Coinbase’s big election bet is about to be tested
WASHINGTON — In the first few years after founding Coinbase, CEO Brian Armstrong shied away from Washington, D.C. But as his ambitions for his crypto exchange scaled, so too did his need to curry favor on Capitol Hill.
“About five or six years ago, we realized that crypto was getting big enough that we needed to go really engage actively in a policy effort, so I started coming out to D.C.,” Armstrong, who started Coinbase in 2012, told CNBC in September, following a day of meetings with political leaders.
Now, it’s practically Armstrong’s full-time job, and Coinbase’s money is all over the nation’s capital. The company was one of the top corporate donors this election cycle, giving more than $75 million to a group called Fairshake and its affiliate PACs, including a fresh pledge of $25 million to support the pro-crypto super PAC in the 2026 midterms. Armstrong personally contributed over $1.3 million to a mix of candidates up and down the ballot.
The tech industry’s biggest names have dotted Washington for years to try and push their agendas as their market caps have expanded, but for Coinbase, the matter is potentially existential.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler sued the firm last year over claims that it sells unregistered securities. A judge has since ruled that the case should be heard by a jury. Coinbase has fought back vociferously, and has also said that it wants to work with regulators to come up with a proper set of laws governing the nascent industry.
Meanwhile, Coinbase faces a growing list of competitors.
In the company’s latest quarterly earnings report last week, Coinbase missed on the top and bottom lines due to lower transaction revenues and a drop in subscription and services revenues. The shares plummeted 15%.
Data from CCData shows the exchange is losing spot market share to industry rivals like Crypto.com. And investors have many new options for accessing bitcoin and ethereum since the SEC greenlit spot funds this year. BlackRock’s ETF chief Samara Cohen told CNBC that 75% of its bitcoin buyers are crypto investors who are new to Wall Street.
Washington can’t save Coinbase from the competition, but the company is betting that, with favorable lawmakers in place, it can be the leader in a thriving industry rather than under the constant threat of lawsuits and Wells notices.
Armstrong said his D.C. visits normally took place once or twice a year. Then it got to be at least a quarterly occasion. And the pace has only increased.
“In the beginning, a lot of people didn’t know what crypto was,” Armstrong said of his earlier trips. Now, “the discussion has advanced, really, to, how do we pass clear rules, create legislation in the United States?”
An SEC sans Chair Gensler
Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer, attended a fundraiser in San Francisco in June that raised $12 million for former President Donald Trump. It was hosted by venture capitalist David Sacks, a former Trump critic who became an outspoken supporter when he became the Republican nominee.
Grewal later joined a fundraiser in Nashville in July for the former president.
Trump has never shown much of an aptitude for the nuances of crypto, but he’s welcomed the industry’s financial support. He was applauded in the summer, when he vowed to fire Gensler as head of the SEC if he wins.
Grewal told CNBC that he’s had “many conversations” behind closed doors with both the Trump camp as well as Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. Heading into Election Day on Tuesday, the candidates were in a virtual dead-heat.
“What I think we’re hearing from both campaigns is they get it,” Grewal said. “They understand that in swing state after swing state, there are enough voters who care about crypto that the candidate and their campaigns need to give voice to the concerns of those voters in supporting sensible rules for crypto, sensible legislation coming out of Congress, and that’s very encouraging.”
Grewal said that Trump “came earlier to this pro-crypto view,” but said that Harris recognizes the need for “an agenda focused on promoting sensible rules for crypto as much as any other technology.”
But Coinbase has stayed out of the presidential contest and focused its finances exclusively on Congressional races, as the company looks to help assemble a group of lawmakers with favorable views of the industry.
The Stand With Crypto Alliance, launched by Coinbase last year, has developed a grading system for House and Senate candidates across the country.
In the Ohio Senate race, for example, the organization gives Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, who chairs the banking committee, an “F” grade, versus an “A” grade for his Republican rival Bernie Moreno, a blockchain entrepreneur. Some $40 million of crypto money has been directed at defeating Brown, and one PAC has paid for five ads designed to boost awareness of Moreno. The race is very close and is crucial in determining which party will control the Senate.
Stand with Crypto, which has enrolled 1.4 million advocates across the country, is also working to mobilize digital asset owners living in swing states. This effort involved a cross-country bus tour through battlegrounds focused on getting these residents registered to vote.
“It’s really extraordinary, given how razor-thin the margin of victory was in the 2020 election, to see crypto not only be an issue, but potentially a determinative issue in terms of the presidential cycle,” Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s chief policy officer, said in an interview.
Shirzad said that last year, he and his team concluded that the only way to get politics out of crypto was “to build our own political operation.” He said the goal is to “neutralization the politicization of the crypto issue and talk about it on the merits.”
