Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Confronts France’s Central Bank Chief on Bitcoin at Davos

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong directly challenged Banque de France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau regarding monetary independence. The Governor stated he trusts independent central banks more than private issuers of Bitcoin, echoing the view that sovereign institutions are more legitimate. Armstrong countered that Bitcoin is a decentralized protocol with no issuer, making it inherently more independent than central banks, as no single entity controls it. This exchange marked a rare direct debate on Bitcoin itself at WEF, where discussions usually focus on blockchain or CBDCs. Separately, Armstrong criticized the US banking lobby for trying to stifle crypto competition, particularly regarding stablecoin yield offerings. This discussion occurred amid broader macroeconomic unease, with figures like Ray Dalio warning the current monetary order is breaking down, lending credence to Bitcoin's role as a potential hedge.

(Source：BeInCrypto)