A reflection on where we’ve been
Before COVID, Coinbase was generally an in-person company. To get stuff done before the pandemic, you had to be in the hallway, in the meeting room, and at the lunch table.
In May 2020, we became a remote-first company, and we’ve continued to tweak how we come together since.
By H2 2021, we introduced annual Summits for our biggest teams, offsites for smaller groups, and casual “Block Parties” in 18+ global cities. These gatherings were all designed to encourage learning and relationship building, and they’ve shaped our thinking about the next stage of our remote-first journey.
What’s next: Quarterly in-person sessions (“Surges”)
The next phase of remote-first at Coinbase is not a revolution of how we work—it’s an evolution. Moving forward, we are implementing quarterly, in-person gatherings called Surges: unique and intense IRL sessions that will last roughly one week. These will replace our previous approaches, which were more about learning and development than driving progress on critical work. This isn’t a hybrid work model with mandatory office days; it’s a new rhythm of coming together to get real problem solving done and where the connection with colleagues happens through accomplishing meaningful outcomes.
How Surges will work
In the near term, Surges will focus on groups that are tackling some of the most important projects at Coinbase, and will typically take place in our New York or San Francisco hubs (where local or visiting employees are always welcome). Our long-term goal is for all full-time employees to come together quarterly for a week of IRL teamwork that can only happen in person.
Why the shift?
Getting together outside of our daily routines unlocks problem-solving that remote work alone can’t always deliver. In-person sessions can accelerate speed to market and brainstorming while deepening relationships—all in service of our mission to create economic freedom for all.
We believe in both the flexibility of remote work and the unique value of in-person connection. If this approach interests you, apply to one of our ~200 open roles here.
I’m excited for what we’ll accomplish together and look forward to sharing our learnings as we keep working to optimize our remote-first approach.
