Coinbase Earmarks 10% of Resources to Funding Staff-Pitched Moonshots

The publicly traded crypto exchange is launching an internal incubator program to find the Next Big Thing.

AccessTimeIconApr 21, 2021 at 5:23 p.m. UTC
Updated May 9, 2023 at 3:18 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Coinbase said Wednesday it will dedicate 10% of its resources to funding crypto moonshots pitched by its employees.

The publicly traded crypto exchange’s new “Project 10 Percent” will seek industry-disrupting ideas with “10x impact,” Chief Product Officer Surojit Chatterjee said in a blog post.

  • How Crypto Solves Financial Problems in the Bronx
    12:05
    How Crypto Solves Financial Problems in the Bronx
  • Binance Nigeria Money Laundering Trial Delayed; Fmr FTX Europe Head Pays $1.5M for Titanic Memento
    02:35
    Binance Nigeria Money Laundering Trial Delayed; Fmr FTX Europe Head Pays $1.5M for Titanic Memento
  • BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Sees First-Ever Day of Outflows
    00:52
    BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Sees First-Ever Day of Outflows
  • Why Casa's Co-Founder Wants ETF Providers to Diversify Custody
    17:41
    Why Casa's Co-Founder Wants ETF Providers to Diversify Custody
  • Coinbase’s incubator-style effort places it among a handful of Silicon Valley giants with formal programs to foster internal innovation. For example, Google lets employees spend 20% of their work time on personal projects, an initiative that has yielded massive wins for the world's biggest search engine including Gmail.

    Coinbase, which said it already reserves 10% of work time for “innovative experimentation,” is now poised to fund employees’ most promising moonshots with its deep pockets. 

    Employees will have two pitch days per year to showcase their ideas. The ones chosen will be evaluated every quarter for progress, and some will be culled. “Our most successful products today started as disruptive bets,” Coinbase said in the blog post.

    Chatterjee framed the project as essential to Coinbase’s continued growth.

    “It’s still early days for the crypto economy. By maintaining our culture of repeatable innovation through these 10 Percent projects, we’ll be in a position to continue building powerful, simple and compelling product experiences that define the future of our industry,” Chatterjee wrote.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.