Armstrong says stablecoins have realised Satoshi's payment vision

• Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said Bitcoin has become digital gold rather than the everyday money envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto.
• Armstrong argued that stablecoins have instead emerged as the preferred cryptocurrency for day-to-day payments.
• His comments come as the global stablecoin supply approaches $310 billion while Bitcoin remains well below its previous peak.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) has evolved into a digital store of value instead of fulfilling Satoshi Nakamoto's original vision of becoming an everyday digital currency.

Speaking during an interview on the People by WTF podcast, Armstrong argued that stablecoins have assumed Bitcoin's original role by providing a practical way to make routine digital payments.

Armstrong said, "Bitcoin became digital gold, and stablecoins became digital dollars," describing the shift as a natural evolution of the cryptocurrency market.

His comments come as the total stablecoin supply has climbed to nearly $310 billion, reflecting continued growth in the use of dollar-pegged digital assets for payments and settlements.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin was trading at around $64,500, roughly 45% below its all-time high of about $126,080 reached in October 2025, according to the report.

Bitcoin has increasingly been viewed by investors as a long-term store of value similar to gold, while stablecoins are widely used for remittances, trading, decentralised finance and cross-border payments.

Armstrong's remarks add to the ongoing debate over whether Bitcoin's greatest success has been as a reserve asset rather than the peer-to-peer electronic cash system described in Satoshi Nakamoto's original white paper.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $64,100.58.