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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Invites Ex-DOGE Staff to Join Crypto Exchange
The move comes after a former DOGE staffer, Ethan Shaotran, praised the team’s mission and work ethic despite the backlash he faced.
May 14, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
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What to know:
- Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is offering fast-tracked hiring to former employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- DOGE aims to streamline federal operations and says it has saved $170 billion so far.
- Coinbase has supported crypto-friendly political action committees and recently added a Trump campaign advisor to its board.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is offering a new home for staffers departing the U.S. government's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On social media, Armstrong encouraged former DOGE operatives to apply for roles at the crypto exchange through a fast-track hiring process.
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The move came after a Fox News clip featuring Ethan Shaotran, a 22-year-old former DOGE staffer and Harvard dropout, who said his work with DOGE cost him friendships and status on campus. Shaotran praised the team’s mission and work ethic, describing their late-night dedication to trimming bureaucratic waste.
This is an open call for any @DOGE staff. If you are looking for your next mission after serving your country, consider helping create a more efficient financial system for the world at @Coinbase.
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) May 13, 2025
We've set up an accelerated interview/hiring process in recognition of your… https://t.co/ZdMN7vJoXT
“If you are looking for your next mission after serving your country, consider helping create a more efficient financial system for the world at Coinbase,” Armstrong wrote in a post on X, attaching a job application form aimed at former DOGE employees.
DOGE, launched under President Donald Trump’s administration and led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, was created to streamline federal operations. The agency said it has saved $170 billion through asset sales, contract and lease cancelations, workforce reductions and more.
Coinbase’s embrace of former DOGE staff comes after Armstrong publicly supported the idea of DOGE and called for the end of the income tax.
Coinbase spent over $70 million in 2024 supporting crypto-friendly political action committees and recently added Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita to its advisory board. The company’s shares have recently jumped over news they are being included in the S&P 500 index.
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