John D'Agostino is the Head of Institutional Strategy at Coinbase, focusing on market structure, institutional adoption, and strategic growth. He is recognized for his role in bridging the gap between established financial systems and the emerging cryptocurrency ecosystem. ^{[1] [2]}​

Education

D'Agostino earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Williams College. He also studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the University of Oxford's Exeter College. ^[2]

Career

D'Agostino's career spans proprietary trading, exchange leadership, asset management, and digital asset strategy. His work has frequently involved navigating major technological and structural transformations within financial markets. ^[1]​

Early Career and NYMEX

D'Agostino began his career as a proprietary trader with the DRW Trading Group. ^[2] He later joined the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), where he became a Managing Director. During his tenure, he was a key member of the executive team that guided the exchange through a period of significant change, including its transformation from a member-owned institution to a for-profit company, its successful Initial Public Offering (IPO), and its eventual sale to the CME Group. ^[3] He was deeply involved in the exchange's shift from traditional open-outcry trading floors to fully electronic trading, and he led the development of the Dubai Mercantile Exchange, which served as a basis for later work in the cryptocurrency industry. ^[1]​

Transition to Asset Management

Following his time at NYMEX, D'Agostino transitioned to the "buy-side" of finance, working with hedge funds and asset managers. He served as President of the Alkeon Financial team, a global macro fund. His work in this area involved advising on investment opportunities and market structure across various asset classes. ^{[2] [3]}​

Coinbase and Digital Assets

D'Agostino entered the digital asset sector by joining Coinbase, where he has held multiple senior roles focused on the company's institutional business. His titles have included Senior Director of Institutional Strategy and Strategic Partnerships, as well as Managing Director and Head of Institutional. ^{[2] [4]}​

At Coinbase, his primary focus has been on driving the adoption of cryptocurrencies among institutional investors, such as hedge funds, endowments, and corporate treasuries. He has been instrumental in developing the market structure and product offerings required to serve these large-scale clients, effectively connecting the worlds of traditional finance (TradFi) and crypto. ^[5]​

Public Engagement and Commentary

D'Agostino is a frequent public speaker and commentator on digital assets, finance, and market regulation. He regularly contributes opinion pieces and appears at major industry conferences to discuss the evolution of the crypto ecosystem. ^[6]​

Speaking Engagements

D'Agostino has been a featured speaker at numerous prominent global events, where he shares insights on institutional crypto adoption and market development. His speaking appearances have included:

• The Milken Institute Global Conference (2022) ^[7]
• The SALT Conference ^[3]
• CoinDesk Consensus (Austin and Hong Kong events in 2025) ^[8]
• The Litecoin Summit ^[9]
• CryptoMondays Wall Street (September 2025) ^[10]

Views on Regulation and Market Structure

A recurring theme in D'Agostino's public commentary is the need for a clear and rational regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States and globally. In a June 2025 interview, he noted that the conversation around institutional involvement in crypto had shifted from a question of "if" to a question of "how," underscoring the necessity of regulatory clarity to support further growth and innovation. ^[5]​

He advocates for principles-based regulation that is adaptable to new technology, drawing parallels to the regulatory evolution in other modern financial markets. He emphasizes that a well-defined framework would protect consumers and investors while allowing the U.S. to maintain a leadership position in financial technology. ^[1]​

Clarity for Digital Assets Act Involvement

In January 2026, D'Agostino became a central figure in a public policy debate concerning the "Clarity for Digital Assets Act." According to a report from Bankless Times on January 12, 2026, D'Agostino announced that Coinbase was threatening to withdraw its support for the bill. The company had initially been a proponent of the legislation, which was designed to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in the U.S.

The reversal came after a last-minute amendment was added to the bill. D'Agostino, speaking on behalf of Coinbase, argued that the new provision would impose unworkable requirements on decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and stifle innovation in the sector. This move highlighted Coinbase's active role in shaping digital asset policy and its willingness to oppose legislation it deemed harmful to the industry's future. ^[11]​

Affiliations

In addition to his role at Coinbase, D'Agostino is involved in several industry groups and advisory positions. He is a member of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) Digital Assets Working Group, which aims to provide leadership and establish best practices for institutional involvement in the digital asset space. ^[4] He also serves as an advisor to various financial technology companies. ^[2]​

Interviews

Institutional Adoption, Liquidity, ETFs, and Regulation #01

In an interview published on the YouTube channel Crypto In America on December 10, 2025, John D'Agostino, Head of Institutional at Coinbase, discussed his views on institutional participation in cryptocurrency markets, market structure, and regulatory conditions in the United States.