Coinbase is far from alone. Nearly half of all corporate money raised this election comes from crypto firms.
Fairshake, one of the top spending PACs this cycle, told CNBC it’s raised around $170 million this election and disbursed approximately $135 million.
Ripple Labs is another one of Fairshake’s top political donors.
The company, which has spent more than $100 million battling Gensler, has given around $50 million to Fairshake. Several executives have also contributed to a mix of Democratic and Republican candidates in races across the country.
Ripple’s head of U.S. public policy, Lauren Belive, told CNBC at a fintech conference in Las Vegas that the company was motivated by the SEC’s overreach.
“We really wanted to put people into office that could learn about this technology and understand this technology, because we need Congress to act and to create federal statutes and not have this enforcement regime,” said Belive. She added the regulator has issued over 100 enforcement actions against crypto-aligned companies.
The crypto voter
Stand with Crypto’s bus tour culminated in a rally held at The Black Cat in Washington on a Wednesday night in September.
The popular music venue has no windows and gives off an “Alice in Wonderland” vibe, with its mix of purple-painted walls and exposed brick, along with its black-and-white checkered floor.
As music blared and drinks flowed, free “Stand with Crypto” merch was being handed out to attendees. Surplus goodie bags were generously doled out to those looking to take extras back home.
Armstrong slipped out of his black SUV to speak to CNBC just outside the venue. He donned a suit and tie, a stark contrast to his fellow attendees. Armstrong said he was confident about the upcoming election.
“The crypto voter has become a major part of this election now,” Armstrong said. “I think the crypto voter is really real, and we’ll see what happens in November.”
In addition to Armstrong, Consensys CEO Joe Lubin, and Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) spoke at the rally. Most remarks were inaudible over the roaring buzz of the crowd.
A hush fell over the audience when the headline act, The Chainsmokers, took the stage. The band started with its 2017 classic “Paris,” and the crowd chimed in at the chorus: “If we go down, then we go down together.”
WATCH: Bitcoin slumps to $67,000 level on eve of U.S. election: CNBC Crypto World
Environment
Volkswagen unveils ID. EVERY1 show car, production version set to launch around 20,000 euros
German automaker Volkswagen has presented a world premiere of a new all-electric show car called the ID. EVERY1. This new entry-level Volkswagen BEV model will evolve into a production version soon and is expected to start at an MSRP of 20,000 euros ($21,500).
Despite its past follies in EV development, particularly on the software side, Volkswagen continues to demonstrate a steeled focus on electrification and expanding its “ID” lineup of BEVs. The automaker’s flagship ID.4 has found success in Europe and the US and has since been joined by additional models such as the ID.3 and ID.Buzz van—another fan favorite (aside from the decision not to offer a camper variant… huge miss, guys).
In addition to those production models on the market, Volkswagen has previewed other BEVs in its pipeline, including the ID.2all and an SUV variant, all part of the brand’s goal to deliver nine new models by 2027, four of which will sit atop VW’s new FWD MEB platform.
One of those new models in the pipeline is Volkswagen’s most compact and affordable BEV to date. In concept form, Volkswagen calls this model the ID. EVERY1, nodding at its affordability and small size in which most everyone can use it… as long as you live in Europe.
To date, we’ve only seen sketches of the ID. EVERY1 and confirmation from Volkswagen that the production version will start at around 20,000 euros. The German automaker echoed those plans during a global premiere event for the ID. EVERY1 in Germany today. Check out the full video below.
Volkswagen ID.EVERY1 set to hit production in 2027
Per a detailed press release from Volkswagen today, the ID. EVERY1 show car makes its global debut as a sporty, compact show car that offers a preview of the production version, slotted to launch sometime in 2027.
The production version will follow the ID.2all, which should arrive in Europe as early as 2026 and is expected to start at around 25,000 euros ($27,000). Both the Volkswagen ID.2all and ID. EVERY1 (official production name pending) will launch as part of a new “Electric Urban Car Family” designed in Europe, for Europe and will feature the automakers FWD MEB platform technology.
The release did not mention software, but considering that vital component for EV success has been a hurdle for the brand, we’d expect at least some of Rivian’s technology to make its way into these Euro models following a $5.8 billion partnership announced last summer. According to Volkswagen Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer, the ID. EVERY1 will help complete a diverse portfolio of electrified models of all sizes for Europe and other markets:
The ID. EVERY1 represents the last piece of the puzzle on our way to the widest model selection in the volume segment. We will then offer every customer the right car with the right drive system—including affordable all-electric entry-level mobility. Our goal is to be the world’s technologically leading high-volume manufacturer by 2030. And as a brand for everyone—just as you would expect from Volkswagen.
