Coinbase layoffs 2023: Crypto exchange fires 950 people, shuts down several projects

Crypto exchange Coinbase on Tuesday laid off 20 per cent of its workforce, or about 950 people, to reduce its operating expenses amid the economic recession fears.

Coinbase Co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong said that as part of this round of headcount reduction, "we will be shutting down several projects where we have a lower probability of success".

The crypto company in June last year eliminated 18 per cent of its workforce, or nearly 1,100 people.

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"We also reduced headcount last year as the market started to correct, and in hindsight, we could have cut further at that time," said the CEO.

"As we examined our 2023 scenarios, it became clear that we would need to reduce expenses to increase our chances of doing well in every scenario," he said in a statement.

And there was no way to reduce our expenses significantly enough, "without considering changes to headcount".

Armstrong said that some other projects will continue to operate as normal, "just with fewer people on the team".

Affected team members will receive an email to their personal account with more information.

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"We will be providing a comprehensive package to support you through this transition. For those of you in the US, this includes a minimum of 14 weeks base pay (2 additional weeks per year worked), health insurance, and other benefits," said the CEO.

"We are also providing extra transition support for impacted employees on a work visa. Those of you outside the US will receive similar support in line with the employment laws of your country," he added.

It added that there should be at least eight issuers in the index, with not more than a 15% weightage by a single issuer, and not more than 25% by a particular group of issuers.

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