Michael Robbeloth

Husband for 23 yrs, 1 doxie; 1 daughter, Assistant Practice Professor for IBE-SI @OhioStU_EED & board president @PathwaysofCO, CS PhD from @WrightStateCECS

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Why does the Windows clock app of all things need an update?

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Test optional was always a poor strategy designed to maximize enrollments and revenues, not act in the best interest of the students

[San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle]

More than five years after the UC system lifted its standardized testing requirement, a coalition led by UC Berkeley math professors argues the drop in students’ math levels is “severe.” https://t.co/f7TmRT0AuA

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Weird, the garbage company picked up the trash, and I kid you not, at 12:45 am.

[Cincinnati Reds @Reds]

Claimed the series... #ATOBTTR!

FINAL: Reds 9, Phillies 4!

Celebrate at your neighborhood @Skyline_Chili!

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Back to pain mode

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

The websites to check gift card balances are some of the junkiest coded things I have come across in a long time.

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Embarrassing

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

This is getting ridiculous.

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

This is why CS/engineering majors in college have to pick up a second minor/major in business or a 4+1 MBA, to create opportunities in a world that is changing so quickly. Maybe be the one creating new businesses instead of receiving pink slips.

[Brian Armstrong @brian_armstrong]

This is an email I sent earlier today to all employees at Coinbase:

Team,

Today I’ve made the difficult decision to reduce the size of Coinbase by ~14%. I want to walk you through why we're doing this now, what it means for those affected, and how this positions us for the future.

Why now
Two forces are converging at the same time. We need to be front footed to respond to both.

First, the market. Coinbase is well-capitalized, has diversified revenue streams, and is well-positioned to weather any storm. Crypto is also on the verge of the next wave of adoption, with stablecoins, prediction markets, tokenization, and more taking off. However, our business is still volatile from quarter to quarter. While we've managed through that cyclicality many times before and come out stronger on the other side, we’re currently in a down market and need to adjust our cost structure now so that we emerge from this period leaner, faster, and more efficient for our next phase of growth.

Second, AI is changing how we work. Over the past year, I’ve watched engineers use AI to ship in days what used to take a team weeks. Non-technical teams are now shipping production code and many of our workflows are being automated. The pace of what's possible with a small, focused team has changed dramatically, and it's accelerating every day.

All of this has led us to an inflection point, not just for Coinbase, but for every company. The biggest risk now is not taking action. We are adjusting early and deliberately to rebuild Coinbase to be lean, fast, and AI-native. We need to return to the speed and focus of our startup founding, with AI at our core.

What this means
To get there, we are not just reducing headcount and cutting costs, we’re fundamentally changing how we operate: rebuilding Coinbase as an intelligence, with humans around the edge aligning it. What does this mean in practice?

- Fewer layers, faster decisions: We are flattening our org structure to 5 layers max below CEO/COO. Layers slow things down and create coordination tax. The future is small, high context teams that can move quickly. Leaders will own much more, with as many as 15+ direct reports. Fewer layers also means a leaner cost structure that is built to perform through all market cycles.

- No pure managers: Every leader at Coinbase must also be a strong and active individual contributor. Managers should be like player-coaches, getting their hands dirty alongside their teams.

- AI-native pods: We’ll be concentrating around AI-native talent who can manage fleets of agents to drive outsized impact. We’ll also be experimenting with reduced pod sizes, including “one person teams” with engineers, designers, and product managers all in one role.

In short: AI is bringing a profound shift in how companies operate, and we’re reshaping Coinbase to lead in this new era. This is a new way of working, and we need to leverage AI across every facet of our jobs.

To those who are affected
I know there are real people behind these decisions — talented colleagues who have poured themselves into this company and our mission. To those of you who will be leaving: thank you. You’ve helped build Coinbase into what it is today, and I am sincerely grateful for everything you've done.

All impacted team members will receive an email to their personal account in the next hour with more information, and an invitation to meet with an HRBP and a senior leader in your organization. Coinbase system access has been removed today. I know this feels sudden and harsh, but it is the only responsible choice given our duty to protect customer information.

To those affected, we will be providing a comprehensive package to support you through this transition. US employees will receive a minimum of 16 weeks base pay (plus 2 weeks per year worked), their next equity vest, and 6 months of COBRA. Employees on a work visa will get extra transition support. Those outside of the US will receive similar support, based on local factors and subject to any consultation requirements.

Coinbase prides itself on talent density. Our employees are among the most talented people in the world, and I have no doubt that your skills and experience will be highly sought after as you pursue your next chapters.

How we move forward
To the team that is staying, I know this is a difficult day. We’re saying goodbye to colleagues and friends you've been in the trenches with. But here’s what I want you to know as we move forward together:

Over the past 13 years, we have weathered four crypto winters, gone public, and built the most trusted platform in our industry. We’ve made it this far by making hard decisions and by always staying focused on our mission. This time will be no different – nothing has changed about the long term outlook of our company or industry. And most importantly, our mission has never been more important for the world. Increasing economic freedom requires a new financial system, and we’re building it.

The Coinbase that emerges from this will be more capable than ever to achieve our mission.

Brian

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Not the Ask Jeeves butler. He's dead Jim. https://t.co/JkoucXVokB

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Pain. A sweep by the Pirates is embarrassing.

[Athenaeum Book Club @athenaeumbc]

So it turns out that writing is thinking. It's the same process.

"Writing compels us to think — not in the chaotic, non-linear way our minds typically wander, but in a structured, intentional manner."

Outsourcing writing to LLMs is THE SAME THING as outsourcing thinking.

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Ouch!

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

I have introduced my daughter to one of the Internet's earliest memes and she loves it. I do too. https://t.co/4ozM7vI1XC

[Cincinnati Reds @Reds]

That’s a W… #ATOBTTR!

FINAL: Reds 7, Rockies 2!

Celebrate at your neighborhood @Skyline_Chili!

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Guess I won't be using copilot in the future.

[GitHub @github]

Starting June 1st, GitHub Copilot will move to a usage-based billing model as GitHub Copilot supports more agentic and advanced workflows.

In early May, you'll see a preview bill experience, giving visibility into projected costs before the transition.

👉 Read more about the upcoming change: https://t.co/4IC9VNHwhk

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

Wow, they continue to impress me this season

[Cincinnati Reds @Reds]

The Great Rakes

#ATOBTTR

[Cincinnati Reds @Reds]

Somethin' special about this team.

#ATOBTTR

[Cincinnati Reds @Reds]

WALK-OFF WINNERS... #ATOBTTR!

FINAL: Reds 9, Tigers 8!

Celebrate at your neighborhood @Skyline_Chili!

[Michael Robbeloth @mrobbeloth]

If unemployment or underemployment is a jobs gap, then the solution is to increase entrepreneurial skills and mindset in graduates and have them create new businesses and jobs, even if they need to bootstrap their way to success

[The Chronicle of Higher Education @chronicle]

It’s a tough job market for recent college graduates. For all the alarm about unemployment, though, the real issue for young college-educated workers might not be getting a job but landing the right one. https://t.co/s0qZMUI6CH