Coinbase CEO: EU fines US tech companies exceed taxes; "over-regulation will ultimately hinder economic growth."
TL;DR
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong criticizes EU regulatory policies, noting that fines on US tech companies in 2024 exceeded taxes paid by European tech firms. He argues over-regulation hampers economic growth and forces a choice between fines and development.
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Odaily Odaily reports that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, commenting on EU regulatory policies on the X platform, pointed out that in 2024, the EU imposed fines totaling €3.8 billion on US tech companies, while all listed European internet technology companies paid only about €3.2 billion in corporate income tax during the same period. He emphasized that when regulatory-related fines exceed normal industry tax revenue, "it borders on predation."
Armstrong stated that policymakers must make trade-offs between regulatory intensity and economic development: "You either choose to collect more fines through over-regulation or choose a developing economy, but you can't have both."