Coinbase CEO's advice: How to find balance between work and life?
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Coinbase CEO's advice: How to find balance between work and life?
Hope everyone can find a work pace that allows them to strive without burning out.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: Brian Armstrong
Translation: TechFlow
I sent a note to Coinbase employees yesterday, and I'm sharing it publicly now in case it's helpful to others:
Hi everyone,
In our employee satisfaction survey, rest and recharging scored the lowest. So I'd like to share how I find balance, in case it helps you too. The pace at Coinbase is intense—it's by design. I want to be part of a championship team, working alongside people who are willing to invest significant time and energy. Our work is incredibly important, and top performers here can have more impact than they would elsewhere, which is why they're willing to put in extra effort.
At the same time, I recognize we all need rest to recharge for the next phase. My secret to staying sustainable at Coinbase is taking one week off each quarter, exercising regularly, and setting aside time daily to unwind.
Coinbase’s culture and remote-first model emphasize freedom and flexibility. You can choose where you live, often where you work, and take time off when it suits you. This model has many benefits, but also some challenges—such as blurred boundaries between work and life; meetings scheduled at irregular times; Slack messages flowing around the clock; and the tendency to stay connected even during vacation, making it hard to truly disconnect. Therefore, setting personal boundaries that work for your life is everyone’s responsibility. What works for me might work for you—or it might not. You have the right to set your own boundaries, while also ensuring Coinbase continues to operate smoothly in your absence.
Here are some suggestions on managing workload sustainably and avoiding burnout:
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Make space for deep work: Schedule your calendar intentionally to protect time for real work. Whether you're an intern or a VP, we all need time for focused thinking and execution.
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Reduce or eliminate low-value work: Reflect on what we do, remove low-impact activities, streamline processes, and automate wherever possible. Minimize inefficiencies.
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Carve out personal time every day: Coinbase operates 24/7. Work never stops, and there’s always more to do. Still, make time each day to relax. Whether it’s going to the gym, reading before bed, or spending time with family and friends, it’s okay to step away from your desk and do something you enjoy.
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Take time off: We all need breaks, even if it sometimes feels hard to fully let go. To help structure time off, we’ve developed a comprehensive policy, shared below and added to Confluence.
Ultimately, we hope you can find a pace that allows you to work hard without burning out. I’m sending this note to remind everyone: it’s okay to take time off and set your own boundaries. Just follow the guidelines below to ensure you can be reached if needed. In a remote-first company like Coinbase, the balance you find may look different from what you’d experience elsewhere.
Thanks, Brian
Coinbase Time Off Policy
Aligned with our "sprint and recharge" culture, most employees at Coinbase take about four weeks of time off per year (including recharge weeks). However, all time off must be coordinated with team and business needs. To make the most of your recharge or vacation, please follow these four simple steps:
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Confirm dates with your manager: While you may want to take time off, it isn’t always the right timing—perhaps other team members are out, or critical work is underway. Our priority is ensuring work continuity, so managers must approve all time off in advance.
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Request each workday off at least one week in advance (e.g., a one-week vacation requires five weeks’ notice). Two or more consecutive weeks off—including recharge weeks—require VP approval.
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Do not book non-refundable travel until approvals are confirmed.
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Ensure colleagues are informed and ready to cover: You’re responsible for communicating and providing information so your team can prepare for your absence.
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Create a handoff plan ensuring every colleague covering for you understands their responsibilities.
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Share your handoff plan in advance with your manager, team, and cross-functional partners.
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Mark your out-of-office dates on your calendar and invite relevant colleagues to view it.
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Set a Slack status indicating your time off and include a link to your handoff plan.
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Check in periodically and remain reachable in emergencies: Many people check in occasionally during recharge or vacation to ensure things are running smoothly. You should also keep your phone accessible in case of urgent issues not covered by your handoff plan.
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Establish a “check-in” frequency that works for you and your team (higher-level roles typically require more frequent check-ins); this may not apply to certain locations or role types, such as hourly or shift workers.
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Add emergency contact details (e.g., your mobile number) to your Slack profile and handoff plan. Colleagues are expected to call you in urgent situations.
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Bring your laptop with you (if permitted by the country you’re visiting).
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Your org may differ: Different countries, teams, organizations, or roles may have additional or unique recharge or time-off policies. Your manager or leader can help clarify these. If uncertain, reach out to the People team or your HRBP.
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