Why I Chose Coinbase for My PM Career

Transparency drives much of what we do at Coinbase, and we want to take that same level of transparency and show what everyday life working here is like. Each quarter, members of the product team will be sharing an in-depth aspect of their work, and its personal and professional impact. To kick things off, we have Product Manager, Quinn McCarthy.

Hi! I’m Quinn McCarthy, a Product Manager building out perpetual futures trading on Coinbase Advanced. I joined Coinbase in December 2023, and it’s been one of the most energizing and rewarding chapters of my life. I am excited to share a bit about my experience at Coinbase and why it is the best place to build the future of crypto. 

The Journey

In 2020, I was a college student stuck at home during the COVID pandemic with too much time on my hands. My best friend and roommate introduced me to crypto—and to these fascinating things called NFTs. I was instantly hooked. I dove headfirst into learning everything I could about crypto, web3, and decentralization. But what really captivated me wasn’t just the tech—it was the movement. The idea that we could rebuild finance to be more open, accessible, and fair.

Not long after, I joined a crypto trading brokerage focused on institutions, shifting my attention from web3 to advanced trading. Two years later, I saw an opportunity to join Coinbase’s Advanced product team, just as they were launching perpetual futures. Coinbase had always stood out to me as a pioneer in crypto—and I knew it would be the place to build high-impact products for the broader ecosystem.

Getting Started

Before joining, I worried Coinbase might feel like other big tech companies: slow-moving, full of red tape, and light on ownership. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Despite its size, Coinbase operates with the urgency and autonomy of a startup.

Within my first few weeks, I was leading multiple projects and trusted to drive the product forward. Perpetual futures had just launched—there were few users and plenty of product gaps. We were up against competitors with a four-year head start. But our mission was clear: keep shipping, and results would follow.

Behind the Product

One of the first features I helped launch was multi-asset collateral, enabling traders to use BTC and ETH as margin for perpetual futures. On the surface, it sounds simple. But under the hood, it required deep thinking around risk edge cases, user incentives, and system behavior. I worked across design, engineering, legal, and compliance to ensure the product wasn’t just functional—it was intuitive, safe, and trustworthy.

What made this project especially meaningful was the scope. I got to work on every layer—from the mechanics of the risk model to broader questions around capital efficiency. Seeing it go live and hearing from traders that it improved their experience—that’s the kind of impact that fuels me.

Life at Coinbase

Coinbase is one of the few places where PMs are truly empowered to lead. You’re expected to act like an owner, challenge assumptions, and move fast—but always with a high bar for quality and security. There’s no micromanagement, no politics—just smart people who care deeply about building good things for users.

What I love most is the culture of clarity and trust. We move quickly because we write things down, communicate openly, and hold ourselves accountable. It’s not just a company that builds crypto products—it’s a company that builds the right way.

Advice to Aspiring PMs

If you’re a PM who’s curious, mission-driven, and energized by ambiguity, Coinbase is the place for you. You’ll never be bored. You’ll learn more than you thought possible. And you’ll be building for a future that’s still being written.

I’m so grateful to work with some of the smartest and kindest people in crypto. The past year and a half has stretched me, challenged me, and made me a better product thinker. I can’t wait for what’s next.

Ready to help build the future of crypto with a world-class team? Check out some of our open Product Manager roles: Product Manager I, Consumer Trading Product Manager II, Consumer Trading Senior Product Manager, Consumer Trading (Coinbase Advanced)