Volkswagen shared that the production version of the ID. EVERY1 will be the first model in the entire Group lineup to use a “fundamentally new and particularly powerful software architecture.” Does it start with an “R” and end with an “ivian?” There is no confirmation over here, but that sounds like it! Okay, back to the concept. Here are some brief specs:
- The concept can reach a top speed of 81 mph
- The newly develop FWD motor offers 70kW (94 hp) of power
- The current range is 250 km (155 miles)
- It offers seating for four, plus 10.8 cubic feet (305 liters) of cargo volume
- Its overall length is 3,880mm (152.8 in)
- It’s longer than the VW Up! (41.7 in/3,600 mm) but shorter than the ID.2all (159.4 in/4050 mm)
Looking ahead, Volkswagen said it intends to offer the public a more robust preview of its new “Electric Urban Car Family,” including the ID. EVERY1 and ID.2all this coming fall. For now, here’s a closer look at the ID. EVERY1 show car.
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The Tesla Model 3, once the most popular EV in the critical Chinese EV market, has been quickly surpassed by the Xiaomi SU7, and now they are going after Tesla’s Model Y.
Is the mystical prophecy of the “Tesla killer” finally coming true?
As impressive as Tesla’s entry into the Chinese market was, Xiaomi’s own EV venture in China has been even more remarkable.
Tesla was the first foreign automaker to secure a wholly-owned car factory in China. It built it and started production at the plant in record time, an incredible moment for the EV industry in China and globally.
Within the first 6 months of Model 3 production at Gigafactory Shanghai in 2020, Tesla built around 50,000 vehicles, which was unprecedented.
Xiaomi, better known for its electronics, produced 70,000 SU7 EVs in the first six months of production last year.
In its first full year of production, Xiaomi came out of nowhere and outsold Tesla’s Model 3 in the critical Chinese market.
In January, Tesla sold about 8,000 Model 3s in China, while Xiaomi delivered more than 22,000 SU7 EVs. This trend is expected to continue.
It’s not too surprising to see why. The base Xiaomi SU7 starts at 20,000 Yuan cheaper (~$2,500 USD) than the Model 3 and offers a bigger battery pack with 10% more range, as well as many tech features that Tesla doesn’t provide, like a heads-up display.
It even has a rear mini fridge, and since we are comparing it to Tesla, it also has a turn signal stalk.
The most unambiguous indication that the SU7 has taken over the Model 3 is the wait times.
Despite SU7 production already being higher than Model 3, you can get a Model 3 within “1-3 weeks” of ordering, while you have to wait “31-34 weeks” for a new SU7, according to Xiaomi’s online configurator:
If anything, the long wait times on the SU7 are helping Tesla as some can’t wait that long for a new car. However, Xiaomi is still ramping up production.
Speaking of production, Xiaomi took clear inspiration from Tesla. The SU7 is using large casting parts, which Tesla calls “gigacasting” and Xiaomi calls “hypercasting.”
The Chinese company is also using a similar design as what Tesla calls “structural battery pack”, where the pack is a structural part of the vehicle’s chassis.
Interestingly, Tesla uses these features on the Model Y but hasn’t transferred them to the Model 3 yet. Xiaomi uses them on the SU7, its Model 3 competitor – giving it an advantage, and it will do the same on its upcoming Model Y competitor.
That’s where Tesla needs to worry.
Model Y is by far Tesla’s best-selling car, and China is the world’s biggest EV market by a wide margin. What the SU7 did to Model 3, Xiaomi’s upcoming YU7 is likely to do to Model Y.
Xiaomi is going to start production of the YU7 this summer and it is expected to ramp up production just as quickly as it did with the SU7.
It compares similarly to Model Y as SU7 compares to Model 3.
Fortunately for Tesla, the new competition comes as it updated the Model Y, which should help – although current wait times on new orders do point to soft demand for the new version.
Is there finally a “Tesla killer?”
Electrek’s Take
As I was writing and researching this article, by the way big hat tip to Troy Teslike for helping a ton with research for this, I was reminded of the legend of the “Tesla killer.”
It’s a term that the media loved to use every time a legacy automaker launched a new EV in the early days of Tesla. We laughed at them for even suggesting it, as they would apply it to vehicles that didn’t match Tesla’s performance, production volumes, or profitability.
Sure enough, none of them came even close to negatively affecting Tesla, let alone “killing” the company.
But Xiaomi is coming as close as I’ve ever seen in my 15 years of covering Tesla (coming on 10 years full-time professionally).
Let’s be clear: Xiaomi owes Tesla quite a bit for its EV success. The automaker pioneered gigacasting and structural battery packs, and Xiaomi followed suit to great success. I am sure these are not the only Tesla features that inspired Xiaomi.
With that said, this is the reality now, and Tesla is getting left behind.
