[Coinbase CEO: Self-Custody is the Only Way for Crypto to Reach Over 1 Billion Users] Odaily Planet Daily News – Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated that self-custody wallets are the only way to enable an open financial system to reach over 1 billion users. He pointed out that alternatives like the Coinbase App work well in developed countries with clear regulations, but the U.S. accounts for only 4% of the global population. Armstrong emphasized that self-custody can reduce friction in account registration, is accessible globally, and can scale through software rather than establishing regulated entities and local teams in every country. He also noted that AI agents adopting self-custody are better suited for accessing funds and completing tasks, and even in developed countries, self-custody is crucial for economic freedom. Former Base head Jesse Pollak previously announced his resignation, handing over Base to Jordan Fish. Pollak stated that Base will be developed into a global financial blockchain. After Cobie takes over, Base will shift its focus to three core areas: trading, payments, and agents.