘Base’
Introduced a Layer-2 blockchain to enhance Ethereum scalability.
Useful Links to Connect With Brian Armstrong
Platform
Link
X (formerly Twitter)
https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianarmstrong
Coinbase Official Website
https://www.coinbase.com
Brian Armstrong’s Personal Blog
https://brianarmstrong.com
EntrepreneurInvestorDeveloper/ProgrammerCrypto and Blockchain Expert
sold a staggering $636 million in stock, placing him among the top sellers.
As big players like MicroStrategy’s michael saylor
michael saylor
Michael Saylor is a Co-founder of Strategy formerly MicroStrategy. Before founding Microstrategy, he was a rocket scientist and studied aeronautics and astronautics at MIT on an Air Force scholarship. He dubs Bitcoin 'Digital Gold'. He made some early investment in Bitcoin as soon as he realized it was going to be the next big thing in shaping decentralized finance from traditional finance. His firm Strategy has made Bitcoin their primary treasure reserve. He is a vocal advocate and Top Bitcoin Speaker who participates in various Bitcoin and Crypto events. Michael Saylor is highly skilled in and has a rich knowledge of numerous fields, including analytics, data warehouses, SaaS, management, cloud computing, enterprise architecture, mobile devices, and many more.
Personal Details:
Born: Feb 4, 1965Location: United StatesGraduation: He graduated from MIT in 1987 with a double major in aeronautics, science, technology, and society.
Michael Saylor – Career Timeline
1983–1987: Studied Aeronautics & Astronautics and Science, Technology & Society at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
1989: Co-founded MicroStrategy (Strategy).
1998: MicroStrategy IPO – Took MicroStrategy public on the NASDAQ at $12 per share.
2000: Accounting Scandal & Crash – MicroStrategy's stock plunged 62% in a day due to an accounting misstatement, wiping out billions in valuation.
2004–2019: MicroStrategy Rebuilds – Worked towards cloud-based analytics and AI-driven business intelligence, regaining stability.
2020: Bitcoin Strategy & Investment – Led MicroStrategy’s $425M Bitcoin investment. He made it the first publicly traded company to adopt Bitcoin.
2021: Bitcoin Evangelism – Became one of Bitcoin’s most vocal advocates, encouraging corporations and institutions to adopt BTC and blockchain.
2022: Stepped Down as CEO – Transitioned to Executive Chairman to focus entirely on Bitcoin strategy.
msaylor@microstrategy.com
EntrepreneurCrypto and Blockchain ExpertAuthor
followed suit with $410.8 million, many are questioning the true state of the industry. The actions of these insiders are now stirring up concerns, but are they a sign of opportunity or warning? Keep reading to find out.
Coinbase Leads Insider Sales
Other key figures in insider sales included Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, who sold $203.8 million, and COO Emilie Choi, who sold $186.4 million. Together, these sales pushed Coinbase to the seventh spot for overall insider selling, surpassing major companies like Oracle and Intuit.
Questions Arise
While stocks like Coinbase and MicroStrategy surged alongside Bitcoin’s price, these insider sales have left many crypto traders worried. After Trump’s election win, Bitcoin reached its first major milestone, touching $100,000 in December before falling back. For many, the stock sales signaled concerns about the market’s long-term stability.
To put things into perspective, insider sales across the S&P 500 reached $36.9 billion in 2024, with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos leading the charge at $13.4 billion. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Palantir’s Alexander Karp also made significant sales.
Bitcoin Faces a Rough Road Ahead
Despite the hype, Bitcoin now faces several challenges as some major players show signs of slowing down. MicroStrategy has reduced its Bitcoin purchases, raising doubts about its strategy. El Salvador, once a strong Bitcoin supporter, is dialing back its policies. BlackRock has sold a large amount of Bitcoin, and Tether hasn’t issued new tokens in over 20 days, adding to market uncertainty.
These factors have caused Bitcoin’s price to stall, putting the market on edge.
High Time for Transparency?
Crypto influencer Tommy Famous voiced concerns about the huge insider stock sales, calling them a troubling sign for trust in the companies and the broader crypto market. He criticized the contradiction between their promotion of decentralization and financial freedom while cashing out on such a large scale. Famous emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, warning that the industry risks losing credibility if these issues continue.
MMicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Plans for 2025
Despite current concerns, MicroStrategy plans to make aggressive Bitcoin acquisitions in 2025, which could challenge Coinbase’s lead in insider selling. However, these developments highlight the need for better communication and trust-building within the crypto industry.
Bitcoin Market Status
In the first week of the year, Bitcoin jumped 7%, briefly touching the $97K zone. This recovery has provided a much-needed boost after last month’s market downturn, with the industry now waiting to see if Trump’s regulatory changes could push Bitcoin to a new all-time high.
While Bitcoin’s journey remains unpredictable, the latest developments point to a crucial moment where clarity and transparency will determine the industry’s next chapter.
