Jesse Pollak, well-known tech expert and developer of Coinbase’s Layer-2 chain Base, will be joining the exchange’s executive team while at the same time leading its wallet department.
In a September 30th Twitter post, Pollak said his new role will propel both entities toward actualizing their common ambition. That is, bringing billions of new users, including developers on-chain.
Jesse Pollak Brings Wealth of Experience on Board
Pollak is expected to bring his years of experience to his new role after successfully leading the consumer and retail engineering teams of Coinbase between 2018 to 2021. He is also said to be one of the top brains behind the development of the Coinbase Pro and Coinbase wallet apps.
Initially launched as the Global Digital Asset Exchange (GDAX) in 2016, Coinbase Pro is equipped with advanced tools to serve the trading needs of both professional traders and newbies. The Coinbase self-custody wallet, on the other hand, is a separate app which helps users store, buy, send, and exchange a wide range of crypto assets.
According to Coinbase’ president and COO Emilie Choi, Pollak’s addition into the exec team follows the exit of the firm’s engineering vice president Manish Gupta.
Pollak affirmed that Coinbase will continue to serve the entire on-chain ecosystem while also promising to integrate open-source principles and accessibility, which are the core characteristics of Base into its wallet app.
Since it was first launched in August 2023, Base has established itself as a decentralized open Ethereum layer 2. It has amassed over 4 million active addresses barely a month after its establishment. According to data from L2BEAT, Base network currently has over $7.2 billion in total value locked on the protocol.
Meanwhile, in recent months, Coinbase has been expanding its management board, with a lofty ambition to strengthen its governance and strategic oversight capabilities. Prior to the appointment of Pollak as a member of the exec team and wallet lead, the firm has earlier announced the addition of three new directors – Christa Davies, Paul Clement, and Chris Lehane. In a July 25, 2024 press release, Coinbase said the trio will serve on the board until its next annual meeting of stockholders.
