San Francisco based crypto exchange operator Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has announced that George Osborne, former Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, is joining the Coinbase Global Advisory Council.

George Osborne joins the council as Coinbase’s international expansion strategy is accelerating around the world, having recently secured licenses in France, Spain, Singapore, and Bermuda, and expanding access to its products across 20 African nations, giving millions of users access to USDC and fast, reliable, cheaper transactions. Osborne brings decades of experience both at the highest levels of government, and in international finance and fintech investing.

The Advisory Council was established to advise Coinbase on its global strategy as the company grows its reach around the world.

Faryar Shirzad, Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase, said:

“We are pleased to have George join our council at an exciting time for us in the UK and globally. George brings with him a wealth of experience in business, journalism and government.  We look forward to relying on his insights and experiences as we grow Coinbase around the world.”

Speaking on the announcement, George Osborne said:

“There’s a huge amount of exciting innovation in finance right now. Blockchains are transforming financial markets and online transactions. Coinbase is at the frontier of these developments. I look forward to working with the team there as they build a new future in financial services.”

George Osborne is a partner at Robey Warshaw LLP, a boutique investment bank. Prior to this, he was the editor-in-chief of London’s Evening Standard newspaper and was the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 – 2016 and First Secretary of State from 2015 – 2016.

As Chancellor, George had responsibility for the UK’s economic, budget and financial policies. During that period, the country posted the strongest growth in the G7 and attracted a rising share of global business investment. Following the successful election of a Conservative Government in 2015, he also served as First Secretary of State. George was a member of Britain’s National Security Council for six years and deputised for the Prime Minister on national security issues. As a prominent campaigner for Britain to remain in the EU, George left the government in July 2016 following the outcome of the referendum.

George is also the President of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, a not-for-profit organisation he established with business and civic leaders to promote economic development in the North of England.

George Osborne is a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institute. He is also a visiting professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, where he teaches a course in decision making. He was an adviser to the BlackRock Investment Institute from 2017 – 2021 and he is the Chair of Lingotto Investment Management LLP. The Right Honourable George Osborne CH received the Companion of Honour from Her Majesty the Queen in 2016.

Osborne will join Dr. Mark T. Esper, former U.S. Secretary of Defense; former Senator Patrick Toomey (R-PA); former U.S. representative Stephanie Murphy (D-FL); former Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY); Chris Lehane, Chief Strategy Officer at Haun Ventures; and John Anzalone, Impact Research Polling founder, as the latest addition to the Council.

About Coinbase

Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) is on a mission to increase economic freedom for more than 1 billion people. We’re updating the century-old financial system by providing a trusted platform that makes it easy for people and institutions to engage with crypto assets, including trading, staking, safekeeping, spending, and fast, free global transfers. We also provide critical infrastructure for onchain activity and support builders who share our vision that onchain is the new online. Together with the crypto community, we also advocate for responsible rules to make the benefits of crypto available around the world.