Coinbase CEO Urges Canada to Develop National Blockchain Strategy
As Canada prepares for its election on April 28, 2025, Lucas Matheson, CEO of Coinbase Canada, discusses the company's ambitions in the Canadian crypto market. Key points from the interview include:
- Coinbase has operated in Canada for almost four years and is registered as a restricted dealer under the CSA.
- The company aims to obtain IIROC registration for broader product offerings.
- Canada ranks as the third most crypto-aware country globally, with around 30% of Canadians expected to own digital assets by year-end.
- The demographic using Coinbase in Canada includes young students, immigrants, and institutional investors diversifying their portfolios.
- Matheson advocates for several policy changes, including:
- Creation of a government task force and national crypto strategy
- Regulation of stablecoins at the federal level
- Easier banking access for crypto trading platforms
- Coinbase's 'Stand with Crypto' initiative aims to unify the industry in advocating for regulatory clarity.
- Matheson believes decentralized finance will play a significant role while emphasizing the importance of centralized exchanges for compliance and risk management.
- He urges the next administration to adopt crypto more fully and educate citizens about its potential.
- Matheson sees potential for Canada to emerge as a global leader in the crypto space through technology adoption.