Why Coinbase CEO Says Bitcoin Absence Is the Real Risk

• Brian Armstrong urges long-term focus, dismissing short-term Bitcoin price swings.
• He says investors may regret holding zero Bitcoin, suggesting at least 5% exposure.
• Armstrong believes Bitcoin’s fixed supply supports much higher prices over time.

The crypto market is under pressure again. Bitcoin briefly dipped toward $80,000, altcoins slid to support levels, and fear has crept back into trader sentiment. But amid the red candles, Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong is looking far beyond today’s price action.

In his view, the real mistake won’t be buying at the wrong time; it will be not owning Bitcoin at all.

“Zoom Out. Way Out.”

In an interview with Bloomberg, Armstrong brushed aside short-term volatility, arguing that crypto markets reward patience, not prediction.

Over the last two years alone, he said, Bitcoin is up roughly 100%, even after multiple sharp pullbacks. “Whatever happens in a given week or month doesn’t matter much,” Armstrong said. “It’s the long-term trend that’s interesting.”

That perspective shapes how he invests. Armstrong said he avoids short-term forecasts and does not believe most people should be day trading crypto. His approach is simple: buy, hold, and let time do the work.

The 5% Question

When asked what people might regret most about crypto ten years from now, Armstrong did not hesitate.

“If you don’t have at least 5% of your net worth in Bitcoin, you’re probably going to be pretty sad,” he said.

It’s a statement that cuts straight through the noise, and one that echoes how many investors felt about Bitcoin a decade ago, when it traded in the hundreds, not the tens of thousands.

Why Armstrong Still Believes in Much Higher Prices

Armstrong has publicly said he believes Bitcoin could reach $1 million by 2030. His reasoning is not based on hype, but on structure.

Bitcoin’s supply is fixed. There is no central authority that can print more. As adoption grows, from individuals to institutions to entire payment systems, demand rises against a finite supply. “That dynamic,” Armstrong argues, “only points in one direction over the long term.”

More Than a Price Story

For Armstrong, Bitcoin is just one part of a much larger shift.

He says crypto technology will quietly reshape finance itself, lowering borrowing costs, speeding up cross-border payments, and giving everyday people access to investment opportunities that were once reserved for the wealthy.

Even people who “don’t care about crypto,” Armstrong argues, will still benefit. They may simply notice cheaper loans, faster payments, or better returns, without ever thinking about what’s happening behind the scenes.

In the short term, markets will continue to swing. Bitcoin may test lower levels. Altcoins may struggle. Headlines will flip between fear and optimism. But Armstrong’s message is clear: the biggest risk is not volatility, it’s absence.

Related: Arthur Hayes Explains Why Dollar Liquidity Decline Is Dragging Bitcoin Lower