Coinbase Acquires Spindl to Boost Onchain Advertising and Expand Base Ecosystem

Crypto exchange Coinbase has acquired Spindl, an onchain advertising and infrastructure platform, in a move aimed at enhancing the visibility of projects built on its Ethereum layer-2 network, Base.

The acquisition is part of Coinbase’s broader effort to improve onchain discovery and provide developers with tools to reach a larger audience.

Announcing the acquisition on January 31, Coinbase stated that Spindl is rebuilding the ad tech stack onchain, creating a decentralized advertising solution designed to help blockchain builders gain traction.

Spindl’s Founder Was Key in Developing Facebook’s Ads PlatformPlatform

Jesse Pollak, creator of Base, shared insights about the acquisition in a video on X.

He said that Spindl’s founder, Antonio García Martínez, was instrumental in developing Facebook’s original ads platform, which helped businesses scale and gain viral reach.

Now, García Martínez is bringing that expertise to the onchain world, leveraging smart contracts to create an advertising protocol that allows developers to efficiently promote their projects.

“They’ve built it from the ground up in smart contracts all onchain, and they’re helping builders go viral,” Pollak said, emphasizing that Spindl will equip developers with resources to expand their user base.

Coinbase’s head of business development, Shan Aggarwal, echoed this vision, describing Spindl as the first robust onchain advertising protocol that benefits both builders looking for users and users searching for compelling onchain experiences.

Early investor Eric Seufert, a partner at Heracles Capital, shared that he first met García Martínez during a visit to Austin for an appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast.

We’re ecstatic to announce that @spindl_xyz is joining @coinbase and the @base team to build the future of onchain advertising at the company that’s bringing the world onchain. pic.twitter.com/IJ3Acs786j

— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) January 31, 2025

After hearing his vision for onchain attribution and measurement, Seufert decided to invest in Spindl and is now excited to see how the Coinbase partnership will drive the future of blockchain-based advertising.

The acquisition comes as Coinbase continues to explore tokenized assets on Base.

Earlier this year, Pollak revealed that the company is considering offering tokenized shares of Coinbase (COIN) stock to U.S. users, following its availability for international investors through real-world asset (RWA) platforms like Backed.

While details remain uncertain, Coinbase’s latest moves signal its intent to expand both onchain finance and decentralized advertising infrastructure in 2024.

Coinbase CEO: Trump’s Crypto Plans Spark Buzz in Crypto

Earlier this week, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said U.S. President Donald Trump’s crypto agenda has become a central topic of discussion across the crypto industry, financial markets, and the tech world.

Reflecting on his recent time at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Armstrong revealed that conversations with major market leaders were dominated by Trump’s plans for digital assets.

“Basically, every conversation I had with major market leaders was focused on what the Trump administration planned to do on crypto,” Armstrong said.

He added that Trump’s bold vision is pushing industry players to step up, with many striving to avoid being left behind in the rapidly evolving landscape.

During the WEF, Trump pledged to make the United States the “world capital of artificial intelligence and crypto.”

This commitment, one of his first public statements since taking office on Jan. 20, has set a transformative tone for the industry.

Armstrong praised Trump’s approach, along with the leadership of Argentina’s President Javier Milei and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, for embracing free markets as drivers of prosperity.

Among Trump’s speculated plans is the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, though his latest executive order hints at a broader vision.