The cryptocurrency sphere witnessed a pivotal moment during the DealBook Summit in New York. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink deliberated the significance of Bitcoin 
$95,195, stablecoins, and tokenization within the global financial framework. Despite their differing perspectives, both leaders reached a consensus: cryptocurrencies are no longer peripheral but rapidly advancing toward the core of financial systems.
Armstrong and Fink Discuss Cryptocurrency’s Shifting Role Towards 2026
Larry Fink, overseeing BlackRock’s massive Bitcoin ETF, recalled once labeling Bitcoin as “currency for thieves” but has dramatically revised his stance. Amid the pandemic, he viewed Bitcoin as a long-term store of value, describing it as a “fear asset” people turn to in times of economic and physical security concerns.
Brian Armstrong firmly dismissed views predicting Bitcoin’s downfall, emphasizing its irreversible structural transformation. He highlighted the struggle of traditional investors to embrace a decentralized digital world, having grown in a dollar-centric environment.
2025: A Pivotal Year for Cryptocurrency Regulation in the U.S.
Both leaders agreed that 2025 will be pivotal in U.S. crypto regulations. Armstrong suggested that the congressional passage of legislation governing stablecoins marks a transition from a “gray market to an enlightened era.”
Armstrong defended Coinbase’s over $50 million in political spending, seeing it as a necessary step to influence policy-making in a landscape lacking clear rules for cryptocurrencies used by 52 million Americans.
Larry Fink noted BlackRock’s equally divided political spending and viewed any semblance of “buying influence” as a considerable risk for the company.
As these discussions were unfolding, significant developments took place internationally. Last week, the European Central Bank announced a new pilot phase for its digital euro, with initial tests indicating payment speeds falling to mere seconds. This development is seen as a potential setback for the U.S. in the digital currency competition.
The Tokenization Race and Banks’ Inevitable Digital Reconciliation
While Fink identifies the digital transformation of assets like bonds and real estate as the true transformation, Armstrong pointed out banks’ ongoing efforts to fight stablecoins merely to preserve their profit margins. Within a couple of years, he expects banks to lobby for interest on stablecoins.
Coinbase has already launched stablecoin and custody pilot programs with major banks, and over 80% of crypto ETFs now rely on Coinbase infrastructure.
Fink believes the U.S. lags in this transition, citing India and Brazil as more advanced in digital finance infrastructure. Real-time payments and digital currency innovations in these countries propel global competition to a critical junction. Ultimately, the fusion of cryptocurrencies with the global finance system is seen as an inevitable reality, illustrating a journey fraught with opportunities and uncertainties, with major economies needing to adapt not only for financial competitiveness but for economic security and consumer protection.
