TOKENPOST
1 min read
Add as a preferred source on Google

Coinbase CEO Describes North Korean Job Applicants at Crypto Firms

Brian Armstrong also described separate offers of hundreds of thousands of dollars to Coinbase support staff to bring phones inside company facilities and photograph screens.

By Simon Yoon
Published
An unmarked phone rests outside a closed office security door. / TokenPost.ai
An unmarked phone rests outside a closed office security door. / TokenPost.ai

Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong said North Korean operatives sought remote jobs at crypto firms, prompting Coinbase to tighten checks before employees could access sensitive systems.

In an interview published Aug. 20, 2025, Armstrong said some applicants appeared to receive coaching from someone off camera during video interviews. Coinbase began requiring in-person orientation in the United States and stronger identity checks for people seeking sensitive system access.

Armstrong separately described offers made to Coinbase support staff. He said attackers offered Coinbase support staff hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring phones inside company facilities and photograph screens.

Simon Yoon

Reporter

Simon Yoon reports on blockchain technology for TokenPost. Send corrections or tips to info@tokenpost.com.

Loading…