Coinbase lays off nearly 1,000 more employees, blaming FTX 'contagion' and economic downturn

Coinbase logo with downward trend arrow.
(Image credit: Getty - SOPA Images)

One of the biggest crypto exchange platforms in the world, Coinbase, is undergoing a massive round of layoffs. Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong said that the company will reduce its operating expense by 25% and let go of 950 employees.

In a company email-turned-blog post (spotted by the Verge), Armstrong said that the crypto market has "trended downwards along with the broader macroeconomy" and that "fallout from unscrupulous actors in the industry" contributed to Coinbase's decision to increase its present "operational efficiency" at the expense of jobs. 

The US employees affected by the layoffs will receive a minimum of 14 weeks severance and an additional two weeks for every year spent at the company. Armstrong also said Coinbase will ditch projects that have a "lower probability of success." More detailed specifics of the layoffs are listed in the company's 8-K filing with the SEC.  

According to Armstrong, these "dark times will also weed out bad companies," and "better days" are ahead.

"Progress doesn't always happen in a straight line, and sometimes it can feel like we're taking two steps forward and one step back," he wrote.

Best SSD for gamingBest PCIe 4.0 SSD for gamingThe best NVMe SSDBest external hard drivesBest external SSDs

Best SSD for gaming: The best solid state drives around
Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for gaming: Speedy drives
The best NVMe SSD: Slivers of SSD goodness
Best external hard drives: Expand your horizons
Best external SSDs: Fast, solid, and portable

Jorge Jimenez
Hardware writer, Human Pop-Tart

Jorge is a hardware writer from the enchanted lands of New Jersey. When he's not filling the office with the smell of Pop-Tarts, he's reviewing all sorts of gaming hardware, from laptops with the latest mobile GPUs to gaming chairs with built-in back massagers. He's been covering games and tech for over ten years and has written for Dualshockers, WCCFtech, Tom's Guide, and a bunch of other places on the world wide web.