Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has just unveiled an ambitious roadmap to 2026, aiming to build a global "exchange for everything."
Despite the grand concept, both users and developers have expressed disappointment due to the widening gap between Coinbase's promises and the actual daily experience.
Brian Armstrong faces criticism as Coinbase's 2026 development roadmap encounters backlash from users.
Chia to Coinbase executives, the Everything app will include crypto, stocks, commodities, and forecast markets. The app will also develop large-scale stablecoins, integrate payments, and support greater developer participation through the Base chain and Base App.
“We are investing heavily in improving product quality and automating all of these areas. The goal is to make Coinbase the world’s number one digital financial app,” Armstrong said .
Coinbase has been criticized for security vulnerabilities over the years. In 2025, the exchange faced a data leak incident and suspected insider involvement.
“Brian still hasn’t put Coinbase’s user safety first. This could have been avoided. A year later, instead of correcting the mistake, the management just says ‘bring more sheep to the slaughter,’” well-known user Tay Chia on X (Twitter).
Although Armstrong aims for global expansion and a focus on automation by 2026, many users still believe Coinbase is XEM security and customer service.
Base App also caused further controversy. Coinbase's self-managed wallet, with its new look combining trading, social networking, and messaging on the Base chain (Layer-2) , was criticized for focusing too much on creator Token instead of supporting meaningful DeFi projects or games.
“Everything on Base is rubbish… The flagship project is just a tool to generate scam Token,” another user Chia , clearly expressing the frustration of developers – who feel they only get attention if they are close to Base’s leadership or were former Coinbase employees.
Many developers on Base also feel unsupported, even "gaslit." In a lengthy post, developer Coco argued that Coinbase is competing directly with projects on Base, favoring acquaintances instead of supporting long-standing projects.
“Don’t support scammers… Support the real founders, don’t prioritize SouljaBoy or Sahil,” Coco Chia , warning that genuine talent will leave the ecosystem if Base continues to prioritize internal connections over real competence.
BeInCrypto recently also posted about the controversy surrounding Soulja Boy , when the community reacted strongly after Jesse Pollak (the founder of Base) promoted a meme coin in collaboration with the rapper and producer.
Retail investors want a financial super-app—not social experiments.
Many users also questioned Coinbase's overemphasis on social responsibility rather than financial gain. While Armstrong stressed that the Base App makes it easy to enter the market, small investors felt Coinbase was no longer interested in the next generation of finance.
“Retail investors want to invest, save, trade, withdraw cash, pay their mortgage… and much more all in one app. Coinbase doesn’t understand this,” user Evfiend commented , pointing to the fierce competition from platforms like Robinhood, which integrate all financial services without forcing users to switch between multiple separate apps.
Legal decisions have only added to the confusion. Coinbase is expected to discontinue support for fiat currency deposits and withdrawals in Argentina, a region with a very high stablecoin usage rate . This move has left many wondering whether the real reason is legal, political, or internal company policy.
Ultimately, both analysts and users agree that Coinbase lacks consistency between its stated roadmap and actual implementation. This is evident in its uneven Token listing policy and its closed-door decisions on the base chain.
Long-standing Base development projects share this view, describing it as a "patchwork, unfair playing field" where actual competence often takes a backseat to internal connections. Many also feel Armstrong's strategy is repetitive and increasingly detached from the real needs of the community.
"They've been doing the same old thing for years... They talk big but their actions are completely different," user Rbthreek Chia , highlighting the growing gap between Coinbase's words and actions with both retail investors and developers.
Despite criticism, some still see potential in Coinbase's 2026 vision. The base chain is considered promising for on-chain payments and micro-applications, and Base App has the potential to create a social trading experience if it listens to the community.
However, if Coinbase fails to thoroughly address security issues, build trust with developers, and bridge the gap between ambition and reality, it could lose the very users it intends to attract through its roadmap.
When Armstrong championed a global “exchange for everything,” opponents argued that Coinbase needed to demonstrate its ability to ensure security, provide good support, and truly empower its existing community before pursuing ambitious future plans for on-chain social finance.
For now, 2026 remains just a promise, and one that also sparks considerable skepticism.
