TIME Names Coinbase Among World’s Top Disruptors

When a crypto company enters the S&P 500, then joins TIME’s list of the 100 most influential companies, it’s no longer just recognition: it’s a signal of an era change. In 2025, Coinbase is no longer just an exchange, it becomes a symbol of the normalization of Web3 within global economic power circles. Its rise marks a clear break between the sector’s utopian promises and its integration into traditional influence structures.

A Symbolic Recognition Backed by Numbers and Politics

The designation of Coinbase in the TIME 100 list, in the category of “disruptors”, is primarily based on a series of tangible facts that marked the first half of this year. One of these : the spectacular rise of the $COIN stock, boosted by a more favorable political climate toward cryptocurrencies in the United States.

The stock has increased by around 42 % since the beginning of the year, reaching a local high of $382, compared to $303 before the vote on the GENIUS stablecoin bill, approved by the Senate on June 17.

This stock market momentum, observed in real time by analysts, has been interpreted as an indicator of market confidence. TIME magazine emphasizes this by stating : “The company, which in May became the first listed crypto company to be included in the S&P 500, is a key driver of the sector’s political efforts in Washington”.

This rise is explained by several key factors that have solidified Coinbase’s position as a reference player in the American crypto ecosystem :

• Its inclusion in the S&P 500 last May, a first for a crypto company, testifying to its institutional recognition ;

• An active role in regulatory debates, with an increased presence in Washington as the industry’s spokesperson ;

• The post-regulatory stock rally, with a spectacular rise in the stock following the adoption of the GENIUS stablecoin bill ;

• A sector barometer image : Coinbase is perceived as “a proxy for the health of the crypto sector in the United States” by institutional investors and specialized media alike.

These facts illustrate one thing: Coinbase is no longer just an exchange, but a structuring player in the American crypto economic and political landscape.

Expansion in Europe and Diversification of Offerings: Coinbase Accelerates Its Transformation

Beyond its anchoring in the United States, Coinbase shows a clear desire to expand its global market influence, particularly in Europe. On June 20, 2025, the company obtained a MiCA license (Markets in Crypto-Assets) issued by Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), allowing it to now offer crypto services across the entire European Union.

This strategic announcement is accompanied by the establishment of Coinbase’s European headquarters in Luxembourg, positioning the firm as one of the first exchanges compliant with the new continental regulation. A step described as “decisive” by several industry observers, as the MiCA legislation gradually comes into effect.

At the same time, Coinbase is continuing its functional diversification with a marked ambition: to expand its offering beyond pure crypto. The company is reported to have filed an application with the SEC to offer its users the opportunity to buy and sell tokenized stocks.

Such an initiative would make Coinbase a direct competitor to Robinhood or Webull, popular platforms for multi-asset trading. This evolution marks a strategic turn, making Coinbase a hybrid player at the crossroads between a crypto exchange and a new-generation financial broker.

These expansion moves, both geographic and product-based, reflect a clear ambition: to build a universal platform for traditional assets and crypto. This strategy has already received favorable political echoes, notably at the Coinbase State of Crypto Summit in June 2025, where Donald Trump, via a recorded message, declared : “We are going to work to create clear and simple market frameworks that will allow America to dominate the future of cryptos and Bitcoin”.

If this promise remains hypothetical, it illustrates the growing role Coinbase occupies in strategic debates at the federal level.

Coinbase is no longer just an exchange platform; it is today a pivotal player in the global crypto ecosystem, at the crossroads of financial innovation, regulatory dynamics, and stock markets.

Its recognition by TIME as one of the most influential companies this year reflects this profound transformation. The question now remains whether this new influence will be accompanied by massive adoption, sustainable regulatory stability, and above all, genuine democratization of cryptos among the general public, as evidenced by the launch of a credit card with 4 % Bitcoin cashback for its members. In any case, Coinbase seems ready to play this role, even if it means redrawing the boundaries between traditional finance and Web3.