Quick Breakdown
- Brian Armstrong’s final words on the Q3 call triggered all related prediction markets to resolve “yes.”
- Traders cheered the move, though some warned it blurs ethical boundaries in prediction markets.
- Coinbase’s strong Q3 results reaffirm its position among leading corporate Bitcoin holders.
Coinbase CEO’s last-minute remarks shock prediction markets
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stunned users on Kalshi and Polymarket during Thursday’s third-quarter earnings call after deliberately dropping a list of popular crypto terms just before the session ended. His move instantly resolved all active prediction markets tied to Coinbase’s call to “yes,” sparking both amusement and debate among traders.
lol this was fun – happened spontaneously when someone on our team dropped a link in the chat https://t.co/tQiV3B9jUj
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) October 31, 2025
“I was tracking the predictions market about what Coinbase will say in their next earnings call,” Armstrong said. “So let’s make sure we get these in before the end—Bitcoin, Ethereum, blockchain, staking, and Web3.”
The spontaneous remark affected roughly $80,242 worth of bets on Kalshi and about $3,912 on Polymarket, where 24 participants had wagered on which crypto-related terms would be mentioned. While most bettors rejoiced, some were unsettled by how easily the outcome could be influenced by an insider.
Traders react to Armstrong’s “gift”
Following the call, Armstrong posted on X that the outburst happened “spontaneously when someone on our team dropped a prediction markets link in the chat.”
The reaction online was overwhelmingly positive. “HAHAHAH THE GOAT BRIAN,” one Polymarket user cheered, while Kalshi traders “Redbullfool” and “Chungboy” thanked the CEO for what they called a “gift.”
However, the episode reignited concerns about fairness and potential market manipulation, as prediction markets depend heavily on the integrity of participants and insiders not influencing results for entertainment—or profit.
Coinbase reports strong Q3 performance
Beyond the controversy, Coinbase posted another profitable quarter, reporting $432.6 million in net income and $1.9 billion in revenue, marking a 55% year-on-year increase. Additionally, Citi partnered with Coinbase to expand digital asset payment infrastructure for institutional clients.
The exchange also boosted its Bitcoin holdings by 2,772 BTC, bringing its total to 14,458 BTC, according to BitcoinTreasuries.net. This addition returns Coinbase to the top 10 global corporate Bitcoin holders.
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