Tesla benefited from being a foreign brand in China. Buyers saw it as a luxury brand, but the company is now a victim of its own success. The cars became so popular that the brand deteriorated, and it is not seen as premium or exclusive anymore.
At the same time, Chinese manufacturers became much better at making EVs, and now, several of them have achieved a better reputation from buyers in China than Tesla.
Furthermore, with the new Model Y, Tesla went with design accents that are already popular in China. As we previously reported, the new Model Y looks very similar to Xpeng’s vehicles. This is making Tesla “like any other brand in China.”
In my opinion, Chinese competition, especially Xiaomi, will hurt Tesla badly in China this year.
The automaker is planning to roll out cheaper models in the second half of the year. This should help, but the entry EV market is already quite crowded in China, and Tesla is likely to cannibalize itself more than anything.
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Who are we to judge the needs of folks who have $133K burning a hole in their pocket? Certainly, a longer Escalade IQL is better as a huge electric vehicle rather than a gas version? Well, here we are…
Let’s have a look a the eye candy first:
I think objectively, it is a good looking vehicle and maybe even ironically looks smaller as a longer vehicle. Is that a station wagon with a child driving it? The extra $40K worth of increased length is almost entirely added to the rear, providing extra 3rd-row seating space and a larger cargo area(seen above).
Elevating the spaciousness of the vehicle, the 3rd row benefits from more than 4 inches of additional legroom (36.7″ vs. 32.3″), and an additional inch of headroom (38.2″ vs. 37.2″) contributing to more comfortable seating throughout the cabin.
As a reminder, Cadillac changed the Frunk name and says the large eTrunk compartment under the hood offers an additional 12.2 cubic feet of secure storage which is the same as the Escalade IQ.
As for the specs, this is GM’s Ultium 205kWh battery, shared between the Escalade IQ, GMC Hummer/Sierra and Chevy Silverado and it delivers the same 460 miles of range. Also, 350kW charging can deliver up to 116 miles of range in just 10 minutes. The 800V charging curve degrades slightly from there but it is still respectable.
- 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque (with driver-selectable Velocity Max10 estimate)
- 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds (with driver-selectable Velocity Max10, Cadillac estimate)
- A Cadillac-estimated max towing capacity of 7500 lbs,
- Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and Air Ride Adaptive suspension isolate passengers from undesirable road surfaces while providing precise steering and feel
- Isolated Precision, Cadillac’s ride and handling philosophy – quiet, smooth and effortless with a strong connection to the road
- Independent front and rear suspension
- 24-inch wheels and 35-inch tires
- Suite of standard active safety and driver assistance features
- Standard Super Cruise5, the industry’s first truly hand-free driver assistance technology (with three years of OnStar connected service)
GM outlines some of the standout features of the Escalade IQ/L lineup:
- A curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch total diagonal display for an immersive and personalized infotainment experience with voice control, navigation, an app store and dedicated ESCALADE IQL graphics.
- Seating available for up to seven total passengers, with a power folding third-row, which folds flat for more storage
- Standard AKG 4 Studio 21-speaker audio system, with available AKG Studio
- Reference 38-speaker system, which increases to 42 speakers with available Executive Second Row package. The AKG audio system also features custom-tuned speakers and amplifier content Dolby Atmos® for deeper depth, clarity, and detail when listening to music and entertainment
- Standard Super Cruise5 driver assistance technology on all trims (3 years OnStar Super Cruise plan6)
- Available 5G Wi-Fi® hotspot capability7 connected by OnStar, along with a comprehensive suite of OnStar safety and connected services that enhances each journey and delivers extra peace of mind
- Ample passenger entertainment options, including HD streaming and browser compatibility, so customers can log into any streaming app and watch
- The Escalade IQL also comes equipped with vehicle-to-home (V2H) bidirectional charging capabilities, which when paired with the GM Energy V2H Bundle, allows for the transfer of energy between the vehicle and a properly equipped home during times of need
The ESCALADE IQL will be offered in four trims – Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, and Premium Sport with MSRP starting at $132,695. The IQL will be sold globally, including in the U.S. and Canada, with production starting in mid-2025 at General Motors’ Factory ZERO plant in Detroit.
Electrek’s take
Sure, you could make about four small EVs with the 205kWh battery or 10 PHEVs with 50 miles of electric range with one of these batteries. But people are going to buy huge luxury SUVs and it is better to buy an EV than a gas version, right?
Also with GM’s V2L options, this huge 205kWh battery could back up a home for weeks or be used in emergencies.
For those who prize the decadence of an Escalade but also need some extra third row space for that ski trip to Aspen or Jackson Hole, you have your vehicle. Or, most likely, those ballers who want to have the biggest, most expensive, luxurious SUV on the market.
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