Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says the exchange wants to be a “super app” that replaces banks, but while Coinbase waits on regulation, Best Wallet is quietly building a non-custodial, multi-chain alternative that may already be closer to Web3’s super app ideal.
When Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong sat down with Fox Business recently, his ambitions were clear: the exchange doesn’t just want to be a trading platform. It wants to become a full-scale financial hub that could one day replace traditional banks.
“Yes, we do want to become a super app and provide all types of financial services,” Armstrong said. “We want to become people’s primary financial account and I think crypto has a right to do that.”
The plan involves offering payments, credit cards, rewards and lending services – all powered by crypto rails. Armstrong pointed to outdated banking infrastructure as a key driver: “It kind of boggles my mind. Why are we paying two to three percent every time we swipe our credit card? It’s just bits of data flowing over the internet. It should be free or close to it.”
Coinbase already issues a debit card offering up to 4% Bitcoin rewards and has partnered with banks like JPMorgan and PNC to move closer to that vision. It has also begun integrating DeFi tools directly into its app, most recently through Morpho, allowing users to lend USDC and earn yields as high as 10.8%.
These moves coincide with new legislation such as the GENIUS Act, which provides clearer regulatory pathways for crypto businesses in the US. Armstrong praised the “freight train” of regulatory clarity now moving through Congress, but acknowledged the challenge of balancing partnerships with traditional banks against crypto’s drive for open competition.
The Super App Concept Meets Web3 Reality
The idea of a “super app” is not new. WeChat in China and Grab in Southeast Asia have already shown how messaging, payments and services can live in one app. For Coinbase, the opportunity is to replicate this model with crypto as the foundation.
But the model also raises questions. Can a centralised exchange that holds user funds and negotiates regulatory compromises truly deliver a super app in the spirit of Web3 – a world defined by self-custody, decentralisation and user control?
This is where another player enters the picture: Best Wallet, a mobile-first, non-custodial wallet that is fast gaining traction as a Web3 alternative.
Best Wallet’s Different Approach
Best Wallet is not an exchange and that may be its biggest advantage. Instead of being built around custodial accounts, it gives users full control of their keys while offering multi-chain access, presale alerts, scam filters, portfolio tracking and even sentiment tools to check trades before execution.
Unlike single-purpose wallets, it balances non-custodial control with features that rival centralised apps. More than 60 blockchains are supported, making it easier for users to consolidate activity that would otherwise require multiple apps.
A hardware wallet is best suited for holding larger, long-term crypto positions securely, while a mobile app offers the flexibility to trade on the go or make everyday payments. Best Wallet aims to bring these functions together by offering multi-chain access, built-in analytics, and security features within a single app.
Compared with Coinbase Wallet, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or Ledger, Best Wallet is positioning itself as a control center rather than a niche tool.
The Rise of Wallet Tokens
Best Wallet’s push comes at a time when major wallets are exploring tokenisation. MetaMask’s parent Consensys has confirmed a token launch, Rainbow is preparing RNBW and Coinbase’s Base network has hinted at its own asset to decentralise operations.
Best Wallet, however, is already there. Its native token, $BEST, has raised over $16.1 million in presale and sits at the center of its ecosystem. BEST reduces transaction fees, boosts staking yields and will unlock features like derivatives trading and a planned debit card.
Crucially, BEST also functions as a governance token, allowing holders to influence development. In that sense, Best Wallet is aligning itself with Web3 principles from the outset – building community ownership into the wallet itself rather than bolting it on later.
Why Wallets Are Competing With Exchanges
The contrast between Coinbase’s centralised super app strategy and Best Wallet’s decentralised alternative highlights a broader shift in Web3.
Centralised exchanges still dominate for onboarding new users, offering familiar interfaces and fiat onramps, but wallets are increasingly where Web3 innovation happens – from token launches to NFT drops and DeFi access.
As exchanges like Coinbase expand into banking-style services, wallets are expanding into exchange-style services. The overlap is becoming clearer: Coinbase wants to be your bank account, while Best Wallet wants to be your all-in-one Web3 command center.
For users, the question is whether to trust a regulated giant that can offer convenience but holds custody of funds, or a non-custodial app that puts security and control in their hands.
Inside the BEST Token Utility
The $BEST token powers much of this functionality. It reduces fees across Best Wallet’s integrated decentralised exchange, boosts returns on staking pools through an aggregator and provides access to premium analytics.
Future phases will see the introduction of the Best Card, linking crypto holdings to everyday spending and derivatives trading integrated directly in-app. A governance layer will allow users to vote on new chain integrations or roadmap priorities, giving them an active role in shaping the wallet.
For now, BEST is in presale at $0.025715, with dynamic staking already live at around 82% APY. While token raises always carry risk, the presale has placed Best Wallet ahead of competitors still preparing their token models.
Coinbase vs. Best Wallet – Different Roads to the Same Goal?
Both Coinbase and Best Wallet are chasing the same horizon: an all-in-one financial super app, but they are approaching it from opposite ends.
Coinbase is centralised, bank-friendly and regulatory-driven. It promises scale and integration with traditional finance but risks replicating old models under a new name.
Best Wallet is decentralised, non-custodial and multi-chain. It offers control, innovation and user ownership but faces the challenge of reaching mainstream adoption without institutional support.
It’s possible both models will coexist – one appealing to users who value convenience and regulatory protection, the other to those who value sovereignty and Web3 ethos, but the convergence suggests the line between exchanges and wallets is blurring fast.
JOIN THE $BEST PRESALE BEFORE THE NEXT PRICE INCREASE
Brian Armstrong’s declaration that Coinbase wants to be a super app reflects a growing recognition that crypto platforms need to do more than just provide trading. The future of finance may indeed live inside a single app, but whether that app looks more like Coinbase or more like Best Wallet remains an open question.
With its presale token gaining traction and its features already live across 60+ chains, Best Wallet has emerged as a credible challenger. If Coinbase represents crypto’s integration with traditional finance, Best Wallet represents Web3’s attempt to build something entirely new.
For users navigating this landscape, the choice may ultimately come down to control: do you want your crypto life tied to an exchange, or do you want the keys in your own hands?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrencies and presales are highly volatile and readers should conduct independent research before making investment decisions.