During the conversation, D'Agostino described the development of crypto markets in the US as shaped by the interaction between individual financial autonomy and governmental oversight. According to his assessment, institutional engagement has been influenced more by market liquidity and return characteristics than by regulatory clarity alone. He emphasized that both the depth of trading activity and the diversity of market participants are necessary conditions for sustained institutional involvement.

Based on his prior experience in commodities and energy markets, D'Agostino compared the evolution of crypto markets with earlier stages of digitization in traditional finance. He stated that volatility and operational disruptions are common across asset classes, while noting that crypto markets have received heightened public attention due to their retail participation and relatively short history.

D'Agostino addressed the impact of Bitcoin exchange traded funds, describing them as market participants that introduce recurring portfolio rebalancing activity. In his view, this dynamic contributes to changes in liquidity patterns and influences price behavior. He also outlined the role of derivatives markets, including futures and options, as components of market infrastructure that support hedging, price formation, and credit related activity within institutional frameworks.

Regarding regulation, D'Agostino characterized recent interactions with US regulatory bodies as increasingly contentious compared to earlier periods. He referenced the issue of debanking affecting crypto related firms, indicating that while some conditions have shifted, access to banking services remains inconsistent. He also noted ongoing discussions between regulatory agencies, suggesting that structural changes are more likely to result from legislative processes than from regulatory interpretation alone.

From an operational standpoint, D'Agostino described Coinbase’s institutional offerings, including custody, staking, lending, and tokenization services. He presented tokenization as an area under development within financial markets. He referenced the introduction of the Echo platform and the Monad token sale as examples of capital formation conducted within an existing regulatory framework, and noted the relevance of transfer restrictions in shaping market behavior.

The interview also included observations on international developments, such as limited initiatives by sovereign institutions to explore Bitcoin exposure. D'Agostino interpreted these cases as part of a broader trend in which digital assets are being evaluated alongside traditional financial instruments within established economic systems. ^[13]

Crypto Market Outlook for 2026 #02

In an interview broadcast on CNBC Television on January 2, 2026, John D’Agostino discussed his assessment of the cryptocurrency market outlook for 2026, referencing themes presented in Coinbase’s annual outlook report.

D’Agostino stated that regulatory frameworks continue to be a defining factor for the development of crypto markets. He noted that legislative efforts related to a comprehensive United States crypto market structure bill were delayed in 2025 due to a prolonged government shutdown. According to his analysis, regulatory developments in regions such as the European Union and the United Arab Emirates have influenced discussions in the United States regarding the need for clearer legal definitions for digital assets and blockchain based activity.

He explained that the introduction of a market structure bill could reduce regulatory ambiguity and provide a clearer operating environment for companies that are not native to the crypto sector. In his view, this would allow firms across areas such as logistics, consumer goods, and industrial services to evaluate blockchain applications with greater legal certainty. D’Agostino referenced stablecoin specific legislation, including the Genius Act passed in 2024, as an example of more limited regulatory scope that has already affected institutional engagement with stablecoins. He indicated that broader legislation could extend similar regulatory clarity to additional use cases.

Regarding market conditions, D’Agostino addressed a liquidity event that occurred in October 2024. He described the event as a period during which multiple market participants reduced exposure simultaneously, rather than the result of a single large scale insolvency. He characterized this adjustment as a response to broader risk management decisions within the market.

D’Agostino also outlined areas of operational focus for Coinbase in 2026. These included initiatives related to equity trading, prediction markets, tokenization of traditional financial instruments, and payment infrastructure designed to support high volume, low cost transactions. He associated these developments with anticipated use cases involving automated systems and expanded applications for stablecoins and lending services.

In summary, D’Agostino described 2026 as a period shaped by regulatory developments, increased participation by institutional entities, and continued integration of blockchain systems with other digital technologies, based on his interpretation of current regulatory and market conditions. ^[12]