Category: Private Citizen — Corporate Director Role: Lead Independent Director, Coinbase Global Inc. Board Tenure: 2017 (January) – present Committee Memberships: Audit & Compliance Committee; Compensation Committee (Chair); Lead Independent Director Profile Type: Board Member Accountability — Anchor B (Documented Organizational Leadership)

Basis for Inclusion: Fred Wilson holds the senior independent governance role at Coinbase Global Inc. as its Lead Independent Director. Coinbase Global Inc. is the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange and made documented political donations to Trump-aligned entities. Coinbase’s business is critically affected by SEC and CFTC crypto regulation, which the Trump administration has actively shaped in ways favorable to the industry through regulatory appointments and executive orders. This profile documents the factual governance relationship, not the subject’s personal political views.

Subject Classification: Private Citizen / Corporate Director. Board membership is a matter of public record.

What is NOT the basis for inclusion: Personal political opinions, party affiliation, or protected speech are NOT the basis for inclusion.

Biographical Overview

Fred Wilson is a venture capitalist and co-founder of Union Square Ventures (USV), a New York-based early-stage venture capital firm with an investment thesis focused on large networks of engaged users — a philosophy that made it one of the earliest and most influential institutional investors in consumer internet platforms and blockchain technology. USV was an early investor in Coinbase, and Wilson joined the Coinbase board in January 2017, well before the company’s public listing. He also serves as Chairman of the board of Etsy Inc., the e-commerce marketplace. Wilson is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the venture capital industry, with a public blog (AVC.com) that has been influential in technology and investment circles for two decades. As Lead Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair, he holds Coinbase’s highest independent governance position and is the primary independent board voice in management oversight.

Board Role and Governance Authority

• Company: Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ: COIN)
• Board tenure: January 2017 – present (early institutional investor and board member)
• Committee assignments: Audit & Compliance Committee; Compensation Committee (Chair)
• Note: As Lead Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair, Wilson holds the most senior independent governance authority at Coinbase, including primary responsibility for independent oversight of management.

Other Current Board Memberships (if applicable)

• Chairman, Etsy Inc. (NASDAQ: ETSY)
• Partner, Union Square Ventures

Parent Corporate Donor Profile

This profile is a governance-accountability companion to the Coinbase Global corporate donor profile.

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Investigative trail pointers (public records)

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Sources

• Coinbase Global Inc. DEF 14A Proxy Statement, filed April 25, 2025; SEC EDGAR (CIK 1679788)
• SEC EDGAR filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1679788/000167978825000070/coin-20250425.htm